Need help with making my exhaust sound good

[dsmcoder]

I have a 1991 1g dsm and I really don't like the way the exhaust sounds. I have a 3" apexi n1 downpipe with cat bypass and the rest of the system is stock. My exhaust sounds ok after 2500rpm but I want a nice clean sound until I start boosting. I want to keep the downpipe if possible sense its already on there. Any ideals?

 

[jaycemocapaldi]

Really, what you should do for a great sound, is a good full exhaust! You can keep your DP, just find a good full exhaust to fit it or at least a tip. it most likely sounds bad because of the stock tip on it.

 

[bo0st]

Is the cat still on it or no?

 

[nightmares GS-T]

Well there are a ton of options to choose from. Megan racing, thermal R&D, magnaflow, and apexi all make great mufflers and most people with DSMs use one of those. As far as the exhaust system thats a waste all you need is the muffler and a flange to mate up to the downpipe and any half decent muffler shop can get it all welded up for much less than the name brand full systems you pay for. The only difference will be that the pipe wont be stainless. I personally use a 30 dollar ebay muffler and I love it.

 

[Blurred Talon]

Why not get an Apexi N1 to go with your N1 down pipe?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

dsmcoder, your problem is the stock exhaust from the cat back. Just get a new catback and you'll get a great tone with improved flow. You can't go wrong. That crappy stock muffler is sucking up all your sound.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Punishment Racing 3" catback for $339 shipped.

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I have it and I love it! Not too loud but sounds great!

 

[SD99GST]

+1 for the punishment racing catback, have heard it and it sounds almost like my HKS. If you have a extra hundred in budget I would get the HKS cat back, by far my favorite tone and look.

 

[Talon tsi PR]

Get rid of the stock exhaust and buy an aftermarket one like HKS, Thermal or custom straight thru mandrel bent with magnaflow muffler. I had a apexi catback but is very restrictive exhaust when i switch to my custom catback i gained 23whp, it sounds awesome and the cops dont even look at my car

 

[Dr Funkenstein]

Seeing a lot of conflicting answers in this thread.

What if I wanted a good sounding (not like a loud fart-can) exhaust for my GS-T? Honestly, once I make over 200HP I'm good, so the exhaust is the only thing I want to upgrade.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

What if I wanted a good sounding (not like a loud fart-can) exhaust for my GS-T?

Punishment Racing 3" catback. I have it and I love it! Not too loud but sounds great!

It might look like a fart can but it doesn't sound like one. Great tone, I am very happy with this exhaust.

 

[4g63Powered]

Another option would be to buy a nice chambered Magnaflow, and have a muffler shop run the pipes to it.

I used to have an old school GReddy system (still said Trust on the muffler, iirc) that sounded really nice. It was only 2.5in, though. Easily enough for 200whp, but not for where I was going.

 

[pboglio]

IHMO, I would consider only systems that are stainless steel, preferably 304. The bigger the muffler case, the better. I like the Thermal R&D exhausts after countless rust thru failures with HKS and all the other systems.

 

[whitesmoke]

go with thermal r and d..they sound mean and are good quality

 

[dsmjunkie97]

I have also personally liked and had good luck (quality wise) with the R&D exhaust on my 1g. Sounded great with a good tone and was a slight power adder from factory.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Seeing a lot of conflicting answers in this thread.

What if I wanted a good sounding (not like a loud fart-can) exhaust for my GS-T? Honestly, once I make over 200HP I'm good, so the exhaust is the only thing I want to upgrade.

With a turbo your exhaust won't sound like your average fart can on a N/A car. The turbo smooths and quiets the exhaust anyway so you won't get that loud, raspy sound that a non-turbo car makes with ANY type of straight through muffler.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Another option would be to buy a nice chambered Magnaflow, and have a muffler shop run the pipes to it.

I used to have an old school GReddy system (still said Trust on the muffler, iirc) that sounded really nice. It was only 2.5in, though. Easily enough for 200whp, but not for where I was going.

You don't want a chambered muffler with a turbo, you want straight through. Also DSM's came stock with 200 hp so even the stock exhaust supports 200 hp.

 

[Dr Funkenstein]

With a turbo your exhaust won't sound like your average fart can on a N/A car. The turbo smooths and quiets the exhaust anyway so you won't get that loud, raspy sound that a non-turbo car makes with ANY type of straight through muffler.

That makes sense!

You don't want a chambered muffler with a turbo, you want straight through. Also DSM's came stock with 200 hp so even the stock exhaust supports 200 hp.

Don't the 1Gs come with 195hp? I'm just looking to replace the exhaust as far as power mods go, so maybe I'll look into the Thermal R&D.

 

[4g63Powered]

You don't want a chambered muffler with a turbo, you want straight through. Also DSM's came stock with 200 hp so even the stock exhaust supports 200 hp.

I was referring to Funkensteins post about only wanting 200Whp.

For that power level, a chambered is fine. Hell, for 300whp a chambered is fine. Obviously a larger in/out size than stock, but it will work. Plus, IMO, they look nicer.

 

[dsmcoder]

I will do some research on the exhaust setups you guys listed. I forgot to mention that my car is automatic and awd if that makes a difference

 

[Maxter22]

i got a thermal with no cat and it sounds nice compared to my honda

 

[dsmcoder]

Can you guys post some sound clips of different exhausts so I can decide which one sounds the best?

 

[Talon tsi PR]

You don't want a chambered muffler with a turbo, you want straight through. Also DSM's came stock with 200 hp so even the stock exhaust supports 200 hp.

195hp but that is measure at the flywheel the rating at the wheels is lower, ditch the stocker and get the Thermal R&D sound level its decent with decent power gains

 

[Clinical]

I highly recommend the Apexi N1 for a smooth even sound when driving/idling and an awesome sound in boost.
Here's a video of my old talon with the N1
YouTube - 1992 Eagle Talon Walk Around
when I sold it I recorded it leaving, you can kind of hear the exhaust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L71aWSxQMc

I also really like Thermal R&D, but it isnt as quiet as the Apexi but it sounds great.
Heres a vid of my laser on a track pass with it, dont have a video of idle/driving.
YouTube - 11 second DSM at the track inside cam & outside. 1992 Plymouth Laser RS-T AWD

 

[williamsoa]

I would suggest to use Borla XR-1 muffler. It has a great sound . . . similar to a V8 versus a "fart can".