Squeezing Out More Horses

[Jesda]

What is the exhaust like on the 92 Q? If I were to remove secondary mufflers and resonators, would I gain performance?

Thank you,-Jesda

[AZhitman]

Nope - Several threads here on that very subject.

Besides, it'd be irritatingly loud.

[don85259]

slapping a true Borla dual exhaust kit on there (or something along those lines)? I've hear of a modest increase - say 10 or 20 horses - by doing this.

???

--don

[AZhitman]

Problem is, the Q DOES have true duals. I get a SMOKING deal on exhaust work, and if there was a benefit I'd be all over it.

I can hook you up with a guy who spent $1500 on a tuned custom 2.5" dual stainless system w/NASCAR crossover, freeflow cats, Borlas and no resonator. Gained MAYBE 15 hp (at upper RPM's, where the Q isn't needy).

He wants $1K for it (to recoup his $$$).

I'll be swapping out the rear resonator for a Magnaflow dual in dual out unit soon, but only for the sound (and because my stock one is dinged.)

[GEOFF]

Since the factory exhuast will likely last the life of the car...its hard to justify aftermarket for HP at the end of the curve.

[1qckser]

Sounds like the same system a guy here in CT did, he says his Q feels like a pig down low, says it starts pulling around 5grand (to little to late), I told him to just replace the rear section but he did not wanna listen, well guess what his 94 with that exhaust sounds freakn horrible.

[Eswift]

the stock stainless wont necessarily last the life of the car in the salt belt.

the welds will rust.

[Q45tech]

If you had a JWT ecu and the 7300 rpm redline and was running a quarter mile race, an extremely loud exhaust system might knock 0.1 seconds off at a terminal speed of 96-98 mph.............worth about 14-20 feet, a car length is significant if you are racing.

[Jeff Williams]

I got an itch to replace my resonator with a dual in/out Magnaflow and some adjustable tips, that increase backpressure at low RPM, and open up under pressure. They are from (don't make fun) J C Whitney. This is the same principal of my I30t muffler.

Any Idea if this would keep the low-end the same & help the HP?

[Metroyed]

aftermarket exaust? why not just buy a honda?

[Q45tech]

Contrary to popular opinion, moding stock exhaust after the cats WON'T affect low end TORQUE as the exhaust system back pressure is already so low until 4,000 rpm.

Using a K&N [or other brands] Cone filter will cut low end torque slightly as you are removing the tuned section/sections in front of the MAF.

[crubio]

What do I do if I just want to improve the sound. I'd like a nice throaty bark, do I have to just replace the muffler? There are so many sections to the stock exhaust system, I think the muffler is at the very end with the tips on it?

What do you experts recomend?

Thanks

crubio90 Q bone stock

[maxnix]

aftermarket exaust? why not just buy a honda?

I say bronze this one and put it in the FAQ as a subtitle.

[maxnix]

What do I do if I just want to improve the sound?

Lookat Impul and Junction Produce.

Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

[sijoko]

If you want to improve the sound, replace the rear muffler only with a straight-thru type such as a Magnaflow. You won't really notice much of a performance gain because the Q45 exhaust is pretty efficient.

I have already been down the exhaust modification road. The mufflers under the car are of a straight-thru design, so no use in replacing them.

[AZhitman]

Lookat Impul and Junction Produce.

Brian - Why send him overseas for something incredibly expensive when he can buy the same thing at Muffler Master's?

[Q45tech]

As is the rear muffler [a straight thru design] shine a flashlight into the outlets you will see the rear wall where the pipes come in [offset to the inside corner].

[maxnix]

Brian - Why send him overseas for something incredibly expensive when he can buy the same thing at Muffler Master's?

They are made for the car, something that isn't true for any American made one.

Also, they have great little mp3 recordings for the Cima on Junction Produce exhaust systems so one can hear the "improvement."

Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

[Jeff Williams]

Quote »aftermarket exaust? why not just buy a honda?[/quote]

I tried hooking a Honda to my tail pipe, and there were no HP gains, and the sound was kinda blatty.

What a waste!, I spent nearly $50.00 for that Honda, too!

[reggiegsd]

I put a big coffee can wrapped in aluminum foil on mine. It added at least 40 hp!!!

When I add a set of Disco GT Grabbers on 19 inch wheels, I'll be in the low elevens for sure!!

[GEOFF]

I thought flames exiting the coffee can were needed to add 40 hp?

[Jeff Williams]

I think I used the wrong coffe. My Folger's Dry Roast can, only gave me 36 HP. Is it supposed to be Maxwell House?

[crubio]

Also if you have some parts of the car that are primer that adds about 20 horses

[Jeff Williams]

My left front fender is off of a Blue 1991 Q, does that add HP?

[elwesso]

WOW!!!! I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!! Yesterday, I added my first sticker to the Q, and I cant believe the acceleration improvement. 40 HP at least.

[pasadenaQ]

With all due respect, I disagree with most of the posts here about the exhaust mods not making much of a gain. I have a 97-98 with a modified POP, Eibach, a re-tweaked JET ECU, and I am running 18's with corss-drilled rotors all around. I have noticed a gain in my 0-60 and 1/4 mile with both of my exhaust conversions. The first conversion was from stock to a Stillen system. I tested 20 runs during the morning, all at a similar time and outside temp on the same stretch of road. I increased from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds on the 0-60. To me, that's significant. Then, I had my local race builder swap from the cats back. I had a pro body shop cut a second notch in the rear molding and remove the tow hook to make room for the second pipe. It looks cool and stock (except for the big, oval tips that barely peek out). As you all probably know already, the front and back aren't too bad, it's the mid section with the resonators that sucks. It pinches down to smaller pipes, and the larger straight through conversions to dual Magnaflows knocked my 0-60's down from stock by 0.4 to 0.8 seconds faster! Also with about 20+ runs. The sound (to me) was nice and not even close to a popping Honda slammer.

[PalmerWMD]

pasadena:

I think your times are very significant.Thank you for taking the time to make a detailed post on before+ after runs.

Fred...

[Eswift]

i concur,

good empirical evidence, good to hear about the improvements, instead of everyone just saying "no gains, no gains"

[QShip]

Thank you for this information.

[1qckser]

Awesome info:ylsuper