Quieter Exhaust

[MSMS3]

Well I finally got around to installing the magnaflow 14616 resonator in place of the second stock renonator. There is no more drone! car is much quieter. You can still hear it outside, but its so much quieter inside. I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

Uh, unless I am mistaken the 14616 is 2 1/2 inch on the inlet and on the outlet side. Our stock exhausts use 2.8 inch piping, slightly larger than 2 3/4 inches. That is really going to decrease your exhaust flow. And it is a muffler rather than a true reso, if I read the catalog properly.

Did you have to fit the 41616 inside your pipe where the second reso was rather than over the pipe to make it fit?

It's great to know you tamed the drone. That is huge. I sure hope I am wrong on the pipe size. If it's only 2 1/2 inch in diameter for the center pipe, hopefully you did not hurt your performance too much.

 

[john blutarski]

Remember that we all live in very different environments and I would agree that in any city the exhaust wouldn't be considered loud at all and would blend in with the other noises. But I don't live near a city and the vast majority of my driving is in rural and residential areas. The exhaust definitely stands out where I live and as mentioned before, if there's a good solution I would be interested.

Keep in mind that every single one of us buys a car to meet a certain requirement. Some of you mod for more power, better handling or just to make the car stand out more. My MS3 is a daily driver which I also hope to AutoX during the summer. I really don't want the car to attract too much attention.

I'd suggest just adding another resonator to your stock system or if there is no room then putting a muffler in place of one of the resonators.

 

[florindi]

You are wrong about the pipe diameter. The stock size is 2.5, but at the bends it's slightly smaller approx 2.4. The entrance end the stock pipe actually fits inside the new resonator. The exit end was about the same diameter. I did not lose any power, just the drone.

 

[MSMS3]

You are wrong about the pipe diameter. The stock size is 2.5, but at the bends it's slightly smaller approx 2.4. The entrance end the stock pipe actually fits inside the new resonator. The exit end was about the same diameter. I did not lose any power, just the drone.

Thanks for the correction. I was measuring O.D. rather than I.D., thinking that your reso would have to slip over the outside of your pipe. I just went to the Magnaflow site, checked their catalog and you are correct in pointing out that the inlet and outlet on your muffler have bulges at each end so that they will slip over your pipe and still maintain the correct 2.5" I.D. sizing. This is a good find you made. Getting rid of the drone is huge

The reso I got from Vibrant did not have those bulges for fitment on each end, but was sized as a straight tube so that it would fit over the outside of the 3 inch race pipe I was modifying. Different design and measurement.

Since I was adding a reso upstream and taming the drone at that point, I needed something a bit different. Your solution is more practical for most owners who do not have a DP/RP.

Now we have cars that sound more like upscale European performance machines rather than, well, I'll say it and get flamed -- fart can ricers.

I look forward to you posting the pix.

 

[florindi]

Here are my photos of the work.

 

[MSMS3]

Nice. You picked a good shop.

I like the neat, clean weld on one end. But what's with the clamp on the other end? Still looks good, but I would have thought they would weld on both sides.

Maybe they did not want to take that section out from under the car?

When I had my RP reso installed we had very tight quarters to work because it is oval shaped. We had to slip it over both ends, install the RP, rotate the reso to the point of maximum clearance, then lock it temporarily with clamps, remove it, mark the alignment with a metal scribe, remove the clamps, line up the marks and then weld it all the way around on both ends. That way it is permanently welded but clears the cross member that goes over the top of the RP.

What were your guys doing with the clamp?

 

[florindi]

That is a V-band clamp so I can take the exhaust out around the subframe. I didn't want to weld it in place like the stock setup.

 

[freeflyfreak]

florindi, do you have any sound clips?

I really want to kill the drone in this car, I was contemplating the racing beat exhaust, but I didnt want to pay $525 when a cheap solution will do. I see you may have found it.

So, a few questions.
1) sound clips do you have any?
2) Where did you get it from/how much ?
3) How much did you pay for install, or did you do it yourself?
4) How much clearance is there on that inside edge between the resonator/cladding it looks close from the pics, do you get any contact there with the engine movement?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[MSMS3]

That is a V-band clamp so I can take the exhaust out around the subframe. I didn't want to weld it in place like the stock setup.

Understood. This is a very nice setup.

BTW: I just drove my car from Gulfport, MS to Atlanta, GA yesterday for a meeting. It was so nice to have the constant speed highway drone gone. Before the drone (and increased noise level from being catless) was inducing headaches on long trips. No more.

You have a sweet fix and still have all your power. Enjoy.

 

[Metro Gray]

florindi thank you for posting back. Sounds like you found a solution.

I would also be curious about the distance between the muffler and the insulation. Is it really close (closer than the stock) or is there enough space between them?

