Custom Exhaust Question...

[WhiteCloud]

I am probably going to have my custom exhaust done at a muffler shop this weekend and I had a few questions to verify before going in! *I want basically as quiet an exhaust as possible without sacrificing much performance gain. I don't want something that will annoy the hell out of me cruising in 5th or idling at a light.

1) Do I ask for the custom downpipe to come straight down from the o2 housing, or is there another way to attach it? It appears as if the stock o2 housing opening is 2.25 in...how would I bolt up 3 in. piping?

2) I believe I will have to go with press bent piping (I'm paying $100 for this exhaust, give me a break here )...should I do 2.5 in. or 3 in.?

3) I've read on here that Dynomax and Magnaflow mufflers are some of the quietest. What inexpensive, quiet, but still high flowing mufflers are there besides these?

Thanks for the help guys, I'm pumped about the exhaust and know it will be great with your help! -Joe

 

[WhiteCloud]

Well, I realized I sounded like a TOTAL noob asking 2.5 in. or 3...my question is, are press bends in a 2.5 in. exhaust too restrictive? The guy at the muffler shop I took my car to today said the stock 2.25 in. system is mandrel bent, and I would be best off to just add a cutout after the downpipe. Not sure if he was right about that... Should I try to do 3 in. press bent downpipe to a cutout before the cat, then stock cat and catback? That way I would save on a muffler and be able to have an electric cutout instead...

 

[tigerstalon]

If money is that much of an issue, how about leaving the stock downpipe alone for now and going with a high-flow cat and custom cat-back? I would say that a press-bent 2.5" downpipe is no better than stock, and a 3" won't be all that much better. More gains can be made right now by getting a 3" cat-back system. Intake/exhaust upgrades should be done from the outwards in (towards the engine).

As for having a quiet custom exhaust, my experience has not been good. My custom exhaust was very straight with no resonators and a high-flow muffler. Mine droned from about 2500 rpms onwards, making highway cruising a headache. However, it flowed very well. I'm not sure that a good, large Dynomax or Magnaflow muffler will be enough to keep it quiet for you.

 

[WhiteCloud]

3 inch press bent can't be narrower than 2.5 in. at the bends. That's my thinking...so it seems like if they can do a custom 3 in. DP and I can get a cutout right before the cat, I can do an electric actuator and put it on a switch. That way I'm only loud when I want to be (which will be seldom), and I have a DP that is at least as good as a mandrel bent 2.5 in. Thanks for the info about how loud custom full exhausts usually are...I'm leaning away from a full exhaust now, even with a nice muffler.

Anyone know if the custom 3 in. DP shoudl come from the o2 housing or can I eliminate that or what?