So my FD is currently sporting a custom fabricated exhaust system that the PO built for it. It's a really nice piece of work, with quality welds from the V-band connection at the single turbo turbine housing all the way out to the dual tip tail pipes - it actually looks almost OEM. It's all 3" SS piping from the turbo to the muffler, and it flows really well. After living with it for a while though, I've come to the conclusion that it's TOO FREAKING LOUD, and the droning at highway speeds is ear-splitting torture.

My game plan is to just buy an off-the-shelf system, and modify my existing DP to mate up with it - since the existing DP is pretty long (it ends well past the bell housing, maybe about midway along the tranny's length), I suspect it will be long enough so that I can cut it down to size and get a new flange welded to the end to mate up with whatever off-the-shelf system I buy.

I'm looking for a system that flows really well, minimum 3" piping all the way back, presilencer/resonator replacing the cat (which I never had) and muffler. Stainless steel, high quality construction. Dual tips would be nice for that OEM look, but a single tip is OK if it's not too rice-y looking. Needs to be reasonably quiet when driving around town with a nice deep tone, no droning on the highway, but sing boosted rotary when I get on it - basically I'd like it to sound like my S5T2, which is running the Borla catback duals, with a Racing beat DP & presilencer.

What systems on the market today would you guys recommend that meet my criteria?

 

If the system is built nicely, why not add something like the Borla XR-1 muffler where the cat would be. You would have to modify it anyway to use anything else, so this would be a lot easier and cheaper.

Vince

 

Racing Beat's catback sounds nice and is very well made. I have the dual tip version.

 

Most cost effective way would be add another muffler and a resonator. It will make a big difference in noise and drone without limiting flow too much.

 

In general, exhausts that have an oval/square can are going to be quieter than ones with a round can. Racing Beat and the Tanabe Medallion are excellent cat-backs that are easily available new and are sane with the noise levels.

I'd probably get a good cat-back then have a midpipe/resonated midpipe/high flow cat modified to meet your current downpipe. I'd rather hack up the center section than the cat-back.

A quieter exhaust does definitely cost horsepower but it's worth it not to go deaf .

Dale

 

i have a Japanese Rx7 magazine with a muffler test in it, and they were really thorough. its DB, dyno numbers, and a frequency chart. the TL;DR is basically that the larger muffler the quieter it was. pipe size barely made a difference, although the car was stock twins

 

^Agree these are good ideas, and probably the most cost effective solutions. Will need to do a little research on the Borla muffler/resonator pieces and take some measurements to see what I can do there. The only risk is on how the end result will sound when paired up with my existing muffler.

WHAT DID YOU SAY??? I CAN"T HEAR YOU!

Yeah, the RB catback is on my short list - it's a quality piece. I can also pair it up with the RB mid-pipe/pre-silencer they offer, and then I'd only have to modify my existing DP to mate up with it. The end result would be a system that I could get replacement parts for without the need for custom fab work - if I end up swapping my turbo some day for something better, worst case is I can either buy an off-the-shelf DP that fits with the turbo, or modify my existing DP again.

^That does look sexy

 

Tanabe Medallion here. Like DaleClark says excellent exhaust!

 

Would the Tanabe fit the opening in the stock bumper/valence panel without melting it? Looks like you got an aftermarket valence piece there that is a bit more open than the OEM piece.

 

Ive got the OBX-R knock-off catback. Its 90mm of Korean fury and has a big oval muffler- so its quiet.

Better quality and flow than RB in my opinion (though its quality isnt that great).
RB would be bottom of my list- pretty restrictive (15-30rwhp on single turbo) and from what I saw with TII Rev TII poor quality with mig welds and poor design/materials choice.

If you are baller get the 90mm RE Amemiya dolphin tail with 90mm midpipe. I think its under $2k.

 

HKS DP + Bonez Ho-Flow + Racing Beat catback has treated me well for years. Before I had the RBs, I ran a PFS catback which also sounded nice and mellow...if that's what you're looking for. From what's been in the grapevine lately though, racing beat quality has taken a nose dive. If you want RB, probably be better to find a clean used one.

If you want LOUD, Apex'i N1s are well built and will **** off the neighbors.

 

Are your tail lights coated with something?

 

I've seen it in person, it does fit great and doesn't hit the valence.

The biggest offender for melting the bumper valence is the N1 Duals, that has to be one of the worst exhausts out there.

Dale

 

lmao, it looks cool, but it is SO LOUD...

What did the rotary race say to the other rotary racer?



What?

 

They are the Car Shop Glow taillights. Not sure what they use to tint them. Maybe lots of dark clear hah.