, the Phat GT designed dump pipe was now finished. Having just completed the ceramic coating process last week, it was now ready to be put on it's next victim (Phil being the first). So I dropped by Liverpool Exhaust early this morning, hoping to get it done in 2-3 hours.
However after removing the factory dump pipe, the installer was unable to fit Phat's pipe on. Uh-oh.
A quick call to Phat revealed his design was based around Phil's manual MY07 GT. Mine is auto (yeah yeah, go ahead and laugh you bastards 
), so the gearbox is bulkier and was in the way of the pipe. Heh-heh, I guess this makes me Phat's dump pipe guinea pig for the MY07 GT auto. 
Anyway, the installer ended up cutting Phat's dump pipe in the middle, and then custom made the connecting piece between the dump pipe and the resonator from stainless steel. It had to have enough bends to wrap around the gearbox.
Hmm, I'll need to check with Phat on this, but I'm guessing the ceramic coating helps the piping from getting too hot. But without the heat shield like the factory pipe, I wonder how hazardous it's going to be with the stainless steel pipe exposed like that.
In any case, after 5 agonizing hours
, the install was finally done. The installer did a fantastic job at welding the pipes together, and even polished it nice and shiny. 
Initial feedback is the car is more responsive. Seems more eager to run through the RPM's, especially at mid-range. Noise has also increased, both inside and out. It rumbles a bit more from within the cabin, but not enough to intrude or be an annoyance. From the outside the exhaust note seems a bit deeper as well as a bit louder. I'll post up another recording of the K2's with the DP on YouTube tonight and update the Exhaust Clips thread.
Overall it is a positive performance mod. A bit more noise, but also a also more power and response which outweighs any negatives.
This mod is definitely recommended to anyone thinking about it. I don't know about the MY04-MY06, but for you MY07-MY08 owners, please verify that the dump pipe you're getting (whether it be AVO from NextMod or this one from Phat) matches your transmission.
Update - Took it out for spin tonight to put the DP through it's paces, and the car really came alive. Turbo spool seems quicker, especially at mid range, and acceleration is very punchy now. Exhaust note is more aggressive inside and out, but still a civilised environment inside.
And the exhaust video has been uploaded to YouTube and the Exhaust Clips thread updated. Unfortunately it sounds almost identitical to my other K2 videos only it's a bit deeper in tone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBuYfG9RgWI
The Phat GT designed dump pipe in the flesh. Shiny! And like most aftermarket ones, has a single cat instead of two like the factory's
The single opening of the factory dump pipe. Pretty restrictive, but again it should be to keep noise levels down.
Like most aftermarket performance dump pipes, Phat's one has two holes to allow for escaping gases to shoot straight to the cat rather than get bottlenecked at the flange opening.
Looking from front to back, you can see the chopped dump pipe at the top and the fat arsed gearbox that stands in it's way. Wow, do I need to clean the car's underbelly.
The stainless steel connection pipe that joins the dump pipe and the centre pipe. Again, pretty good weld and polish from the installer. Very professional.
