S14 Apexi N1 exhaust fitment problems.......

[s14joe]

I bought my Apexi N1 3 months ago. I installed it myself and everything was good for about 2 weeks.

I got to my friends shop and decide to put my car on the lift and check things out for the hell of it. I noticed that the resonator was touching the driveshaft.So I remove the exhaust and then re attach it. It helped a bit but the resonator was still prettly close to the driveshaft.

I return to the shop to get my Kaaz 2 way installed and again that I noticed that there was still an issue between the resonator and driveshaft touching.Now there are grooves in my driveshaft. We install the the 2 way and break it in. Still the problem exists. I decided to heat up the exhaust hangers w/ a torch and adjust them a bit. This proved to be ok because I created a 1/2 gap by manipulating the hangers. Next, I bring the car to a body shop and put it on a frame rack and the frame was straight. I thought maybe a bent frame could be throwing off the alignment of the exhaust. All fine and dandy.

So now life is great and I'm having my fun w/ the 2 way. This happiness ends. I hear a rattling sound coming from the exhaust. I look and investigate but couldn't find the problem. I decide to go to Mineke mufflers and it turns out that my muffler is shot!

I bought this system from Heavy Throttle. I called them and spoke to Jeff. We had a great conversation I told about each of the problems I had since I bought it from him and he would not understand that I paid $450 for this POS exhaust and I deserved better service. Obviously he didn't give a shit because he already had my money.

Now I decide to call Apexi. I called them and speak to Wen. I explained to him in detail whats going on. He tells me since I altered the hangars that the warranty is void He told me if I send the exhaust to him that he would test fit it on another 240. I told him that great but now the Exhaust can is blown and rattling. By this time my blood is boiling and I can't believe that I spent $450 on an exhaust and it didn't fit and it's now broken after 3 months! He was acting like a douche and that was that.

Now, I go to a 240 meet and I meet this guy w/ a '95 S14 just like mine. After talking with him he tells me that he has the Apexi N1. I could not help going into my rant about my problems with my N1. Turns out that he had the same exact fitment problem as I did. The resonator was hitting the driveshaft.
He also had to heat up and bend the exhaust hangers to get it to fit correct.
This confirmed that my car was not messed up

Now I'm in the market for a new exaust.I like the Apexi GT spec but I am afraid to buy another Apexi exhaust due to fitment issues.

Has anyone experienced this problem or have heard about anything like this before?

I'm thinking of just buying a universal N1 can and putting that on. I dunno, I feel like this really sucks. Maybe I will just go w/ a different manufacturer this time.

Later,Joe

[four]

s14joe,

join that GB for the buddy club exhaust..

$358 shipped, and theres no muffler for you to worry about it..check it out on the GB sectoin of this forum

[s14joe]

Originally Posted by four

s14joe,

join that GB for the buddy club exhaust..

$358 shipped, and theres no muffler for you to worry about it..check it out on the GB sectoin of this forum

bro, If I had the cash I would do it right now. i have been out of work for 2 1/2 weeks and the funds are dry. Believe me I would love to get in on a group buy.

[four]

i understand what ur saying..its just i read you say "Now I'm in the market for a new exaust"

good luck man

[Dream240]

s14joe,

Well, I have an Apexi N1 dual and as far as fitment issues I haven't had any. BUT when I was mounting it up, I did have to tweak and bend the exhaust pipe and the header pipes at little to get them to line up. It's been on my car for about 2 years now and no problems as far as blowing the muffler. What you could do is just go on eBay and get a N1 muffler for like 25 bucks, and then take it to an exhuast shop and have them swap out your bad one. Probably cost you 50 bucks all together. Worth a try. That's the best thign I can think of. Also as far as fitment issues, did you check you tranny and engine mounts for excessive wear? If they are bad then you tranny is sagging and will also cause your driveshaft to sag thus rubbing the resonator. I had brand new OEM mounts BEFORE I put my exhaust in so I never had any rubbing problems. Check it out.

Good luck.

[driftz240sx]

My n1 is a VERY close fit, about 1/2 inch in between the resonator and driveshaft. I've had it for about 3 months also and i haven't had any problems with mine. It sucks that apexi wont help you out.

