Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

[jpitt1987]

Hello fellow members,

Recently I decided to install a custom exhaust on my Nissan 240sx. The guy who did was super professional and did an amazing job on it and gave me a great deal on it too!

Well he installed it, just straight pipe (no cat, muffler, or resonator), and it is louder than my brother's MACH 1! A 2.4L produces WAY more volume than his 4.6 V8! Those of you who own a Mach 1 may find this as shocking as I did. The sound is so loud and overwhelming that driving the vehicle is a PAIN. Not only that, but it draws unnecessary attention to myself. I really want to keep the tone of the exhaust...it sounds so good, it is just way too loud. I jokingly compared it to a favorite song with the volume too high

Anyway, I have now turned to ya'll to see if you can help me out here. I would have gone to my 240sx forums, but they are for the most part not very helpful and itching to argue over petty things.

Just a few final thoughts before turning it over to the trusted MOL community:

*I would really like to keep the exhaust because I got it for such a good deal...I am looking for solutions to FIX the problem, not REPLACE it.
*I wanting to install a hi flow cat because driving cat less is both ecologically irresponsible and illegal. Will it deaden it sufficiently?
*Will a resonator help too? Or will it just inhibit exhaust flow?
*I would really like to stay away from a muffler...from my understanding, adding a muffler would change the tone which is something I would rather not do.

Once again, thank you in advance. I know I can always trust MOL...even for non-paint finish questions

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Well, IMO, very few if any vehicles sound good and TASTEFUL with no mufflers. As you noticed, it is just plain old stupid loud as I like to call it.

A muffler WILL change the sound, but that doesn't mean you can't get a sound you like. In fact, I would almost guarantee that a good muffler (Borla, Magnaflow, Corsa [not applicable as they only sell full systems] etc) will give you a sound you like ever MORE, but at a reasonable volume. A lot of technology and testing goes into muffler systems these days, and they are made to sound optimal and precise.

A hi-flow cat, or even 2 or 3 will NOT reduce the sound enough, only the level of your pocket book.

Might a resonator? *Maybe* but I personally wouldn't go that route.

IMO, you should research as best you kind to find sound clips on your specific engine on the internet with various mufflers and find one that suits you best.

Borla is generally considered the highest quality, and is particularly well liked with "tuner" type applications-but of course there are many others.

If you added a muffler you could have it added in inline and keep the piping already installed. Your muffler guy will be able to add it in 15 minutes or less.

[jpitt1987]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Lumadar,

You are right about the installation...it would take NO time. I am wanting to get everything together so that when I go, I can get it all done at the same time.

At this point, I am really open to do whatever, things can only improve...hopefully. I have checked youtube and I found some things. I found a lot of 240sx's with just a hi-flow cat and a resonator and it sounds pretty good, IMO. But, like you said, I need to keep doing research!

Thanks! Keep em coming!

[roushstage2]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

I agree with Lumadar. Check online for sound clips and see what you like, not what everyone else likes. It is your car...

On a side note though, it is probably louder than the Mach 1 because you have no cats or mufflers. Mustangs have four, yes four, regular cats and 2 mufflers with 2 1/2" tubing. Take everything off of the Mach 1 and see what happens.

[jpitt1987]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Exactly what I was saying roush, and that shouldn't happen...
Actually, my brother's mach is running only cats and no mufflers. I described it the way I did to show how UNGODLY loud it is. I mean, if I was planning on dragging this, then I wouldn't care...but it is a daily driver and I don't like headaches when I drive the car.

Plus, the girlfriend HATES how loud it is. I need to get this fixed for my relationship's sake haha

Thanks for the comments!

I'll post up some research findings soon.

[jpitt1987]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Well, thanks to you guys, it is coming together quite well!

After a couple hours of reading various articles and product descriptions it seems that I have narrowed it down:

For the catalytic converter, it is going to be b/t magnaflow's new compact catcon or the regular 2.5in high flow.

And I am going to take your advice lumadar about the muffler over the resonator. Looking online and reading some people's reviews of the magnaflow universal mufflers, I am sold! They sound better and are very easy on the ol' pocketbook. I think I am looking at about 120-140 for both shipped!

