Fujitsubo Exhaust questions

[unclejemima]

The Fujitsubo FGS Legalis Exhaust is (in my opinion:D) one of the nicer aftermarket exhaust's available for the Beat.

Its not to loud (according to spec sheet), improves performance, stainless steel, and nice 4 pipe outlet look.

Please see spec sheet attached below...

So, my question, who actually owns one of these FGS Legalis systems?

Is it actually louder than stock? Does it make a nicer sound? According to the spec sheet it is actually quieter than stock above 6000rpm.

Right now, in stock form, the Beat's sound comes more from the mechanic's of the motor than the actual exhaust sound. Does the FGS have a more noticeable sound?

Looking forward to your reply's

[unclejemima]

I've also attached a photo of the Fujitsbo catalog and the Honda Parts Fiche.

Am I correct in saying that the Fujitsbo exhaust will start AFTER the red circled item in the fiche, or after the CAT?

Thanks,

[Steve_M]

The Fujitsubo FGS Legalis Exhaust is (in my opinion:D) one of the nicer aftermarket exhaust's available for the Beat.


My Opinion.

http://www.u-ukhbc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=226&highlight=mugen+exhaust

Mmmm mugen!!

[TADO]

have to agree with steve - the mugen sounds fantastic, its not too noisy but at 5000+ it really comes to life, looks like a work of art as well.
the legalis is nice but its got 2 too many pipes for me :D

this might give you a few more ideas too:
http://minkara.carview.co.jp/car/1140/parts/1/124/unit.aspx

[marcair]

take a look at: http://www.u-ukhbc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=2450&highlight=exhaust

The tone was very low and solid througout the rpm scale. It is an aftermarket unit for a VW beetle

[Guido]

So, my question, who actually owns one of these FGS Legalis systems?
Is it actually louder than stock? Does it make a nicer sound? According to the spec sheet it is actually quieter than stock above 6000rpm. Does the FGS have a more noticeable sound?
I try an answer. I`ve got the Fuijtsobo since approx 4 jears fittet.
It is easy to mount, fits perfect. Sound is diffrent to the oem, sounds like more engine. But it is not a big diffrence, maybe there is a little bit more torque, but who is seeking for torque in Beat, revs counts. I can`t tell you if there is a diffrence in the sound outside, i`m always drive the Beat myself. In the Car is no diffrence, Couse you hear only the sound of the inlet manifold.sry, don`t now the rigt words.
I like it it.

[unclejemima]

Thanks guys.

Ok, Guido, so the FGS legalis is not really alot different in sound is what you are saying. I was hoping to get a little bit more noise from the exhaust, but still be silent at idle and keep the neighbors happy when I go to work in the mornings.
Do you have a youtube video by chance of you driving with the FGS exhaust?

Tado, I looked through the minkara.carview.co.jp site, thanks. Lots of good photos, but I have a really hard time understanding what is going on because its all in Japanese ;)

Anyway, I found a few I like. Can anyone tell what brand of exhaust they are? I'm going to have to order them from Japan. Check links out below...

http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/219263/car/690834/3186606/parts.aspx
http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/419199/car/370854/3268194/parts.aspx
http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/482197/car/407299/3465485/parts.aspx
http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/318561/car/655479/3048031/parts.aspx

marcair, thats pretty good idea with the VW exhaust, but I was hoping to get a bolt on exhaust. If I was a little more crafty, I would defiantly do that!

And Steve, I'd love a Mugen...mmm. I'm sure its over US$1000 and very hard to find.

[Guido]

No, i`ve got no video from the exhaust, but i try to make one. Can`t promiss.

[unclejemima]

Thanks Guido, that would be very nice. Even a simple Iphone vid :)

As for my post above, I found a link in most of the minkara pages (sorry, I'm not really sure how minkara works or what it is) and it seems like the 60,000yen range is the going price for a nice exhaust.

Because I'm starting to get in over my head from a simple off the shelf Fujistsubo cat-back, is there any vendors who speak English that anyone can recommend? I'm now thinking about getting a header as well.

http://www.automac.co.jp/parts/parts01.htm

There are very good products on this page, but buying a header and exhasut system without any info seems a bit risky. I don't know if it will even bolt up or if it needs mods.

