Custom Thermal Exhaust for FWD

[DLSJ5]

Well after hearing and feeling the Thermal exhaust in a couple friends cars, I had to have one for myself. The problem was Thermal doesn't have a FWD exhaust. I liked my NS with the stock Cat but with the testpipe it got a little loud and I wasn't crazy about the sound anymore.

I called Chuck at Thermal to get an update on the FWD Thermal exhaust and he said it was at least a few months away. After talking with him for a bit, and also explaining to him that I was a friend of David's from Ecode, he agreed to take a look at my car on a Saturday, to see what he could do, which worked out perfect for me.

Anyway got down to his shop in Lancaster and it was emmaculate, very clean, awesome shop. He inspected the car, we talked for a few minutes and he agreed to do a custom exhaust that day! I said, go for it.




We would up using the NS downpipe and he did a 3" mid pipe back to two resonaters, shown here-











then to 2.25 piping into the mufflers.






Instead of using the mufflers that he uses on the A4 kits, I decided to go with the round ones that he uses on the B6 S4, I liked the look of them.














It sounds amazing, there is a bit more top end pull and a bit quicker turbo spool up. The car should respond well when I get the Stage 3 kit and it will be quieter as well. The bigger the turbo the more it acts like a muffler.

Chuck at Thermal rocks and he was as excited about doing this project as I was. The guys passionate about exhausts! Excellent service and quality. Special thanks to David as well for directing me towards Chuck!

[DDR2]

that thing sounds mean as hell. and i only heard it from the inside. nicely done drew!

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by DDR2
that thing sounds mean as hell. and i only heard it from the inside. nicely done drew!

Thanks Dennis,

How's the NS? I read your post on AW, glad you're liking it! It was good meeting you and your Bro last weekend. Did you ever get a hold of David at Eurocode about the Revo chip?

Drew

[DDR2]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Thanks Dennis,

How's the NS? I read your post on AW, glad you're liking it! It was good meeting you and your Bro last weekend. Did you ever get a hold of David at Eurocode about the Revo chip?

Drew

yeah, i'm likin the NS a lot. i just have to finish it up wtih a better dp and maybe a high flow cat eventually. but after ridin in your car, i want to do that Revo chip soon. you gave me the freakin mod bug. i was fine gettin just an exhaust for a while til now. thanks man.

i emailed dave on sunday i think. haven't heard back. PM me his cell if you don't think he'll mind. but i'll try to email him again.

[hyperspeed]

damn sexy! man maybe i should have gone with a 3" midpipe too...

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by hyperspeed
damn sexy! man maybe i should have gone with a 3" midpipe too...

If you don't mind the extra noise, it's a good noise though, like Dennis says it sounds mean. It's a trade off, but you will get a bit more performance out of it, especially if you're going with a big turbo, which will quiet it down a bit anyway.

[giago]

Is it louder than the neuspeed??
how much for all.
I want one!

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by giago
Is it louder than the neuspeed??
how much for all.
I want one!

It is a bit louder than my NS was, except when I'm WOT, the NS was a bit louder w/ the testpipe. With the Stock Cat the NS had a great sound, I didn't care for it with the testpipe. The Thermal just has a more aggressive tone and at WOT it sounds awesome. This was a custom exhaust, it's bit more pricey than the production unit will be. You should call Chuck at Thermal to get a $ quote. I'm not sure what components they will have with the Thermal FWD production exhaust. The 3" midpipe made all the difference.

[G_A4]

awesome DLSJ5 your exhaust looks amazing less restrictive than NS i would presume. this will go well with your APR stage 3 kit. congrats.

[Silence]

Two things:
First, it's spelled IMMACULATE. (Sorry, I had to, ever since you called me your editor.)

Second, stop biting my style. J/k. Car looks great. Can't wait to hear the exhaust in person. Hopefully you might be able to hang with me a little more now

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by G_A4
awesome DLSJ5 your exhaust looks amazing less restrictive than NS i would presume. this will go well with your APR stage 3 kit. congrats.

Thanks G,

Exactly why I got it, it is less restrictive and not even that much louder. You can call me Drew BTW.

Drew

[G_A4]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Thanks G,

Exactly why I got it, it is less restrictive and not even that much louder. You can call me Drew BTW.

Drew

good stuff drew. cant wait till you get that APR stage 3 kit. looks like thats the only thing you need.
gerard

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Two things:
First, it's spelled IMMACULATE. (Sorry, I had to, ever since you called me your editor.)

