Official Exhaust Photo & Sound Thread

[Karma_hunden]

which one would be better if i want my car to sound good and perform good at the same time?

EDIT: Hello? Anyone?

 

[Solo2Protege]

ARK DT-S Exhaust Video Sound Clip

VIDEO CLIP

(right click and save as)

sorry for the wind noise...didn't think it was that bad. I'll have better ones up later.

 

[Karma_hunden]

hm...it aint working for me, im getting an error message.

 

[Zano]

VIDEO CLIP

(right click and save as)

sorry for the wind noise...didn't think it was that bad. I'll have better ones up later.

Sounds great! Clip works now btw .

Does anyone know the difference between the ARK and the Magnaflow? I'm planning on boosting later any suggestions?

 

[M399]

nice clips guys...

 

[Zero Cool]

My cars P.O. installed a Magnaflow Muffler. but it looks like they just cut the stock pipe before the muffler and welded the new one on.

Sound is ok. not real loud. thats good in my book. sounds like a quiet bean can muffler. gets a little droney on the freeway however.

What are peoples opinion of the performance of a magnaflow. is there any performance benifit? Some cars dont perform well with less back pressure. If there is no performance benifit, i may switch back to stock. Being in my late 30's im not really into all the hype.


Zc

 

[Solo2Protege]

Sounds great! Clip works now btw .

Does anyone know the difference between the ARK and the Magnaflow? I'm planning on boosting later any suggestions?

the only real difference is the muffler itself and the craftsmanship. same specs. 2.5" pipe, slip on with clamps, 3pc w/resonator

I recently heard a magnaflow system, definetely louder than the ARK. Not bad, but i prefer the ARK.

 

[bbrich57]

Vibrant Exhaust Installed!!!


I feel like I've waited forever to get an exhaust system, so forgive me if I get a little wordy on this one.
First I looked at the MagnaFlow, but thought them too loud and wasn't that crazy about the tip either.
Then I saw and heard the ARK system. Beautiful craftsmanship. Double walled tip, but I was concerned that it wouldn't be loud enough! Plus the cost of having flanges welded on (a personal choice) would've put the cost over the top.
I ended up with the Vibrant through a GB on the other forum and finally installed it this morning in my gravel driveway. I don't recommend that last part, btw. This system comes w/it's own high-flow cat, and is flanged, so it costs a little more.
First impressions: Install took about 1-1/2 hrs due to the usual learning curve (had to undo some of what I had done and redo several things), and Vibrant decided I could reuse the cat bolts that are welded on(?) and did not provide a new cat flange gasket. I had to reuse the old one and so far it seems OK. Even on a gravel drive I might have had the install done within an hour had it not been for these problems. The upper flange bolts are very hard to reach. I had every 14mm wrench and socket I own out there for this.
I would rather have the ARK tip. Vibrant's is a single wall, 4" variety vs. their 4" double wall, but it does look good.
The sound though is just what I was looking for. When you're on it, you know it's there. When you're cruising you can't tell that it's not the stock system. No raspiness. No droning, just that low, deep growl, if you know what I mean.
But the BEST part is... the lag that I have always experienced upon launching is GONE!!! An absolute smooth take-off!! I was so surprised when I took her out for the maiden voyage that I didn't have to double clutch her like usual. I nearly did it anyway out of habit! I had to stop, back up and try it again just to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
I can only hope that ECU doesn't "adjust" and that it will stay that way.
No pics or sound bites yet. Hopefully soon.

 

[bbrich57]

BTW: As a little side-note and warning to those that have yet to do their exhausts, be very wary of that thin aluminum heat shield. That damn thing is dangerous and sharp. I lost three knuckles to it doing this job, in part because of those upper flange bolts I spoke of. If you have a clamped system you may not experience this....

 

[tsunami]

very very nice... i am so tempted to jump in on that group buy but right now i have a turbo manifold sitting in my closet and corky bells maximum boost about 1/3 of the way read so i think i am going to hold off and go that route.. pics and sound clips!!! time for an intake isn't it???

 

[bbrich57]

Oh you crazy Mainian!! Goin' BOOSTED, huh? (cool) Ur GF is REALLY gonna love that!! (rlaugh)
Pipejames was holding the GB for max of 5. I was #2, but haven't been able to get on for 2 weeks to find out if it's over or not.
I'll get something up ASAP, and thanks for the compliment Derek!
Since day one I thought the OEM exhaust was whimpy, especially for a "sporty" car. I couldn't even hear when the car was running at first. So this has been a long time in coming.
This isn't nearly as loud as the Stebro I put on a Volvo 1800 I once had, but then I'm not as young either.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

Yeah that heatshielding is pretty much like a steak knife, all nicely serrated and waiting for your knuckles\elbows (dont ask how I cut my elbows cuz i sure as hell dont know)

Now what you gotta do with your vibrant is ditch the hiflow cat and put a test pipe in (shocked) Im more in love with it now after doing so.

