nicer exhaust or cams?

[apzak]

Hey,

Right now my car makes more noise than horsepower. :rolleyes I have a very straight 2.25in catback, hs headers, and injen intake. I want a quieter exhaust, so I can realy open up my car, yet sound like I'm crusin along normally. Now, any time I step on the gas (or preaty much whenever I have my car in gear) I sound like I'm racing and it's attracting too much negative attention. To get a quiet exhaust I'll have to buy a new, nice HKS, Greddy, or some other quality brand to make my car less aggressive, and attracting less dumbasses wanting to race. If I go the exhaust route, I also want to replace the dummy cat with a highflow cat so I'm legal when next years inspection comes around. Total of this is about $600 (not including labor for welding cat)

$600 is equal to nismo camshafts. Nismo camshafts are about $300, right? Installation is another $300, and I would love another 20rwhp.

hmm.. decissions, decissions. With the loud exhaust I'm taking it easy because I'm trying to be quiet. This is good for the car's health, and I guess my safetly. I rarely open it up now, maybe on a deserted road with no cops. But still without opening it up it's so loud that I'm attacting rednecks in old pickups trying to race, and basically any other dumbass in a nice car. Your all going to say "just smoke the dumbasses" but I know if I race these guys, any cop in the area is going to look where the noise is coming and definetly bust me which is not good considering my age.

[Holisticbeatz]

Go for the camshafts and take it easy on your exhaust. I mean, you can always take your car to a muffler shop and have them install a resonator for a couple of bucks

[apzak]

now that I think of it.. Eibach sportlines + KYB AGX also costs about $600.. great another choice. Hmm, 240sx's have a preaty hard ride stock, but lots of body roll. Where does the bodyroll problem come from? The struts, or the springs, or both? I tune remote control cars, and stiff ride comes from thick oil in the struts, and body roll is solved with harder springs. I don't know if it's the same with real cars.

I dont know about installing a resinator for a couple bucks. I got back from mineake for a simple 2 second weld job on the muffler and they charged me $30.. RIPOFF. Maybe I could use the receipt to get out a "loud exhaust" ticket I got.. another reason I want to sell it. Too much negative attention.

[tex240]

umm cams sound good where do you get the nismo cams. sway bars will make a HUGE differece and there only liek 200

[apzak]

Don't know where, I just hear about them on the forums.

[krazy skwerel]

I thought the sohc cam was 350 but I could be wrong. If im right though it seems like it would be morw for the DOHC setup. Also with hotter cams will it still pass emmisions. I say get the springs and struts. My 2 cents.

[240SXedUp]

You know you dont have to race someone. You CAN say no to the rednecks.If you plan on doing alot to your car then go ahead and get suspension first. Itll be best in the long run.

[240SXedUp]

Also - If you plan on having a performance car, plan on noise.

[apzak]

I just like more of a "sleeper" with less noise. Anyway, cams wont pass emission? Suspension would definetly be nice.. hows labor compare suspension vs. cams? How long would a performance suspension last? I'd don't see myself selling this car in the future, would I be wrong saying an aftermarket suspension won't last as long as my 50k mile engine? (just incase I decide to swap SR motor once the engine/transmission gets tired in say another 100k miles) damn I don't even have lsd.. so much I want to do.. no $$

I'm leaning towards LSD suspension stuff like that. Maybe in 4 years when college is done and I have a real job I can afford turbo.

[240SXedUp]

What are your plans for the car? Auto-X, drag, street, etc

[apzak]

most likely autocross because the ka is best there.

edit: what are the general rules for "classes" in autocrossing? if I get cams would that move me up a class with difficult competition?

[240SXedUp]

http://www.autocross.com/There are rules and classes and other info on the getting started page

[240SXedUp]

What other cams are good for 240s? I dont really see too much about them around here. I guess theres Nismo, maybe stillen. Who else makes them?

[apzak]

theres also 91 exhaust cams and remade intake cams.. but I wouldn't want something used or remade going into a perfectly working engine.thanks for the link

[krazy skwerel]

As far as emmisions go I dont know if performance cams will pass or not. You gotta figure you are changing the output of the car so there is a chance it won't pass. Any high performance engine mod carries that uncertainty though.

[apzak]

I checked that autocross site and looks like cams is really up there.. like gutted race cars. And the class also said something about only replacing springs, but the shock must stay original. I'm probably reading it wrong. I'd probably be in one of these classes:

"Street Touring (ST)This is a new category of street cars modified more broadly than allowed by Street Prepared rules. It includes 4-seater sedans with specific displacement limits, aimed at cars modified using common suspension, engine, and appearance parts which are fully legal and compatible with street use anywhere in the country. Street Tires are required (DOT wear rating of 140 or better).

Street Prepared (SP)Street Prepared cars are allowed significant modifications over stock, but many are still dual-purpose cars. Some of the permitted modifications are: any legal modification in stock; any springs that fit stock attachements; any sway bars; any wheels & DOT-approved tires; any induction for the engine (except that cars that were originally normally aspirated must remain normally aspirated); and any exhaust including headers. Compression ratio and camshafts in the engine must remain stock. Cars prepared to Road Racing Improved Touring and American Sedan rules are permitted to run in Street Prepared, but as with Showroom Stock, rules "mixing" is strictly prohibited. "

I'm having trouble telling the difference, seems like the same thing. Any autocrossers? I think "MarkEMark" was all motor but has a turbo now. I've seen some of his posts and he seems to know about autocrossing. I emailed a local porsche guy that's near me and autocrosses. I'll see if I can get info on local events.

[krazy skwerel]

I say go into street mod. If i remember right it is pretty much a free for all with what you can do. Might check into it. I run stock so I am not completly up on the mod rules.