Well guys, I received my replacement on Friday and installed it yesterday.
Oddly enough, the quality of this one wasn't quite as good as the original incorrectly sized one I received.. Allow me to clarify... The build quality / material / welds are on par and of good quality... But the I had to file the holes in the mount that fits over the turbo because they were too tight, then I had to grind down the tab that "separates" the wastegate from exhaust outlet of the turbo because it was hitting the housing too early (wouldn't allow it to fit completely flush).
BUT... Once I resolved those issues, it went on pretty much without any other hitches. When I first alligned it I thought I would have issues with it hitting the tranny pan, but when I tightened it up it cleared it just fine. The flex section is pretty fat though, and holds against the bottom of the car, so I put a layer of heat rag around it so it doesn't melt the material it's against.
I only replaced the downpipe and the secondary cat with a R/T high flow cat, and left the cat-back exhaust alone for now (future project). I already have an APEX'i Power Intake installed from a while ago. When I started up the car it is about as quiet as before, but it defitinely has a different rumble that sounds like the car has something to prove.
I took her out and lit her up, and with just the cat and the downpipe there is a HUGE difference... I can hear the turbo spooling louder and MUCH earlier than before (it's actually hard not to spool now, even with a light foot). When I stomped it the car is definitely louder and more agressive sounding, but most importantly IT GOES! My stock crapper boost gauge shows about a 1.2lb increase! I know that may not be accurate, but damn, my ass dyno certainly registered a solid increase in power.
The parts are also SUBSTANTIALLY lighter than the parts they replaced, so although it's not a drastic difference, it's certainly a nice little perk for them.
So, in brief... Although it took a bit of work to make everything go together properly, once it was installed it is truly worth it. You really can't beat the price, and the stainless steal was what attracted me in the first place. I trimmed the rear off of the turbo heat shield for aesthetic appeal (it still covers the exhaust side, but leaves the downpipe exposed). I gotta say, I'm very happy! Why couldn't the car have come like this from the factory???
-James