Thread: The Quest for the Non-Raspy Resonator

Good idea with the different resonators vqman, and putting as many resonators as possible

I actually have a flowmaster 60 series muffler, the quietest one they make. I have the flowmaster installed after a Catco universal performance type cat and a decent sized magnaflow resonator. The exhaust is actually the 2.5" madrel bent system from JGY, I just replaced the magnaflow canister type muffler (that it came with) with the flowmaster. It was pretty quiet but I still was not satisfied. I cut out the flowmaster and remounted it as far towards the rear suspension as I could so I was able to weld up a piece of tailpipe after the muffler about 14" long. This made a huge difference, the exhaust was way more quiet and mellow with the tailpipe. The intake is louder than the exhaust now.

I mentioned before that many of the aftermarket mufflers we use are designed to be used with a tailpipe. The sound difference between running the muffler with or without a tailpipe is dramatic.

oh i got that from Ben Fenner, he used 2 different brands and a total of 3 resonators... I just mentioned why I thought 2 different brands would be good, "they probably use different materials and reduce different sound waves" or something along those lines is what I said...

wait, here's what I said:

VQman, I don't know why you are going through all of this. My car is nice and quiet with the OEM cat (which flows VERY well), 2.5" VRS piping, 4" resonator, and sti muffler. Honestly, I can barely hear anything. I had forgotten that my engine is that loud! Stop with all the nonsense you probably don't need, keep the OEM cat, get the piping kit with the 4" resonator, throw on the STi muffler, and see where you stand. I bet you'll decide you don't need all the other pieces. If you do, you're not out too much work. Seriously. Stop the madness!

My exhaust is so darn rusty, the flanges and bolts have become one piece... I have already ordered the two resonators which is cheaper than ordering a new cat. With this setup I will be able to replace every inch of my exhaust with new or barely used parts. To go with the VRS, I'd still have to take this to a muffler shop to weld on the STi muffler to the VRS. With the route I'm taking, I an drive to the shop with my OE system in place and all of the parts for my 2.5" setup an leave it in their hands...

I see where you are coming from, but you haven't seen my cat flanges!! Lol.. I want nothing to do with taking that apart.

I don't think they can be any worse than mine after 10 years in Michigan. That's what a cutting torch is for. Bet they can get it off in 1 minute. Just slice off both sides of the bolt with a cutting torch and you are good to go.

"just" slice with a cutting torch? LoL.. like I said, I don't wanna mess with it..

That's assuming I have a cutting torch... I have enough projects that I'm having friends help me with..

seriously thanks for the input, but I have my reasons, I gotta do it this way.

As promised, heres a pic of the exhaust:





With the header and the highflow cat, it feels like the overall curve's increased after ~3000rpm, low end feels very much the same.
The exhasut note is a bit louder and deeper, and you can hear each exhaust pulse a bit more distinctly at idle, it's nice. It sounds a bit more like a factory OEM performance exhaust, if one was ever made. Overall I'm happy with it.

i bet if you replace the rusted resonator with a magnaflow (or other brand) it will be quieter, thats what happened to me atleast

Mine? It's fine internally and has surface rust on the outside... it's an 18 year old Canadian car