on another note...the exhaust tone will be different with just the muffler as opposed to the whole system. with just the muffler(and the stock 1 5/8" piping) the tone will be loud and high pitched and annoying, with the whole system(2.25" piping) the tone will be deep.

 

I still have the axleback section of my N1 for sale from my turbo car. It's in pretty good shape and i'm sure most the guys here in the civic forum can vouch for me. I'll let it go cheap, make me an offer

 

You'll need a pry bar for rubber hangers, a metric socket set. An o2 sensor socket if your car is OBD-II (has 2 o2 sensors)

If you're buying a cat-back, that's the only reason to be concerned with the rustiness of the bolts. Otherwise, if you're doing the downpipe or "A" pipe back (from the manifold) including the cat, it will be super-easy. Air tools or a big breaker bar will easily rip the manifold nuts holding it on right off, and you can drop the whole exhaust at once without mucking with the rest of those bolts. Use PB blaster on the hangers and bolts/nuts for a few days and heat cycles before you start taking it loose if you have to, though.

The turbo-back exhaust I bought from Apex'i for my DSM was the best fit I've ever had bolting anything aftermarket to any car. It fit better than a lot of stock stuff I've purchased. It came with everything needed hardware-wise. Gaskets, hangers, etc...