Thanks guys,

[Guido]

We `ve got finest Beaty weather but to much trouble, and monday:suicide:
I `ll try tomorow to make a small movie, if not, why don`t You come to germany?:)

[TADO]

As for my post above, I found a link in most of the minkara pages (sorry, I'm not really sure how minkara works or what it is) and it seems like the 60,000yen range is the going price for a nice exhaust.
Minkara's kind of like facebook for japanese car fans :D
you have a blog, parts reviews, development diaries, and photo albums - here's my page: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/825951/profile/
and here's the Beat home page: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/car/1140/

the amount of info on there is insane, and google usually does a fairly good job of translating it.


Because I'm starting to get in over my head from a simple off the shelf Fujistsubo cat-back, is there any vendors who speak English that anyone can recommend? I'm now thinking about getting a header as well.

http://www.automac.co.jp/parts/parts01.htm

There are very good products on this page, but buying a header and exhasut system without any info seems a bit risky. I don't know if it will even bolt up or if it needs mods.

pretty much none of the vendors will speak english so you do have to be sure of what you're ordering. however Automac make some awesome stuff and given that theres no variation in beats really it should all just bolt straight on. the exhaust looks great by the way. we've ordered loads of bits from the smaller companies and never had any problems with fitting any of it.
of course you'd need to order through someone like jessestreeter though.

if you are keen on getting any other bits, the recent Hyper-Rev best book is very good with lots of info and pictures to give you an idea of how things look fitted - think you can get it from ebay.

[unclejemima]

Great, thanks for the info guys :)

[s8rah]

I had a FGS Legalis system on Bobby when I bought him. It wasn't that noisy, but I've never heard a stock system to compare. Not half as noisy as the custom Powerflow job that replaced it when the FGS got too holy to repair.

[bigB]

I love all the stainless steel and those tight mandrels!

But $1000us is just crazy money.

Eh, Marcair! how about a 4 tip EMPI with a resonator?
Pretty easy fab.


http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290383169759&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1011wt_682

[steveinjapan]

Guido mentioned something interesting earlier - that the main sound the driver hears is from the intake.

I've never driven another Beat than mine. Mine makes a loud rattling sound at speed between 4000 and 7000 rpm, especially at part throttle. It really cuts into the driving pleasure. It sounds like the valvetrain is coming apart, but of course it would have done so already, so I think it must be intake noise.

Question - is there any way of muffling it, short of a louder exhaust???? Would intake trumpets help? Does anyone else experience the same noises?

[TADO]

could it not be the clutch release bearing / clutch plate springs? there's an infamous rattle / chatter noise - ours used to do it between 3 to 4500rpm.
we should make a selection of videos / sound clips to establish what 'normal' is LOL.

[steveinjapan]

could it not be the clutch release bearing / clutch plate springs? there's an infamous rattle / chatter noise - ours used to do it between 3 to 4500rpm.
we should make a selection of videos / sound clips to establish what 'normal' is LOL.


i'd think that I could hear clutch/throwout noise at low speeds though. My noise is only at highway speeds. But I will check again. What is the fix if that is the problem?

[marcair]

Is the noise constant at highway speeds? Can you alter the level with the throttle? What happens when you pass a large sided truck to the left or right? Listen for the bounce-back noise. This will help to define the location and maybe the source of the noise.

On the highway, Is the noise there if the engne is in neutral but at high RPS?
On the highway, Is the noise there if the engne is in neutral but at low RPS?

[Steve_M]

What is the fix if that is the problem?

A new Clutch centre plate for spring rattle. (you would replace all 3 clutch parts)

[steveinjapan]

Is the noise constant at highway speeds? Can you alter the level with the throttle? What happens when you pass a large sided truck to the left or right? Listen for the bounce-back noise. This will help to define the location and maybe the source of the noise.

On the highway, Is the noise there if the engne is in neutral but at high RPS?
On the highway, Is the noise there if the engne is in neutral but at low RPS?

