Value of a New Exhaust?

[Silver]

I already have a dynomax muffler and a 2.25" high-flow cat (... along with a 16G, Denso fuel pump, manual boost, larger upper IC pipe, larger turbo inlet pipe, everything ported, free mods). I'm considering a 2.5" turbo-back exhaust system, but I'm wondering if this will really be worth the money since I only drive on the street and rarely get above 12 boost and 4,500 rpms. Any thoughts? Would the new exhaust system give me any significant low-end to mid-end perfomance increase?

 

[candela]

Well, it should help the turbo spool up quicker, in giving you more low and mid range. They are more noticable in the top end, but a 2.5" would definetly help out in the low end for that 16g...

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

I only drive on the street and I have a 3inch turbo back with the DP being a O2 elim. Regardless of whether your street only a turbo-back exhaust whether it be 2.5inch or 3inch will help you out greatly.

Later,

 

[InFlames]

yea, i think with all the other mods on your car, you should feel a much bigger increace in power with a larger exhaust that a stock turbo DSM would feel. You would be able to take advantage of that 16g!

 

[InferiorWang]

you never get above 12 psi on a 16g!?!

 

[G-Ell]

Yes. There's way too much backpressure with the 16G + stock exhaust. Removing it would really help spool up.

Why have a 16G if you rarely are going to run 15+ psi?

 

[Silver]

The reason I don't often get above 15psi is that I typically upshift out of 1st and 2nd at about 3500rms, at which time I'm running only 5-10psi of boost. In 3rd the turbo spools up much faster and I do sometimes push it to 15psi, but by then I'm at 55-60mph and usually shift into 4th.

Hopefully the new exhaust will give me a faster spool-up in 1st and 2nd. (I just visted a local exhaust shop who will install a 2.5" downpipe w/ flex + 2.5" catback (pressbent, unfortunately) + a Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler ... all for $520. (I'm going to stay at this point with my existing Car Sound 2.25" high-flow cat).

Certainly would appreciate any other tips for low-end power and quicker spool-up. I've done all the MAS hacks to get as lean as possible.

Thanks for all the great feedback!

 

[candela]

Well you want another tip... don't get a press bent exhaust!!!! The stock exhaust won't be much worse if you get a press bent 2.5"!!!How does 3rd spool faster than first and second? A GOOD exhaust and then maybe some port work will get that turbo to spool much quicker.

 

[Silver]

Candela, do you have a recommendation for a 2.5" mandrel-bent exhaust?

 

[candela]

Holy geez...it all really depends on price and sound quality. Performance ofcourse, but they all perform very closely to one another. The most quite and subtle exhaust I know of is the Thermal R&D, and the best looking and sounding is probably the N1...its loud at wot but can be very quite if driven generously. I didn't really care about looks, just price and performance, so I went w/the dsm performance/extreme exhaust. Everyone will have there own opinion, but if you want to know about a specific exhaust Im sure somewill know so just ask...

 

[Silver]

I was actually checking out their website (DSM Performance) when you posted.

I was looking at the Thermal R&D, but the guys at Roadrace Engineering kind've talked me out of it telling me it's really loud.

Thanks!

 

[Silver]

Yes, the Extreme Turbo DSM 2.5" Catback + 2.5" Downpipe looks good at this price.