So I installed my first mod two days ago, a Pride Lightweight exhaust. I purchased from Pride itself, which has an eBay store. It cost me $935 shipped, and I had to pay an extra $130 for adapters for my 1999 NSX. It fits 1991-1996 NSXs without adapters, and the adapters for 1997-2000 are different from 2001-2005. I contacted Pride with questions about adding the adapters to my eBay order, and they were VERY fast in replying. Do these guys ever sleep? 
I have never, ever installed an exhaust before and I have ten thumbs, so I accepted the challenge of doing it myself. I felt it a useful way to acquaint myself with my "new to me" NSX.
Unboxed. It's so light I can hold it up with one hand, easily. Just beautiful handiwork!
Jacking up my NSX with a low-profile jack. BOTH passenger side wheels are off the ground!
Just in case you didn't get the hint as to where the jack stands belong....every manufacturer should make jacking points this obvious. Thank you Honda!
Both sides of the rear up.
The "middle" exhaust connection. There's one that's higher up, on the passenger side. It's four bolts in total. You'd think I'd have been finished in an hour. Right? Right? Riiiiiiiiiight......
The center exhaust connection is easy to reach and the required wrench size is 12 mm (not 14 as quoted in some FAQs, they must be for pre-1997). The pair of bolts on the passenger side are much more difficult to reach, and took even longer to remove because there's no room for a ratchet wrench. This means hand wrenches, and repeated tiny amounts of movement.
Three hours later, a sore back, arms, and legs, WD-40, and the use of my heat gun later....let's just say those four bolts did not come off without a fight. 16 years of rusted bolt vs. my 160-pound weakling ass required the use of all of the above, AND lots of patience with occasional cussing. 20-minute install, my ass!
Anyhoo.....Stock exhaust is 43 pounds and is the dirty exhaust, the Pride lightweight exhaust is the shiny thing behind at 18 pounds. Thank GOD it's so light, else I would have waited till the next day to finish install. Did I tell you I was sore? Note the tiny dent in the exhaust can, but it's in a place that is never seen after install, so I didn't complain to Pride about it, it isn't a huge deal.
Installing was a breeze. It took two minutes to hang the new exhaust, and another 10 minutes to screw the (now lubed with WD-40) bolts back in.
The only fly in the ointment was that the curve of the adapter for the left side of the exhaust was such that I could not get one of the spring-loaded bolts back through the hole connecting to the cats. I had to improvise and install that bolt backward, without the spring. Not ideal, but workable for now.
The work and soreness were worth it, though! The exhaust sound is AMAZING. It's like the NSX's testicles dropped and made the car go through puberty. NICE deep tone. The only significant drone comes if you do part throttle at 1800-2000 rpm. It is louder than stock, but I can hear myself speaking in the cockpit easily, and on rapid acceleration..... :drool: it sounds so good.
And now for the part you are waiting for....a long neuronbob™-style comparison video! In this video, I compare the volume of the stock with the Pride Lightweight, and do a direct comparison of external and internal exhaust sound between the two. The video is longish but will hopefully be helpful. Earphones are a must.
Stock Acura NSX exhaust vs. Pride Lightweight exhaust - YouTube
I have never, ever installed an exhaust before and I have ten thumbs, so I accepted the challenge of doing it myself. I felt it a useful way to acquaint myself with my "new to me" NSX.
Unboxed. It's so light I can hold it up with one hand, easily. Just beautiful handiwork!
Jacking up my NSX with a low-profile jack. BOTH passenger side wheels are off the ground!
Just in case you didn't get the hint as to where the jack stands belong....every manufacturer should make jacking points this obvious. Thank you Honda!
Both sides of the rear up.
The "middle" exhaust connection. There's one that's higher up, on the passenger side. It's four bolts in total. You'd think I'd have been finished in an hour. Right? Right? Riiiiiiiiiight......
The center exhaust connection is easy to reach and the required wrench size is 12 mm (not 14 as quoted in some FAQs, they must be for pre-1997). The pair of bolts on the passenger side are much more difficult to reach, and took even longer to remove because there's no room for a ratchet wrench. This means hand wrenches, and repeated tiny amounts of movement.
Three hours later, a sore back, arms, and legs, WD-40, and the use of my heat gun later....let's just say those four bolts did not come off without a fight. 16 years of rusted bolt vs. my 160-pound weakling ass required the use of all of the above, AND lots of patience with occasional cussing. 20-minute install, my ass!
Anyhoo.....Stock exhaust is 43 pounds and is the dirty exhaust, the Pride lightweight exhaust is the shiny thing behind at 18 pounds. Thank GOD it's so light, else I would have waited till the next day to finish install. Did I tell you I was sore? Note the tiny dent in the exhaust can, but it's in a place that is never seen after install, so I didn't complain to Pride about it, it isn't a huge deal.
Installing was a breeze. It took two minutes to hang the new exhaust, and another 10 minutes to screw the (now lubed with WD-40) bolts back in.
The only fly in the ointment was that the curve of the adapter for the left side of the exhaust was such that I could not get one of the spring-loaded bolts back through the hole connecting to the cats. I had to improvise and install that bolt backward, without the spring. Not ideal, but workable for now.
The work and soreness were worth it, though! The exhaust sound is AMAZING. It's like the NSX's testicles dropped and made the car go through puberty. NICE deep tone. The only significant drone comes if you do part throttle at 1800-2000 rpm. It is louder than stock, but I can hear myself speaking in the cockpit easily, and on rapid acceleration..... :drool: it sounds so good.
And now for the part you are waiting for....a long neuronbob™-style comparison video! In this video, I compare the volume of the stock with the Pride Lightweight, and do a direct comparison of external and internal exhaust sound between the two. The video is longish but will hopefully be helpful. Earphones are a must.
Stock Acura NSX exhaust vs. Pride Lightweight exhaust - YouTube
