Before I turbo the civic I plan on replacing various parts. I'm going to get a new headgasket and replace the head bolts. What's a cheaper alternative to getting ARP bolts that are somewhat as strong?

Also, I was going to get a magnaflow cat, but the person I bought my fmic and piping from threw in a test pipe for $20. What's the downside to using a testpipe instead of cat? I live in Alabama so don't have to worry about inspections.

Anyone here run a turbo without a muffler? If it doesn't sound too crappy I wasn't going to run a muffler.

Ummm...I think that's it.

 

Don't cheap out, get the ARP's.

Since you don't have inspections, I'm assuming your state doesn't give a crap about emissions. You don't even really need the test pipe, just after the downpipe run a straight pipe.

A lot of people have run open downpipe and I think it sounds pretty sweet. No muffler wouldn't be a problem, but I think it would get too loud for daily use IMO.