The noise varies with throttle, starting at 1/4 throttle. With more throttle it is still there but overpowered by exhaust noise. This all happens only above 5500-6000 rpm.

Very hard to tell which side is louder - maybe a bit louder on the right side.

In neutral at speed I am fairly sure that it is not present, since it apparently depends on load.

I am starting to think it is an acoustic noise rather than mechanical, like an exhaust leak. Or else something loose that is resonant at high revs. However it also seems like it is coming from the top of the engine compartment because it's worse with the top and windows up.

Anyway, it was a beautiful morning for a drive and the expressway is tollfree for another few weeks ("social experiment" eliminated tolls since last summer, apparently an unsuccessful one!).

[marcair]

Put the car on jacks and run the engine in an echo chamber (garage). An exhust leak should be quite easy to identify. If it is not an exhaust leak, try slowly starting in 2nd or 3rd gear and listen to the engine. Any internal issues will become apparent.

The right fender inlet only vents the area aft of the gas tank.

[Guido]

For those guys who don`t know this video, this is my inside sound. Fujitsubo exhaust and 35mm funnals fitted, no speed lim.:), 3Km Autobahn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDExF3d_3jA

Iloveit!:D

[TADO]

that sounds an awful lot like our mugen too. we even have the same engine cover and throttles! :D

[steveinjapan]

For those guys who don`t know this video, this is my inside sound. Fujitsubo exhaust and 35mm funnals fitted, no speed lim.:), 3Km Autobahn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDExF3d_3jA

Iloveit!:D

Sounds WAY better than stock. I want one!

[steveinjapan]

Sounds WAY better than stock. I want one!

Yay, won a used one on Japhoo last nite. Looks like it has some custom tailpipe hangers.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OSAA0HHKDvwtC1GpafYq4lk0BW4gLXwxUesCHsMxiGM?feat=d irectlink

[steveinjapan]

I'm just getting around to mounting the exhaust I bought (above post). There are 2 bolts holding the stock exhaust heat shield on the bottom lip of the bumper, and I wonder if I should use them for the rubber hanger straps that can be seen in the photo above. The hangers are about 70 cms apart and the bolts are 65 cms, so the hangers wouldn't be exactly vertical.

When I hold it by the hanging bars, it feels very well balanced, so those straps wouldn't be carrying much weight.

Does anyone else (Guido?) have one of these Fujitsubo 4-pipe exhausts now?

[Obsessive]

Nope, but my custom made exhaust made a huge difference to the car. I'm sure you must be itching to take yours for a spin once it's done.

[steveinjapan]

It sounds fan-great-tastic! Actually it's a fair bit quieter and mellower than stock. I took it through a tunnel at speed to get the full sonic effect. Might have a little more kick around 5-6000 rpm (specs claim +4 bhp). I didn't realize how tinny the stock unit is until having it off the car, which probably gives it that cheap tone.

Only problem is that the Legalis K hangs quite high, with the tailpipes just about touching the bumper lip. Those oddball hangers are now attached to the chassis with angle brackets, so it's very secure, just doesn't look quite right.

[Obsessive]

It sounds fan-great-tastic! Actually it's a fair bit quieter and mellower than stock. I took it through a tunnel at speed to get the full sonic effect. Might have a little more kick around 5-6000 rpm (specs claim +4 bhp). I didn't realize how tinny the stock unit is until having it off the car, which probably gives it that cheap tone.

Only problem is that the Legalis K hangs quite high, with the tailpipes just about touching the bumper lip. Those oddball hangers are now attached to the chassis with angle brackets, so it's very secure, just doesn't look quite right.

I have a couple of tunnels locally that I love driving through for the sound effects. I'll often back off from the car I'm following so I can give it some revs going through :D

Any photos yet?

[steveinjapan]

It's not that big-bore look but I'm liking it more and more now.

I have not actually cut the bumper (yet) - the "cutouts" are bits of black tape :)

https://picasaweb.google.com/115901475887775491899/FujitsuboLegalisK?authkey=Gv1sRgCL3wqOSq8M-JLw

[Obsessive]

Looks great if you ask me, although I do see what you mean by being tight to the bumper. I'm sure if you cut where the tape is it'll be mint.