Need Opinion on Exhaust

[Gdudeac2511]

I went to my local custom exhaust shop and they told me that they would put a 2.5 inch pipe from the cat back with a single Magnaflow 12265 muffler out to two Magnaflow tips of my choice $450 bottom line. Has anyone done this or know how this will sound. I want performance gains and some sound gains but I don't want it very loud or even relatively rice sounding. Any other options that might fit my taste?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Just FYI 2.5" is going to make you basically lose low end torque a bit, and shift it toward the upper end, and even then then I'd recommend it on a n/a 3.5SE. I believe the stock piping on the 3.5 is 2.25" and the 2.5S is 2.0" . In any case, make sure it's MANDREL BENT and not CRUSH BENT, otherwise you're just wasting cash on 2.5" and getting 2.25" or less around the bends. $450 for a catback + muffler and labor included is a steal, ASSUMING it's MANDREL BENT (I paid $380 for just the 2.5" mandrel bent catback section + hangers/flanges/welds to give you an idea).

Sound wise I ran a single oval Magnaflow on my Sentra 1.8 and it sounds deep without much of that "fart" can sound. Honestly a standard non-turbo i4 really doesn't get any nicer than what you hear on other custom cars. Boxers and such might have their own sounds but not much to be impressed with with our QR25 engines.

[nismogxs21]

I went custom exhaust too with similar specs and I only paid $200 with mufflers and burnt blue exhaust tips. never got a chance to upload a video but i'll definitely try and get on that

[Gdudeac2511]

Yeah,I was told that I would lose low end power with bigger piping so I just ended up going a completely different way. I just had the muffler completely removed and a y-pipe straight out to both of the tips. I;m still not sure if I like the sound, but everyone that has heard it says it sounds good. The major thing that bothers me is that cruising between 45-65 you get a drone noise inside the cabin. I'm now looking into getting a Magnaflow muffler put on. Do you know if its better to get the one bigger oval muffler or the two smaller round body mufflers out to each tip?

[Gdudeac2511]

Here's my video, no revving just start and idle. I'm going to make another one with all that good stuff; let me know what you think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdDBtNj5UxQ

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

A single resonator mid way will kill the drone a little (or a lot) and keep the volume decent. 1 on each tip is no different if you think about it than 2 back to back before the split.

A magnaflow, smaller one, should do the trick as well. Remember bigger = quieter (and sometimes at idle and low revs, it gives it that paper flutter/deep fart sound that I hate). So don't get too large a one. I'd say 1 18" resonator will tone things done or a 8x5 around 12-14".

Edit: Just watched the sound clip. So when were you going to tell us that you are prototype testing Nissan's new Q65DE 6.5L V8?

[Gdudeac2511]

I'm a little confused when you say resinator, do you mean muffler? Also, I came across exhaust tips that say they are resonated. Do you think that will tone down the drone at all and/or how it will effect what I have now. Haha, so do you think it sounds good as a 6.5L V8, or.....? Lol

[Gdudeac2511]

How would Magnaflow muffler 12468 be for my car? I have a y pipe already so that's why I would need two inlets.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

I'm a little confused when you say resinator, do you mean muffler? Also, I came across exhaust tips that say they are resonated. Do you think that will tone down the drone at all and/or how it will effect what I have now. Haha, so do you think it sounds good as a 6.5L V8, or.....? Lol

A "resonator" acts as a muffler but almost always is a straight through design with the walls being filled with sound dampening stuff. It's usually very useful in getting rid of drone, pops and other 'unpleasant' characteristics. A large enough resonator basically can be used like a fart can muffler too (if there isn't a proper muffler in the system) or just a simple straight flow setup for race cars etc.

Anyway, I am not sure how and where you have the y-pipe splitting your exhaust but I assume it's after the cat, mid way down the car body. That muffler #12468 you pointed out might work since it's for dual in out to the tips. I have no idea how well it'll work, so you'll have to google/youtube some videos of someone using this on a similar engine (4 cyl) or setup as yours to get an idea. OR you can have 1 16+ inch long resonator put in BEFORE the split. That is all you need aside or the Magnaflow #12468 you mentioned (1 good one is cheaper than running 2 mufflers, twice the welds, expense, labor etc.).

[Gdudeac2511]

Ok, makes sense now. I'm leaning towards just having the extra resonator put on. Btw, my y pipe is right at my rear axle so not that far up. Do you know if I switched my tips to resonated tips, will that work just as good as a regular resonator?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Resonated tips aren't as effective due to their typical thickness (or lack) and length, so they would have to be pretty long to affect the exhaust issues like drone from what I understand. They're mostly for fine tuning the sound and looks (so it really won't matter in your case).

A proper resonator will get rid of the highway drone you're having (mostly due to where the RPM sits, and the load). Even my v6 coupe had that issue but it was not completely unpleasant. It's a trial and error thing with each car so I cannot tell you just hot big you need to go with it. Try 18", and if that works close enough, good, or else go smaller or larger. Don't forget the in/out diameter should match your exhaust pipe.

Since you have the split near the axle, you can easily put 1 resonator mid ship on the catback pipe before the split and call it a day.

[Gdudeac2511]

Ok that's what I am going onto do then. Is there a better brand of resonator that I should buy, or are they all the same? Can you recommend one? Also what is the stock piping on a 2.5s?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Magnaflow, Dynomax "Bullet"

No idea but I'm thinking 2 or 2.25".

[Gdudeac2511]

The Dynomax Bullet is listed as a muffler, but it can be used as a resonator I assume. Does shell diameter or shell length effect the sound? If so , in what way.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

It can be used as a resonator if it's shaped straight through. Basically the thicker the walls more sound it is capable of absorbing up to a point, and the longer the shape, the quieter since the sound waves have more area to be absorbed in. That's why I mentioned just looking for about 18" + or - a few inches. Since you don't have a muffler at all, I'd recommend to stay on the larger side, but again, it all depends on the setup.