430 Whom makes the best F430 exhaust headers sound wise ?

How is the larini headers sound wise? they seem to be priced better than Capristo is (in EU atleast)

 

16 Nm of torque on a bolt does not generate a lot of force/displacement on the spring, regardless of how much you think that "heavy" spring matters. You can call me an idiot all you want but that clearly shows how little you know. In fact, if the spring is so "heavy" that only a tiny amount of displacement is required to set the gasket, it only reinforces how easy it is to make a crush gasket work.

Sad how desperate you are to trash Supersprint over something you just can't believe works. Knowing their rep on other cars this might be the best power-making header for this one yet all you want to do is throw a tantrum in disbelief that it could have any sort of durability and try to trash talk it out of existence.

 

My scud sounds pretty insane, not sure how else to describe it. I have run both larini exhaust and now sline valved. The s line is a bit higher pitched. 200 cel larini cats.

 

Yes, a tapered seal requires a surprisingly low clamping force to work. People generally over-tighten brake bleed nipples.

Technically, the Supersprint joint is also a compression fitting.

 

Allmost a year and half. Good eyes

 

Oh I didn't call you an idiot, I merely stated that comparing two different things and acting like they are the same is something an idiot would do. It's just my nuanced grasp of context in which I used it. Hopefully that's cleared up.

I don't recall the size of those bolts but a bolt at 16 nm of torque has over 2000 pounds of clamp load. So that times two compared to springs you can slip on by hand.

I'm not trying to trash Supersprint. I think they look very nice actually. Again I merely stated that I would prefer they weren't a slip fit collector and you proceeded to tell me -essentially- I'm not allowed to have an opinion on the matter.

 

I will throw in my actual driving experience as data points. Take it fwiw.

I drove an F430 with AP Headers (4-1), straight pipes, and Kreissieg Exhaust (X-pipe design). Sounded very good. High pitch and very clean. No raspiness. Not loud either. Pops and ovveruns at every turn.

Non-valved S-lines sound raspy to me. This was clean F1 sound.

I can say with absolute certainty this setup sounded better than my Scud with Capristo headers (4-2-1), 100 cell cats or straight pipes, and Kline Inconel muffler.

However, that F430 felt lacking in the low to mid range. Didn’t feel like it had balls. I don’t know if that’s an F430 vs Scud thing or a 4-1 vs 4-2-1 manifold thing. Scud picks up quick and aggressively. Scud sounds like it has more balls even if it didn’t sound as good. Placebo wise, Scud setup felt like the car was almost twice as fast as that F430.

 

For the folks who end up referencing this thread while doing research on the Supersprint headers.

"Thank you for your inquiry.

Our best recommendation is paying special attention when first installing the headers, with the pressure plates, sealing rings and springs being placed properly.
If the correct installation steps are made, the Supersprint headers do not require any maintenance, other than the visual inspection at regular service intervals, oil changes etc.
Unlike the stock headers and other 1-piece design headers, the Supersprint system will virtually outlast the car.
Best Regards

SUPERSPRINT S.r.l"

 

All, I was hoping you can give me some feedback on which direction to take my car. Just purchased a 2008 coupe, and the previous owner put on a full titanium exhaust system from HMD. Here are the links to the full system: one, two, three. It also came with a remote valve controller.

I'm sure it is a great system, but it is just not the sound I'm looking for. I don't like the valves open aspect and even with it closed although it sounds nice I just love the stock sound. I have all the stock parts with the car. So I'm trying to decide what would be the best route:

1. Go back all the way to stock. The car had MK2 headers. I believe (but could be wrong) that with the removal of the brackets the header cracking issue is solved? I don't want to risk damage to the engine.
2. Go back to stock only up to the headers, and keep the HMD headers. They look pretty nice and this would be the easiest and cheapest option. Will the sound be closer to stock this way or at least decently close? I think they are 4-1 style, but not sure how much that impacts sound.
3. Get Tubi headers and go back to stock cats and muffler. Most expensive route as I'd have to spend some $$ on those headers. I have no idea if there would be a market for the full HMD system to sell, but if so maybe I could get a little back.

To the extent it matters, it is a converted 6spd. I'd love to select the right method right from the start so I don't have to keep paying for labor. Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 

Congrats on the purchase!

I'd start with just replacing the exhaust only for now and leave the headers. That's the easiest job and will get you closer to the stock sound and you won't have to worry about header issues. Leave the lower brackets off the stock setup though and either just use the rear most flex bracket or get the capristo hangers if you're not getting enough support, but I think most people get along just fine with only the one bracket at the rear.

If you find that it's still not to your liking, then move for the headers. Just a note, even MK2 headers had occurrences of cracking over time.

 

Thanks. That probably does make the most sense. Hopefully putting back the OEM cats and muffler will do a lot to go back to stock sound.

 

What Joe says makes the most sense. I hate to say that because I LOVE the Tubi headers, but hard to justify the cost if installing the stock cats and muffler provides what you’re looking for.

 

Well now I have to ask... what is it exactly if you don't mind expanding that gets an all caps LOVE associated with those headers. Maybe I want to love my headers too

 

They are a work of art. The looks and sound are perfect.

 

What he said ^^^ ; I am going the same route, Fabspeed headers only, all rest stock.

 

Interestingly, I went down an image comparison rabbit hole and it seems these HMD headers are very similar (if not identical) to the Kline or Top Speed headers in terms of design, and so I'm guessing sound and performance. Will probably still try that out first anyway, even though some comments here in this thread make it seem the design of those is not the greatest in comparison to the other ones out there.

 

The expansion joints seem interesting. I wonder if it cuts down on vibration:
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Here's a real life pic of them on my car. Can anyone educate me why they are a darker/reddish color than the stock pics? Is that just what happens after some use?


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Heat cycling, like a chrome exhaust on a motorcycle turning gold. Different metals turn different colors.

 

Are you sure the headers are Ti though? i cant seem to find it mentioned anywhere in the link you provided for the header part.... for that price id almost be tempted to try it before buying another off the better known options, if it sounds good and works properly its a huge moneysaver....

 

It's probably just the catback that is titanium. Yeah I'll give it a shot, worst case I pay an extra bit for labor to then switch out to another header setup.

 

I see HMD also make sports cats: https://vi.aliexpress.com/i/1005003907469247.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2vnm

 

Yup I have those on too, full system.

 

So I was quoted by the local indy mechanic today about 6 hours of labor (at $225/hr) plus cost of potentially a few gaskets to put back my old exhaust absent the headers. Does this seem high? Since I’m a newbie not sure what to think..

 

What? Absolutely not. Takes maybe two hours to put an exhaust on and that's if you need to remove the rear bumper. A stock system can be removed and replaced without taking the bumper off.