What to ask for in custom exhaust

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

Hey I don't no much about exhaust but I found a shop that can do a custom job for me but I'm not really sure what to ask for. I'm assuming the the muffler in the middle is the resonator and the one towards the back is the cat-converter.(I think its usually the other way around right?) So if I want more flow/better sound. If replace the resonator with a straight pipe then do I replace that cat with better one, take it off, or leave it? He told me different things he could do but I don't know whats best. Stupid question I'm sure.

[walmark]

OK, allow me to correct you:

Cat (aka Catalytic converter) is EARLY in the system - right after the flex pipe and before the middle muffler/resonator. The last one is simply the muffler or the rear muffler.

Since you have a V6, there is not much you can do about loudness of your system. Removing the resonator and replacing it with straight pipe will make it deeper and give it more burble, but not necessarily louder. You could put some small, ricey rear muffler... but then you're just gonna sound like a Civic ;-)

As for flow - go with a 2.5" system. 3" is a waste here as your restricting point will be the cat anyway (if you're going with catback). Downpipes are out of the question on V6 - routing of the exhaust is very strange on that engine (2 separate manifolds, one of which contains the turbo, etc.) and I don't think anyone makes them. I guess you can replace the cat with a race one (high flow), but I don't know of anyone who have done it on V6.

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

Originally Posted by walmark

OK, allow me to correct you:

Cat (aka Catalytic converter) is EARLY in the system - right after the flex pipe and before the middle muffler/resonator. The last one is simply the muffler or the rear muffler.

Since you have a V6, there is not much you can do about loudness of your system. Removing the resonator and replacing it with straight pipe will make it deeper and give it more burble, but not necessarily louder. You could put some small, ricey rear muffler... but then you're just gonna sound like a Civic ;-)

As for flow - go with a 2.5" system. 3" is a waste here as your restricting point will be the cat anyway (if you're going with catback). Downpipes are out of the question on V6 - routing of the exhaust is very strange on that engine (2 separate manifolds, one of which contains the turbo, etc.) and I don't think anyone makes them. I guess you can replace the cat with a race one (high flow), but I don't know of anyone who have done it on V6.

Thanks for the knowledge now I wont sound like an idiot lol. What if replace both the mufflers with straight pipe. Would it be like too loud? According to GS website the simmons/bsr cat back fits on the V6 and I4 so it should be possible to add an after market one right? Or is the DP and the cat one piece?

[walmark]

From what I understand for V6 the parts are as follows:

- front bank manifold with turbo

in parralel

-rear bank manifold (no turbo)

-front exhaust: front and rear downpipe, flex pipe, cat

-rear exhaust: middle resonator and rear muffler

The simons/BSR system from GS is catback - you literally screw it to the back of the cat and remove the original resonator+rear muffler, which are a single piece from the factory. I'm running that system and must say very please (although not loud!, just nice and pleasant )

Replace the whole rear exhaust with just piping? I dunno about that That might make a lot of noise, not to mention impossible to stand drone at highway speeds. You can replace the resonator with pipe, but you HAVE to have some sort of rear muffler.

If you wanted a system with cat - probably doable, but that would require some fabricating and cutting/welding the flexpipe/cat in place and then attaching catback system. As I mentioned before - I haven't heard of anyone fabricating downpipes or complete exhausts for V6, so it would have to be a custom job.

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

O I see so if I wanted to go stage II in the future I wouldn't need to replace that cat anyways. cat-back means- Hooks up after cat and through the back. I thought it meant something else lol. Now the question is what kind of muffler do I get. How big is the stock piping?

[walmark]

Exactly, you got it

When I took the stock system off my car it looked like 1.5-1.8", but I can't be sure. The BSR definitely looks beefier

GS has 2 options - BSR and JT. You can also contact the guys at CTI to see what they can do for you. Alternatively, you can have your local muffler shop to fabricate the piping and weld in Magnaflow muffler - there were couple people here giving that setup thumbs up as well. I was in a hurry with mine (failed state inspection due to rusted muffler), so I went with something I could put in myself

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

Yeah I'm thinking the local route. I want it to be as CHEAP as possible lol. 2.5" and a magnaflow is what I'm leaning towards I don't know what to expect out of the v6.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with this hungry mind I appreciate all of your time.