 

[bbrich57]

Yeah that heatshielding is pretty much like a steak knife, all nicely serrated and waiting for your knuckles\elbows (dont ask how I cut my elbows cuz i sure as hell dont know)
Now what you gotta do with your vibrant is ditch the hiflow cat and put a test pipe in (shocked) Im more in love with it now after doing so.

THAT is an excellent way of putting it. I was trying to come up w/a metaphor like that.
Did you have trouble getting to some of those flange bolts too? Mine came with no intructions and no cat bolts or gasket. For the money I paid I was a little surprised.
As for the test pipe... 'don't think so? The po-po 'round here are already becoming my "fast friends." (enguard) I don't think I want to give them any more reason to get closer. 'Sides, I can't see myself changing it back every time I have to get her inspected. And unless this system mellows out a lot, I don't want it any louder either. Most get a little louder with use, IMO (old school.) I wasn't even going to do a high-flow cat until this.
#250

 

[bbrich57]

very very nice...

Hey Derek, I just wanted to remind you of something you'd sent me a while back.
Quote: tsunami - 03-13-2006 04:01 PM
nice pedals man... lookin good, now if you can just the wife to let you get an exhaust... lol
Hey!! It only took 5 months and the selling a guitar from the collection. (and several undocumented arguments.)

​

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

It will mellow out a bit in a few hundred miles. The test pipe makes it sound like it did when I first installed it. Only time its any louder is at WOT, still have zero drone on the freeway etc.

Im in CA, and since having the test pipe I had to cut my vibrant to get the hiflow out, and have the midpipe flanged, I will probably end up having my stock cat cut out and flanged so I can bolt that up when it comes time for smog.

I ended up putting 2 nuts\bolts on each flanged and having to go to a muffler shop to get the exhaust cut and welded so I could get the muffler off my gas tank (06 pzev issue) and having an extra o2 sensor bung welded in (another 06 pzev issue)... and they put the extra hardware in.

 

[bbrich57]

Well, I got a few pics (no big deal. You've all seen tailpipes before I'm sure) but am having trouble uploading video. Probably my stupid ISP/Dail-up.
Will try again tomorrow w/the :50 clip I have.
Sorry 'bout the dirty car. Too much to do this w/e not ebough time to wash her after the fact.

For some reason, that tail looks bigger in person than it does here. Almost too big!!
If anyone wants to see what the Vibrant system looks like before the install, let me know. I have pics but would need to ready, and upload them.

 

[RHAGEL]

Well, I got a few pics (no big deal. You've all seen tailpipes before I'm sure) but am having trouble uploading video. Probably my stupid ISP/Dail-up.
Will try again tomorrow w/the :50 clip I have.
Sorry 'bout the dirty car. Too much to do this w/e not ebough time to wash her after the fact.

For some reason, that tail looks bigger in person than it does here. Almost too big!!
If anyone wants to see what the Vibrant system looks like before the install, let me know. I have pics but would need to ready, and upload them.

Looks good. Not big on the red emblems, but what kind of paint did you use? I want mine a metallic, high gloss black and not sure on brand of paint.

 

[Solo2Protege]

Looks good, the tip seems to sit up under more than the only other hatch i've seen it on... Good purchase.

The ARK tip i have is 4.5"...which sounds like alot, but fills the bumper hole nicely. I got used to it and it doesn't seem too big anymore...that Vibrant looks to be a bit smaller!..lol

RHAGEL: I had my badges painted body color along with some body work on the MZ3...but i priced the 3 badges in body color for our MZ6 and the shop said $45...thats pretty reasonable to me....and all i have to do is drive 2 blocks there and 2 blocks back

 

[bbrich57]

Thanks Solo2!
The tip is under on the right side (middle of the car) but sticks out just a bit on the left. It is 4" at it's end, but tapers inward. For those of you familiar w/"Classic" Star Trek, I call it Commador Deckers' Planet Killer, 'cause that's kinda' what it looks like from a side and end view.
I thought the ARK (my other serious choice) had a 100-105mm tip depending on who you talk to, or about 3.93"-4.13"? A couple a' guys in our local chapter have them and I do LOVE their tip, but if I'd paid for flanging, which I intended to do, and a high-flow cat, it woulda' cost much more than this did. The quality seems good overall, but as I'd said, no one that I know of beats ARK's tip for quality/appearance.
Thanks again!!
Still having trouble w/that sound clip though. It failed after three hours uploading.
Those that heard the clip through my camera speaker ask me, "is that a chainsaw?"

RHAGEL- PMed.

 

[bbrich57]

Looks good, the tip seems to sit up under more than the only other hatch i've seen it on... Good purchase.

I was thinking and wonder if that hatch used a sedan exhaust? There are different part numbers and, as you may know, the sedans body is just a bit longer than the HB.
edit: Here are some close ups of the tail and how it sticks out for you to compare.