It'll be sometime though, I am not jumping to put money in this car because I am leaving for school monday and this car will be here in the garage for about a solid two months :| I hope my brother will take care of it!

Thanks once again! Always reliable!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Glad I could help you out I have run Magnaflow on both of my trucks and LOVED the sound- very aggressive, but refined and not obnoxious. They just sound MEAN.

Borla is on order for my Focus as it is the only system I could find that didn't sound "ricey" (For lack of a better term).

[jpitt1987]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Trust me man, I know what you mean about the "ricey" sound. There are too many kids in my area that have that, and I definitely didn't want to join that crowd. That is why I was somewhat apprehensive about going with a magnaflow muffler. Honestly, I really did like the sound of straight pipes; to use your words, they sounded "mean". But after checking some sound clips (closes I could get to my engine was hearing a Sentra sound clip via their website) I like what I heard and I do believe describing them as "refined" is accurate.

I see that you live in CA, is it tough to pass emissions? I only ask because I am moving to Pasaden *hopefully* by fall 09.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Trust me man, I know what you mean about the "ricey" sound. There are too many kids in my area that have that, and I definitely didn't want to join that crowd. That is why I was somewhat apprehensive about going with a magnaflow muffler. Honestly, I really did like the sound of straight pipes; to use your words, they sounded "mean". But after checking some sound clips (closes I could get to my engine was hearing a Sentra sound clip via their website) I like what I heard and I do believe describing them as "refined" is accurate.

I see that you live in CA, is it tough to pass emissions? I only ask because I am moving to Pasaden *hopefully* by fall 09.

Eeek, yeah California is the gold standard for tough emissions. It is against federal and state law to MOVE or REMOVE a catalytic converter, and you will almost certainly fail an emissions test based on sight alone without any. They are tough about that stuff.

Personally, I have never owned a car long enough to have to get it smogged, haha, but I have plenty of buddies that have, and I belong to many auto forums so that is where I have heard first hand stories about it.

In other words, at the very least keep your factory cats around because you may need them down the road.

Generally speaking, though, an engine with a few mods like exhaust and intake can still easily pass emissions as long as it is tuned properly and not running extra rich.

I'll try and find some sound clips with a magnaflow for you on your exact vehicle, if I will I'll post it here.

[jpitt1987]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Hey man thanks!

I have heard a lot of stories about them, that is why I asked.

Currently, I pay 12.50 and all the guy does is check the lights and horn. Where my vehicle is registered they don't check for anything else...

[03mach1]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

I have a 03 mach 1 and yes they are quite but that is because like Tyler said it has four cats on it. It ***** that I do have four cats. I have the Bassani cat back sytem on it. I was told that certain exhaust companies help with gaining more HP than others. Bassani is one of the companies and I think corsa and borla and Flow Master are the others I think. I am not sure if Apex does. My friend has a 240 SX and he has a Apex can on it. Sounds nice. He straight piped it and I could hear it two miles away when he was floored.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

Borla, Corsa, Bassani, and Magnaflow are generally some of the best for power gains. Sadly, Flowmaster has earned the name "slowmaster" as it rarely gains anything, and in some cases causes losses.

I tried finding quality magnaflow sound clips and didn't really succeed, so I would urge you to keep looking to make sure you make the right purchase.

Do you belong to any forums for the 240sx? I bet you could find stuff there

[Sal329]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

I muffler and cat or a resonator would be my suggestion. The Mach 1 sounds not as loud becuase there is either an X pipe or H pipe depending on the system he has installed, and some cats if he still has those. I had a mustang went through several exhaust set ups and found 2 that I loved.

[acsuppa]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

I had a Magnaflow on my truck. It sounded great. Before I got it, I put on a Flowmaster DeltaFlow and hated it. I had it on for a week and cut it off. I had the Magnaflow stainless for about 3 years before I traded the truck in.

[03mach1]

Re: Thoughts on vehicle exhaust

If you get Bassani you can take the baffle out to increase sound. It is a bassani exclusive.