Second, stop biting my style. J/k. Car looks great. Can't wait to hear the exhaust in person. Hopefully you might be able to hang with me a little more now

Davy,

Biting your style? I did get the exhaust based on your car brotha, but who calls who everyday for advice on cars and the ladies? Thanks for the free spellcheck, but I can't keep given you free advice on those two subjects.

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by G_A4
good stuff drew. cant wait till you get that APR stage 3 kit. looks like thats the only thing you need.
gerard

Gerard,

So I hear you're a 1st class chef, next time I'm in the Bay area you gotta take care of Zemun (Dejan) and I for a free dinner.

[Silence]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Davy,

Biting your style? I did get the exhaust based on your car brotha, but who calls who everyday for advice on cars and the ladies? Thanks for the free spellcheck, but I can't keep given you free advice on those two subjects.

HAHA! Car's and ladies? That'd be like me asking Mike Tyson for legal advice! How about I call you tomorrow for advice on oil & coolant lines?

[zemun2]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Gerard,

So I hear you're a 1st class chef, next time I'm in the Bay area you gotta take care of Zemun (Dejan) and I for a free dinner.

Sounds good to me.

[G_A4]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Gerard,

So I hear you're a 1st class chef, next time I'm in the Bay area you gotta take care of Zemun (Dejan) and I for a free dinner.

dude when you come into town i'll take care of you and dejan no problem. i'll seat you guys at the chef's table.

[Silence]

G_a4, where do you work?

[G_A4]

Originally posted by Silence
G_a4, where do you work?

i'm one of the sous chefs at the ritz-carlton dinning room.
oh and you can call me gerard.

[gearhead]

Drew, looks awesome! I've gotta get around to hearing it one of these days, last week started busy and just got worse. Hope you managed to clean your house tho!

I ended up buying Derrick's Milltek, wanted to get as quiet as I could w/o going back to stock as my car is still a part-time family hauler (makes wifey happier after i spent money on the E05). Yea, that test pipe was not a good match with the NS--was much better sounding w/cat.

Congrats dude!

[Silence]

Originally posted by G_A4
i'm one of the sous chefs at the ritz-carlton dinning room.
oh and you can call me gerard.

Nice! I figured it was upscale, being in S.F. and all. I work at Renoir here in Las Vegas.

[G_A4]

Originally posted by Silence
Nice! I figured it was upscale, being in S.F. and all. I work at Renoir here in Las Vegas.

awesome! you work in the food industry as well?

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Nice! I figured it was upscale, being in S.F. and all. I work at Renoir here in Las Vegas.

That's really great, I'm very proud of you. When you heading down?

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by gearhead
Drew, looks awesome! I've gotta get around to hearing it one of these days, last week started busy and just got worse. Hope you managed to clean your house tho!

I ended up buying Derrick's Milltek, wanted to get as quiet as I could w/o going back to stock as my car is still a part-time family hauler (makes wifey happier after i spent money on the E05). Yea, that test pipe was not a good match with the NS--was much better sounding w/cat.

Congrats dude!

Thanks Steven,

If you bought it from Derrick you can be sure it's in good condition. I think the Milltek is perfect for what you want. We gotta have a socal GTG soon so we can put faces to the posts.

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by G_A4
dude when you come into town i'll take care of you and dejan no problem. i'll seat you guys at the chef's table.

I think Dave at Eurocode deserves the free dinner, but I'll take half off? Why not I love frisco. Count me in!

[G_A4]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
I think Dave at Eurocode deserves the free dinner, but I'll take half off? Why not I love frisco. Count me in!

just let me know.

[Silence]

Gerard,


Ya, I am a captain at Renoir. Not sure if you have heard of it. Mobil four star, AAA five diamond winner. Used to have the five star award as well, although we lost it a few years back.

[gearhead]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Thanks Steven,

If you bought it from Derrick you can be sure it's in good condition. I think the Milltek is perfect for what you want. We gotta have a socal GTG soon so we can put faces to the posts.

How 'bout a GTG in Vegas? I'll be there a coupla times later this month. David at eurocode said he plays blackjack and i told him i'd teach him craps. If i don't blow my gambling money on more mods first...

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by gearhead
How 'bout a GTG in Vegas? I'll be there a coupla times later this month. David at eurocode said he plays blackjack and i told him i'd teach him craps. If i don't blow my gambling money on more mods first...