 

[mikesul]

Florindi,
Nice post & pics. I am also looking to get rid of the drone at hwy cruising speed. Did an insulation kit on my C6 and added another trunk floor mat and it quieted down. I am going to try the resonator fix first though.

 

[freeflyfreak]

I would also be curious about the distance between the muffler and the insulation. Is it really close (closer than the stock) or is there enough space between them?

I think florindi is not subscribed to this thread, I did ask him that question and some others via PM.

The answers I got were

"It sounds just like stock but substantially quieter. It completely removed the drone. If you don't want loud then this a great choice.

I purchased the parts from Amazon.

Magnaflow 14616 $85
Vibrant 2.5" v band clamp SS $60
Three hours labor $225 from a great fab shop. SS tig welds
$370 total.

There is not rubbing or hitting. There is plenty of clearance. This is one mod that came out perfect. "

 

[Lee456]

A couple people have asked about the Magnaflow CBE in this thread. I put one on my 2008 about a month after I bought it last summer and have been very pleased with the sound. It's a bit louder than the factory exhaust but not enough to notice with the windows up and I think it sounds a lot better. I don't know if there was any difference in the power, it certainly wasn't as noticable as the SRI, but it was worth it for the sound, is very well made, and fit real well.

 

[XUrotaryrocket]

After reading this entire thread I'm a bit amazed. It's clear that very few people throwing in their 2 cents have any experience with real sports cars. There is nothing loud or obnoxious about the exhaust system on this car. Go buy an FD RX-7, slap on a Racing Beat catback and then you'll experience something close to loud. And that's probably the quietest FD catback there is.....

I hate to say people, but if this non-existent "drone" gives you a headache either grow a pair or sell the car.

 

[18psiWhiteMS3]

i think drone is awsom to be honest. I wish i had more

 

[Lee456]

There is nothing loud or obnoxious about the exhaust system on this car.

I agree with that completely. I thought it sounded pretty good for a new car. At least you could hear it, unlike some. I wanted to be careful about the choice of exhaust, though, since it's the first 4 cylinder car I've owned and I didn't want to make it sound like some of the Civics that go by that sound a lot like my old Suzuki 1100 with aftermarket pipes. I don't know whether you can make a Speed3 sound like that or not, but I didn't want to order an exhaust, put it on, and say OH s*** when I started it up. I've had a lot of loud cars, but a loud V8 with no cats and no crossover sounds a lot better than a loud Civic.

 

[florindi]

After reading this entire thread I'm a bit amazed. It's clear that very few people throwing in their 2 cents have any experience with real sports cars. There is nothing loud or obnoxious about the exhaust system on this car. Go buy an FD RX-7, slap on a Racing Beat catback and then you'll experience something close to loud. And that's probably the quietest FD catback there is.....

I hate to say people, but if this non-existent "drone" gives you a headache either grow a pair or sell the car.

I guess I'll take my "non exsistant balls" and go drive my other car which is a 911.

 

[MSMS3]

Just what models of 12 second or high 11 second quarter mile BMW's Porsches and Mercedes have loud exhausts? Pull up beside a 400 plus hp new gen Corvette and listen to the exhaust at any volume level except WOT. What do you hear from any of these cars?

With respect, the volume of exhaust has absolutely no relationship with the size of the balls of any of those drivers or of those in this thread who seek a little refinement along with their speed.

Right now I'm running 13.4 second quarters at 107 mph with a very open catless exhaust that is probably quieter than stock. I like it that way. Straight through resos are a very good thing to tame droning and intrusive sound.

Maybe the posters with bigger balls would like to spend a little time on the drag strip with me in the other lane? Come on down.

 

[john blutarski]

After reading this entire thread I'm a bit amazed. It's clear that very few people throwing in their 2 cents have any experience with real sports cars. There is nothing loud or obnoxious about the exhaust system on this car. Go buy an FD RX-7, slap on a Racing Beat catback and then you'll experience something close to loud. And that's probably the quietest FD catback there is.....

I hate to say people, but if this non-existent "drone" gives you a headache either grow a pair or sell the car.

you're cool...

 

[crossbow]

Though it's probably stated earlier in this thread, I'll mention it here for those (like myself) who don't feel like slogging through 7 pages of arguments.

The two quietest exhausts (and least drone) for the MS3 are the Cobb catback, and the racing beat catback.

Of these two, only the racing beat catback is still in production. The RB catback eliminates decel resonance in the cabin, and greatly reduces drone while cruising, or at low rpm. It has a nice note at WOT, and is generally more "sleeper" then the stock exhaust due to it's better manners and smaller tips. (2 smaller tips instead of 1 giant cannon).

You can find soundclips on youtube.