Does the engine need to be dropped in order to remove the original manifolds and replace them with headers?

 

nope, but dropping the subframe makes it a much easier job.

 

No you can do it with the engine in situ. As others noted, dropping the subframe helps, or when I have done the job on a DB9, we loosened the front and dropped just the rear down. You only need an extra inch or two to maneuver the original manifolds out.

 

Update: The DB9 X-pipe from Fabspeed does fit the V12 Vantage, just installed it this evening.

 

Would you post a vid of tick over and revving please SierraV12V?

Thanks!

 

Here's a video with the X-pipe installed.


Quick subjective review:
When cold the car seems a touch louder than before but once it warms up it is actually a little quieter while cruising at ~2250 rpm and below. You can still hear the exhaust in the cabin but it's less intrusive which is nice if you're listening to the radio on a long trip.

It's a touch louder when accelerating with a slightly more exotic tone, especially over 5500 rpm. The cracks and burbles are still there when you lift off the throttle but have a more refined character. Overall, the difference between the X-pipe and stock catalysts isn't huge but if you're looking for that extra 10% then I recommend it.

Hope this helps!

 

Sounds very exotic, I like it better than just standard decat straight pipes. great write up Sierra!

 

SeirraV12V you must be very pleased! I have straight secondary decat and I think yours sounds better.

This is with stock muffler in place?

The original post discussed a DB9 with X Pipe and muffler delete which didn't sound any louder!?!

 

I have the Xpipe with no muffler and it's shockingly quiet! It (seems) to rev so much quicker.. I love it!

 

X-pipe is a great resonance reducer because it naturally cancels out the opposing pulses from the opposite cylinder bank. Think of it like passive noise cancelling you get from headphones etc, same concept. It will be slightly quieter, but much smoother and more refine so in theory you can even run it without a muffler.

 

That sounds amazing

 

Yes, the stock muffler is still in place. I manually disabled the exhaust flaps (pulled and plugged the vac lines) but that's it.

And yes, very happy with the results!

 

A little off topic but with them going to turbo's on the V12 is modifying the exhaust going to be a no no? Don't know much but would think the turbos would be tuned for specific backpressure and such.

 

Exhaust makes a huge difference for turbocharged cars. I got started in cars with turbo'd imports, and it was a huge shock to me how little the power gains were for an N/A car compared to turbo'd. Not saying N/A exhaust isn't worthwhile (it definitely is) but the power gains on turbo cars is much, much higher.

 

Does anyone have any tips for Modding the Exhaust system on the V12 DB 7 ? Thanks Eddy