Sounds good, I grew up there. Dave and my buddy John, the M3 driver in that T28 Vid can get us into the hot spots. We can even rub it in a little more that he lost to a 4 banger. I'm in, just gotta convince the wifey to let me go.

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Gerard,


Ya, I am a captain at Renoir. Not sure if you have heard of it. Mobil four star, AAA five diamond winner. Used to have the five star award as well, although we lost it a few years back.

Never heard of it and I grew up there. You're a captain of what boat? Renoir, isn't that French? That could be why you lost that AAA award. Dont' get me wrong as John will tell you about the fun we had with the girls at Le Femme at the MGM, this was of course way before my wife and I got married.

[G_A4]

Originally posted by Silence
Gerard,


Ya, I am a captain at Renoir. Not sure if you have heard of it. Mobil four star, AAA five diamond winner. Used to have the five star award as well, although we lost it a few years back.

i totally heard of the renoir. in our kitchen we talk about hotels and the restaurants in them, vegas restaurant scene is on fire right now. so some of us sit down during the family meals and talk about the hotels, retaurants and chefs that end up in vegas. renoir is one of the hotels that always gets brought up. this is awesome, good to meet someone else in the industry.

[Silence]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
gotta convince the wifey to let me go.

HAHA! She's prego dude. Good luck with that. I wish you would come out, you know that, but sadly my friend, I have a feeling you are on lock-down for a while.

[gearhead]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Sounds good, I grew up there. Dave and my buddy John, the M3 driver in that T28 Vid can get us into the hot spots. We can even rub it in a little more that he lost to a 4 banger. I'm in, just gotta convince the wifey to let me go.

Haha, yea used to be my second home. Unfortunately, I'd be able to afford much more than a 4-banger if i hadn't spent so much time there.

I gotta convince wifey too, but she'll be going also, along with 2 kids and Dad...but not my Audi.

[Silence]

Originally posted by G_A4
i totally heard of the renoir. in our kitchen we talk about hotels and the restaurants in them, vegas restaurant scene is on fire right now. so some of us sit down during the family meals and talk about the hotels, retaurants and chefs that end up in vegas. renoir is one of the hotels that always gets brought up. this is awesome, good to meet someone else in the industry.

Ya, definitely. I can't talk about it with Drew, he only wants free food all the time

I'll probably be at Wynn resort, come next year. We'll see though...

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Ya, definitely. I can't talk about it with Drew, he only wants free food all the time

I'll probably be at Wynn resort, come next year. We'll see though...

Hehe and just ask David at Eurocode I'm always looking for freebies

[Silence]

Originally posted by DLSJ5
Never heard of it and I grew up there. You're a captain of what boat? Renoir, isn't that French? That could be why you lost that AAA award. Dont' get me wrong as John will tell you about the fun we had with the girls at Le Femme at the MGM, this was of course way before my wife and I got married.

Oh you got jokes huh? Le Femme girls huh? Those were the ones that hung out with you 'cause they thought you were gay right? Drew..... I can't believe you pulled that card out

[gearhead]

Originally posted by Silence
HAHA! She's prego dude. Good luck with that. I wish you would come out, you know that, but sadly my friend, I have a feeling you are on lock-down for a while.

LOL! Actually, she should know that NOW is the time for her to go to Vegas--forget it for a long while after the kids arrive. Gotta have your fun now! Oh and congrats Drew!

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Oh you got jokes huh? Le Femme girls huh? Those were the ones that hung out with you 'cause they thought you were gay right? Drew..... I can't believe you pulled that card out

WTF, it's true, ask him, Gay?? I don't think like you remember? No they thought I was a Brad Pitt look alike. This has gotta be on the down low--- sh#@ my wife is yelling at me to get off the computer. Plan the GTG Dave, I'm in.

[Silence]

Brad pitt? More like Ben Stiller. Question to the audience. Any that has met Drew think he looks like Stiller? Just curious.


GTG? Hmm. Would have to be when it sools down I'm sure. I doubt anyone wants to come down in 105+ weather.

[DLSJ5]

Originally posted by Silence
Brad pitt? More like Ben Stiller. Question to the audience. Any that has met Drew think he looks like Stiller? Just curious.


GTG? Hmm. Would have to be when it sools down I'm sure. I doubt anyone wants to come down in 105+ weather.

Kind of a Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise with the humor of a Ben Stiller, this was a few years ago when the hair was alla Brad Pitt and the acting career was actually happening. Everyone might get a good laugh at me when my film hits Blockbuster. Hope it happens soon.