Custom Exhaust- Which Muffler?

[Tenormdnes]

I just don't see the point in getting the corksport package. It is the same size piping, with no muffler and what-2 resonators? They want 399 for the 2.0L exhuast. 60 more for the race pipe and and whopping 260 more for the race pipe and high flow cat! That is one expensive kitty! (but I do love Corksport and their intake and swaybar rock)

I just want to chop off the muffler (cuz why change all the piping right), and get a nice tip. If I can keep this under $200 that is a win.

I have liked how flowmasters sound on many different big engine cars...but never heard one on a small displacement engine. Also, they are all chambered and I'm not sure how that would impact performance.

I've had a magnaflow on a 1.5L engine YEARS ago and it ended up sounding very tinny...Is that a word? (like tin= tinny)

[Homer3D]

I had the same issue on my corvette. Every cat back system out there was well over $1600. After doing some research I found that the piping was the same size. I ended up just cutting off the stock mufflers and installing 2 magnaflow mufflers and reusing my tips. The 2 mufflers and labor, total $180. No "tinny" sound here, but then again I have a 6.0 V8.

I never liked the flowmaster design. I don't like how the design forces exhaust to basically bounce around within itself to create its "sound". That has to hurt performance versus a straight pipe design.

[Tenormdnes]

Originally Posted by Homer3D

I never liked the flowmaster design. I don't like how the design forces exhaust to basically bounce around within itself to create its "sound". That has to hurt performance versus a straight pipe design.

Why do they state on their site and the local good ol' boys always say that they make more power? Maybe just more power than a stock POS...but not a straight through style?

I'm going to chop off my muffler this week, and add another resonator (ghetto corksport version). If its too loud I'll go back next week and add a borla..maybe a magnaflow? Or maybe a 5 chamber flowmaster LOL j/k

Anybody else try this? Why is everybody so pumped about Corksport when the size is the same? I bought a 2.5 inch NICE exhaust from a company for $600 before. But my stock set up was 2 inch and the engine was a 2.8 L. That was worth it. Bigger pipe....better muffler. I don't see any CS advantages. But again, I do love their other products!!!!

[Homer3D]

Originally Posted by Tenormdnes

Why do they state on their site and the local good ol' boys always say that they make more power? Maybe just more power than a stock POS...but not a straight through style?

I have no idea. A buddy of mine had a flowmaster and also a cutout. We were at a dyno and tested with the cutout open and closed.

With the cutout open, he had 15 more RWHP than with the cutout closed. So the flowmaster was really hurting the performance.

For those that don't know what a cutout is, it is basically a by-pass installed right before the muffler. When closed, the exhaust system works like "normal" and it goes through the mufflers. When open, the exhaust comes out at the opening and basically like running a car with no mufflers.

[Tenormdnes]

Dude, you are taking me way back to my 2002 z28 days. I love it! And an electic cutout to boot!

I had some good ol boy tell me years ago that these little motors need backpressure. Yeah, i'm sure they do, but from a flowmaster? baah.

Time to head down to the muffler dude and get things chopped!

[Akrynym]

If you do throw a borla on there be sure to post a sound clip. The clip of the magnfaflow i posted in the last page just didn't appeal to me, hopefully borla has that deeper sound.

[Tenormdnes]

Alright...so the super fun winner fountain of personality at the muffler shop tried to break my heart. He said that because the current set up has the inlet and outlet on the same side, he can't do it. He said borla doesnt make a muffler like that. He also said magnaflow doesnt either, but I know they do. (its over $200 on their site).

He said he could do a custom cat back with a magnaflow for $250, plus tip. And the only decen tip I liked was $60! So 310!!! He would have to repipe the whole thing to make the inlet on the right side, and the outlet on the left.

I also asked about just hacking the muffler off and putting a tip, then adding another resonator. He said no! He said there was no room for another resonator! Is that correct? Its raining and I'm in work clothes and couldnt crawl under there. The CS exhaust has 2 resonators and no muffler. So why can't I just do that?

UGH. This lame o just didn't want my money I guess.

For $310 I'd rather buy the CS with race pipe for $460.

How insanely loud do you think it would be with no muffler and just the stock resonator

[Akrynym]

Damn, I believe this difficulty with the exhaust systems is all because the cats are pushed further back on the 2nd gens compared to the 1st gens (maybe).

The CS is pretty loud but I've only seen clips on the 2.0, may be even louder on the 2.5? And with the race pipe it will definitely be louder. I wouldn't mind the loudness if I had a speed but it think it's a little...funny to have such a loud exhaust on a <200 hp engine lol.

With no muffler at all, like a straight pipe? I'd reckon pretty loud.

I'm in the same boat with all this though because my budget for my car went down, got a droid + a data plan so I'm not trying to shell out a bunch of money for something that adds little performance to the car. But I definitely want that deeper sound. I might try posting this over at the moccforums and see if anyone has an idea...need moar 2nd gens!

[Tenormdnes]

I just noticed that you live in RC. I grew up there. I trusted the speedway muffler guys off haven and (7th i think). They mocked up good stuff and it never set me back too much.

I'm in texas and I guess this play was just to big truck friendly to really listen to what I was trying to say.

BTW what HS did you go to?

[Akrynym]

Thanks for the suggestion, I aksed on the other forum about exhausts and was given this advice:

If you're looking for something subtle... you can delete the res, then get a Test Pipe. You'll get a very aggressive sound but not very loud, also it will give you a better performance due to no restriction from the stock mid pipe and res.

May look into that. I asked if they knew of a good shop too so I'll keep yours in mind, I think i've driven by it.


I'm actually only 18 and a senior at Los Osos (it was built in '02 if you've been gone for a while). All my brothers went to Rancho high (and Etiwanda before RCHS was built) though.