[Ranger_Man]

it seems that with the apex N1 singles that one of two problems develop. either it hits the drive shaft or it hits the seam weld at the rear of the car. in my case it hits the seam weld.

does your exhaust rattle while accelerating/reving or only when you hit bumps? if it is only when you go over bumps you might want to try this before you go out and spend another 350+ dollars. start up your car and let the exhaust warm up completely, maybe driving it for a while. then park it, put on oven mits, grab the tip of the exhaust, and then shake the hell out of it to try to pin point the rattle. since you adjusted the hangers the exhaust may be hitting the frame or something else.

i severely doubt that your muffler went bad from heating up the exhaust hangers. i will bet you anything that mineke was just trying to rip off "another stupid ricer."

[BSeay]

It's threads like this that make me glad i paid a little more for my HKS hi-power... Sorry to hear about that man. IF you're in the market i would suggest an HKS hi-power 80mm. But good luck with that apexi.

[Dream240]

Originally Posted by BSeay

It's threads like this that make me glad i paid a little more for my HKS hi-power... Sorry to hear about that man. IF you're in the market i would suggest an HKS hi-power 80mm. But good luck with that apexi.

Yeah I can honestly say I want to go with Greddy now, because of smog laws. The one main reason I went with apexi is because there was reviews sowing the power gains and such, not so with the HKS stuff, at least not what I've been able to find. I would just rather go with what's been proven on paper. But I do like the HKS sounds!!

[Zenki_S14]

i have the N1 just like yours, and if I could remember, the N1 is for SR20, not KA. My resonator was grinding on the driveshaft, so I replaced it with a more narrow and rounded resonator. Do a search. Many threads covered this issue already.

[s14joe]

Thanks for all your responses. I drove my car for a good 1/2 hour before I checked the muffler out. Actually before I brought it to Mineke I made a fist and gently banged the can and it did sound like the can was bad. This was later confirmed.

I also was considering the ebay choice but I'm not too sure about that. The Exhaust cans are pretty cheap but I don't know what to expect. I just don't get it. Maybe it's the motor mounts, who knows. I just wish that it would fit normally. I thought you get what you pay for, but in my case I paid but got crap.

Yeah I did 3 searches on the forum as well as other sites but I couldn't find one post about this issue.

Zenki S14: If you can find some other threads about this issue then post them up.

[Flybert]

Originally Posted by Dream240

Yeah I can honestly say I want to go with Greddy now, because of smog laws.

Exhausts have nothing to do with smog laws. What the hell are you talking about?

[s14joe]

Originally Posted by Flybert

Exhausts have nothing to do with smog laws. What the hell are you talking about?

That was a wierd thing to say.

[Dream240]

Originally Posted by Flybert

Exhausts have nothing to do with smog laws. What the hell are you talking about?

Uhhh...maybe because in California we have the strictest smog laws than anywhere else.

In case you haven't realized some cat-back exhausts are meant "FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY" maybe you haven't ever read this on ANY ads or boxes of exhaust kits.

What this means is that these specific exhaust are not street legal in ALL 50 STATES. That being said, THE APEXI EXHAUST KITS ARE OFF-ROAD USE ONLY!! Which means they will cause any car in Cali (and some other strict states) to fail smog tests.

This is due to the lack of back pressure, increasing flow and therefore causing more exhaust gases to escape BEFORE the Catalytic converter can do its job. Thus producing more pollution.

So do me a favor and don't try to flame me on this, it's common knowledge. READ MORE!!!

Also for you guys that think the N1 is for SR20s, the exhausts for 240s are Chassis specific not engine specific....the N1 will fit the s14 properly IF you have the N1 for a s14 and not the s13!!!!

Oh I should just mention, the reason I still have my N1 dual on is because I was able to register my car in New Mexico last year and this year, so next May I have to get it smogged and that's when I'm planning on swapping out the exhaust. So I'm smog free until then, but not popo free, they tried busting me for exhaust sound the other day, "look at the NM license plate sucka, Can't touch dis...!!"

[s14joe]

Wow, I don't really pay attention any mind to smog laws and crap since I live I NY. All they do is a safety test like blinkers and brakes etc. I know you can pass the sniff test as long as you have the cat on.

Anyways, I don't know if I was issued an S13 exhaust and not an S14 or if my motor mounts are shot causing my driveshaft to flex more as stated before. So strange about this crap. I can't figure out whats up.

[9524tee]

i had an n1 catback on my s14 , it worked fine , bolted up easily , didnt rattle at all .