[Midnight9-5]

hey, i went with a strait pipe where the middle muffler was and a magnaflow at the end. i would recomend putting a middle muffler/resonator on instead of the strait pipe you will have some rasp if you dont and it gets annoying, i have a V6 and putting the resonator and magnaflow it sounds very good. the strait pipe and a magnaflow sounds ricey

[nutsmith]

Originally Posted by walmark

Exactly, you got it

When I took the stock system off my car it looked like 1.5-1.8", but I can't be sure.

I can't say for sure, I've never gotten my hands on a V-6 (or under one) but my 2000 aero has 2.25" or 2.375" full system stock from there 2.5" would make little difference.

Also, It would be minimal work for an exhaust shop to fit a race cat and go 3" from before the cat all the way out. Again, I've never dealt with a V-6 so I don't know what the stock system looks like, or what diameter piping is in there for the downpipe ect

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

Originally Posted by nutsmith

I can't say for sure, I've never gotten my hands on a V-6 (or under one) but my 2000 aero has 2.25" or 2.375" full system stock from there 2.5" would make little difference.

Also, It would be minimal work for an exhaust shop to fit a race cat and go 3" from before the cat all the way out. Again, I've never dealt with a V-6 so I don't know what the stock system looks like, or what diameter piping is in there for the downpipe ect

Yea if the piping was pretty big already I was just gonna keep it and save some cash. Everyone says theres no room on a v6 for a bigger down pipe so no dice there

Originally Posted by Midnight9-5

hey, i went with a strait pipe where the middle muffler was and a magnaflow at the end. i would recomend putting a middle muffler/resonator on instead of the strait pipe you will have some rasp if you dont and it gets annoying, i have a V6 and putting the resonator and magnaflow it sounds very good. the strait pipe and a magnaflow sounds ricey

You wouldn't happen to have a sound clip would you? I don't really care if its that loud because I guarantee me stereo is louder lol. I just want to make sure that if I decided to I can go stage II since the price dropped so much. Actually the guy said he could replace the rear muffler with straight pipe for like $60 that be alot like your setup except a louder and better flow but probably too loud.

[toxicavenger]

you might need to check the diameter of your exhaust if I am not mistaken the stock diameter is 2 inch. don't measure the exhaust tip but the actually exhaust system. and if anyone runs a 3 inch exhaust then they are wasting there money. IMO if you want to a cheap but decent exhaust then get rid of the mid-muffler with a straight pipe and put on a chambered muffler. I have a chambered Magnaflow with No droning. what ever you do keep your CAT installed. good luck

Originally Posted by nutsmith

I can't say for sure, I've never gotten my hands on a V-6 (or under one) but my 2000 aero has 2.25" or 2.375" full system stock from there 2.5" would make little difference.

Also, It would be minimal work for an exhaust shop to fit a race cat and go 3" from before the cat all the way out. Again, I've never dealt with a V-6 so I don't know what the stock system looks like, or what diameter piping is in there for the downpipe ect

[Oh4Sh0]

good thinkin.. let me know what you find or I'll get under my car tonight and do some measurements.

[Oh4Sh0]

I was thinking it was about 1.8" after checking. Teck, did you get a new cat-back system fitted?

And wal, do you have a couple pics of your system you'd mind sharing? I'd like to see what it looks like and get an idea for what the install process is before I decide I'd order the Simons kit.

[Teckniec1999 9-5V6]

Originally Posted by Oh4Sh0

I was thinking it was about 1.8" after checking. Teck, did you get a new cat-back system fitted?

And wal, do you have a couple pics of your system you'd mind sharing? I'd like to see what it looks like and get an idea for what the install process is before I decide I'd order the Simons kit.

Unfortunately some stuff came up so I haven't been able to get it done yet.

[nutsmith]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

... and if anyone runs a 3 inch exhaust then they are wasting there money ...

Ouch! To each his own, but I am curious to know what the basis of this opinion is. I am one of many reading and posting here with a 3" kit. Regardless of necessity or preference, the JT 3" kit is quite a value There are several cat back 2.5" kits out there that are the same price or close to the full turbo back 3" kit that I picked up.

[all4show33]

I actually just got my exhaust done a a very reputable exhaust shop here in Raleigh and it sounds great. He ran a 3" pipe from the cat back with a magnaflow muffler, with NO resonator. It is not that , but a really nice deap tone. I love it and best of all it only cost me $20 and an hour of my time. It tinted his dodge ram for it.