Thread: Exhaust for track car - Muffler? Resonator?

Can't quite find what I'm after in other threads talking about exhausts, so I'm starting a new thread. I'm currently building up a B13 to be a track car, specifically endurance racing. Engine will be an SR20DE, no turbo, SSAC header (2.5" outlet), and intake. I don't see any good reason to keep the Cat, but just to be on the safe side I may put a test pipe in as a placeholder should one ever be required. Exhaust tubing will be 2.5" from the header through to the exhaust inlet.

A lot of other threads talk about how quite one option is over another, the note of the exhaust, etc. I really don't care what the exhaust sounds like, with the stipulation that it must be less than 92db @ 50ft from the car.

Everything I've read says that the performance gain is all about flow, but unfortunately most manufacturers don't list the flow rate for their products.

I know that the resonator is in there to change the exhaust note, and also will reduce the noise levels, generally speaking. So, I'm thinking that I can probably do without a resonator, and thereby save some weight on the car.

Which brings me to the actual muffler. I'm Googling for options, and I'm seeing bullet mufflers, racing mufflers, many others. I know that Magnaflow come highly recommended on the forum (The Magnaflow 12216 seems to be a favorite), but since I don't care about the exhaust note, I have to question if this is the best choice for me.

Lastly, all else being equal, I don't want to spend any more than I have to (who does?), as long as I have a solution that isn't overly noisy (92db) and isn't restrictive.

We used 2 2.5" cherry bombs which met the dB noise requirements at our tracks (I doubt it was 92db though because I think our local tracks allow for louder exhaust). Another way to quite it down is do a side exhaust with a 90 degree bend towards the back (and bent it away from where they test the dB limit)

I came across this thread over on a Hyundai Tiburon forum, which has some pretty good info and lots of pictures of various offerings. Great info on various designs and pros/cons of different types.

I have a cat and headers and 2.5" all the way back to a cheap eBay straight through perf'd muffler. Pretty cheap, not too loud (was well within the dB restrictions at Atl Motorsports Park), and sounds pretty decent.

Especially on a nonturbo non-VE sr20, I think the gains from the exhaust are super minimal, esp between brands of straight through mufflers (not louvered).

Skill between drivers (amongst other variables) are way larger than differences between similar mufflers of the same style.

They seem to vary more on price and quality much more than power.

Personal, experienced opinion.

This is what it sounds like at a track day:


At the very end when the GoPro falls off, you can hear what it sounds like outside the car.

Current set up on my street/track toy is a 2.5 VRS with muffler only, no resonator. I haven't tested it with sound control, but it's quiet enough to drive on the street (it's still loud) and puts 173 to the wheels.

We eliminated the cat by simply gutting it. We currently have some kind of eBay cat back system that came with the car, which does what you'd expect it to do, muffles the sound without any other advantage. Thinking about doing away with the muffler and just running the exhaust to the passenger side. I can't see this being any louder than what rotaries sound like.

Here is a video of our former 200sx SE-R with no cat and 2 cherry bombs with side exhaust for reference:

^^^ Sounds like a winner.

Now we have our b13 SE-R back that has no exhaust right now (loud is an understatement) so we'll have to address this as well of course