[S14DB]

Some cat-backs can affect Backpressure-EGR systems. They work off the exhaust pressure to work and when the pressure is droped with a cat-back they don't operate properly.

My 5zigen fireball keeps cracking at the resonator due to the small suport brakets. I was looking at going to the n1 or GT spec and now I don't know.

[Dream240]

Originally Posted by S14DB

Some cat-backs can affect Backpressure-EGR systems. They work off the exhaust pressure to work and when the pressure is droped with a cat-back they don't operate properly.

My 5zigen fireball keeps cracking at the resonator due to the small suport brakets. I was looking at going to the n1 or GT spec and now I don't know.

By cracking you mean little backfire noises right? My N1 does a cool backfire popping noise when I slow down and the revs get to about 1250. I'm sure this is caused by what you explained but my car runs great, no problems. Sounds cool though, REALLY loud when the silencers are off!

[S14DB]

NO, I mean breaking in half. It stoped gurgling when I got the header.

[idlafie]

LONG REPLY....read at your own risk!!!...sorry bout the length...

>>Uhhh...maybe because in California we have the strictest smog laws than anywhere else.

True, true...

>>In case you haven't realized some cat-back exhausts are meant "FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY" >>maybe you haven't ever read this on ANY ads or boxes of exhaust kits.

>>What this means is that these specific exhaust are not street legal in ALL 50 STATES. That >>being said, THE APEXI EXHAUST KITS ARE OFF-ROAD USE ONLY!! Which means they will >>cause any car in Cali (and some other strict states) to fail smog tests.

>>This is due to the lack of back pressure, increasing flow and therefore causing more exhaust >>gases to escape BEFORE the Catalytic converter can do its job. Thus producing more pollution.

Not necessarily true....while an aftermarket exhaust system wont be as restrictive as the stock exhaust & will allow free'er flowing of exhaust gasses, most aftermarket exhaust systems are installed AFTER the catalytic converter so the catalytic converter will still be able to do it's job. That's why they are called "CAT-BACK" systems because they replace everything BEHIND the catalytic converter. The reason MOST exhaust kits are "OFF-ROAD" use only is because most companys DON"T want to pay the excessive testing fees the California Air Resoursce Board, (CARB...the SMOG NAZI's), charges to approve the cat back exhaust system. http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
If I recall correctly, I think the "application & testing" fee is like $50,000 dollars and there is no gurantee that your product will be approved. The fee is the MAIN reason why most companys don't apply for LEGAL status & market their products as "Off-Road" use only. Companies figure that they can get away with it since law enforcement don't really enforce this section of the law..that is till recently! Companies figure if the consumer buys their products then they, (the consumer), should know what they are doing...so let the consumer take their chances.

>>So do me a favor and don't try to flame me on this, it's common knowledge. READ MORE!!!

Yep...have to agree on you there...EVERYONE'S gotta do more research. Don't expect anyone to give YOU the answers!!! Do your own research & find the answers for yourself!!

>>Also for you guys that think the N1 is for SR20s, the exhausts for 240s are Chassis specific not >>engine specific....the N1 will fit the s14 properly IF you have the N1 for a s14 and not the s13!!!!

>>Oh I should just mention, the reason I still have my N1 dual on is because I was able to register >>my car in New Mexico last year and this year, so next May I have to get it smogged and that's >>when I'm planning on swapping out the exhaust. So I'm smog free until then, but not popo free, >>they tried busting me for exhaust sound the other day, "look at the NM license plate sucka, >>Can't touch dis...!!"[/QUOTE]

Actually, the cops CAN harrass you about the exhaust.
California Vehicle Code:
27151. (a) No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). No person shall operate a motor vehicle with anexhaust system so modified.
(b) For the purposes of exhaust systems installed on motor vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds, other than motorcycles, a sound level of 95 dbA or less, when tested in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998, complies with this section. Motor vehicle exhaust systems or parts thereof include, but are not limited to, nonoriginal exhaust equipment.

And although your vehicle is registered out of state, AND you might be able to get away with it, (kind of a grey area with law enforcement agencies), California Vehicle code requires you to register your vehicle within 10 days of changing your residence to California . As a college student you might be able to get away with it as long as you are paying OUT OF STATE tuition rates...once you start paying RESIDENT tuition rates, you're screwed!!

According to California Vehicle Code 12025
12505. (a) For purposes of this division only and notwithstanding Section 516, residency shall be determined as a person's state of domicile. "State of domicile" means the state where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home and principal residence and to which he or she has manifested the intention of returning whenever he or she is absent.
Prima facie evidence of residency for driver's licensing purposes includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Address where registered to vote.
(2) Payment of resident tuition at a public institution of higher education.
(3) Filing a homeowner's property tax exemption.
(4) Other acts, occurrences, or events that indicate presence in the state is more than temporary or transient.
(b) The presumption of residency in this state may be rebutted by satisfactory evidence that the licensee's primary residence is in another state.

Since you are driving in California, you have to follow the guidelines set by DMV.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2500

Where a police officer MIGHT get you is under California Vehicle Code:
4000.4. (a) Except as provided in Sections 6700, 6702, and 6703, any vehicle which is registered to a nonresident owner, and which is based in California or primarily used on California highways, shall be registered in California.
(b) For purposes of this section, a vehicle is deemed to be primarily or regularly used on the highways of this state if the vehicle is located or operated in this state for a greater amount of
time than it is located or operated in any other individual state during the registration period in question.

Also, just to make life more miserable for you California Highway Patrol is now enforcing this "out of state" registration law...see attached:
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/cheaters.html
So don't be surprised when a "Chippie" pulls you over.

Anyhow, hope this clarifies a few things.
ID
PD Crime Scene Tech

[Dream240]

Damn...that was long.

But very helpful info. I kinda figured that there were some laws created in the past 10 years or so to fight the growing number of us aftermarket drivers. What really pisses me off is how the state legislative boneheads, lawmakers, etc. are making all these laws and guidelines just because some of us want to be different and have some fun with our cars. Which by my calculations spend about 30% of our day in on average!!

In reality I can see SOME of the justification of making all these laws, but I still have to argue the point that, "Do all these laws, exhaust noise, Ride height, window tint, spoiler height, engine mods that don't affect somg output of vehicles, really need to be so strict?" I mean lets face it, your 4 cylinder automobile with and aftermarket intake and cat-back exhaust doesn't really put out that much more pollution than stock when compared to a poorly mantained diesel engine in every big rig you see on the road. And honestly you'd be surprised how many of those trucks are running so bad because the companies don't want to spend the thousands to have them properly serviced on a regular basis. I recently read that the number one cause of California air pollution was the soot content in the air, and where does this come from? Mainly diesel engines. Also just recently I read the survey conducted on the 50 worst polluted counties in USA and CA had 38 of the 50!! :whoa:

I see your point about the cat-back exhausts and their manufacturers, the off-road use only label does put the responsibility on you the consumer. I guess after all the stuff I've read, mostly from the manufacturers websites and booklets, I figured my car wouldn't pass smog here in Cali. I've actually never gotten it smogged in Cali since I've had the exhaust mods done to it.

And in all the times I've been pulled over since I've been back, they all take a look at my license plate, driver's license (New Mexico), and send me on my merry way! Maybe they just don't want to hassle with it? BTW in one day I got pulled over 4 times!!! No sh*t!

Great post man, after seeing your sig I understand where you got the info from. Just a side note yesterday I was trying to get labor law info on the Camber of Commerce website and in order to view the law postings you have to be a member! 89 bucks!! Man I never thought that wanting to be an informed tax paying citizen would cost so much. You'd think your yearly taxes would at least give you the right to know the state laws!! I guess the govt. really wants us to run around in the dark without a flashlight and only see what THEY shing the light on. REally sad cause growing up I always had so much faith in people, that's definitely changed.

Thanks for the good post, and keep it up...crime fighter...

[drift into a curb]

I don't get what you mean by blown. So something cracked and is rattling around in the exhaust? I would take it off and shake it around to see if you have anything in there that is rattling because I doubt an exhaust would be "shot" unless it had a hole in it. I've had 5 different brand mufflers and never really had a problem with my Apex GT Spec other than ground clearance. Now I have an Altair and the piping rubs the subframe periodically, but nothing that I couldn't fix with some rubber bushings.

[S14DB]

The problem with some cars failing emmisions is with the EGR not the Cat. Some EGR systems use the exhaust pressure to operate. When backpressure is decreased their effecency declines dramaticaly.

Please note this is for pressure based systems and does not apply to the 240sx.