this is just a FYI for anyone that would be interested in buying one. I installed my resonated midpipe today and off the bat i noticed more power and quicker spool. it is, as its been stated before, louder and creates more smell. i replaced my RX-7Store hi-flow cat with it, and there isnt a difference in sound at idle. At wide open throttle it is definitely louder, but not by much. i dont have a dB meter to test the sound level. I am a little worried about sound limits set at tracks for racing, but i still have the silencer (which gives the worse performance feeling when driving with it on.)

Product: Pettit Resonated MidpipeBuild Quality: 8 (out of 10)Noise Level: 8 (out of 10)Smell: 9 (out of 10) (questionable)Overall Grade of Product: 8.5 (out of 10)

Positives:Negatives:
Price: $350 + gaskets and hardware.





i hope that helps anyone interested in purchasing a midpipe. i am definitely glad i went with the resonated instead of the straight midpipe.

 

Nice write up. Very detailed and will help others when making a decision. I had one on my car and got rid of it because I couldn't take the noise. It would drone at highway speeds and leave my ears ringing. Replaced it with a Magnaflow midpipe and haven't looked back. Of course I'm an old guy so noise (or the control of) is important to me

 

Historically I've been partial to the magnaflow res mp that rx7store sells, it's a larger rectangular muffler and it cuts down on sound levels substantially more than the pettit unit.

Other problem I've seen a few times with the pettit res mp......over time they can blow out, and you'll hear the packing rattling around inside. These were on used units with some mileage on them however.

 

thanks guys. that should be helpful information for future use as well. had i found a post like this when searching before i made my purchase i might have went a separate way.

David- is it significantly lower with RX-7stores over Pettit's? if so, i might have to eventually switch to that (set up 4.) i dont mind the drone, but are they similar at wide open throttle?

 

I really like mine also, nice low rumble. Not droning thoe.

 

Yes, significantly lower. Cuts the drone right out. At wide open throttle, the Magnaflow is still plenty loud.

 

Not wanting to sound like a tree hugger, but for only slightly more you could have, say, an SMB metallic cat - and not have to worry about installing it on Earth day or the smell of gasoline.

I'm really not sure how the smell of gasoline from a street car is even marginally acceptable. Do you guys not have any friends?

I'd be willing to bet that that the horsepower difference between a resonated midpipe and a decent metallic cat would be within the limits of resolution of a dyno.

 

do you own an RX-7? if so, what are you complaining about or what do you not understand?

i replaced my high flow cat for the quicker spool and response that goes with the midpipe. as for the horsepower numbers, you could be right but it still doesnt matter for me. i'm not building a dyno queen. im building a car that i need fast out of corners. if you really think there isn't a difference between the two products, you are mistaken. i will assume you know how back pressure works and that a cat, even high flowing, is more restrictive then a straight pipe. obviously i thought it was worth it or else i wouldnt have replaced the practically brand new hi flow with it. and for the record my high flow didnt smell much better then my midpipe. please note, i am by no means bragging about the fact that my car isn't close to being 'green;' but i do know what my car is.

as for the remark about friends: after they squeeze themselves into the bucket seat and strap into the 4 point harness, they know they aren't in a hybrid.

thanks for your input.

 

I had one for a long time and switched to the Rx7store. Alot quieter, no droning and no loss in performance.

 

I currently have a strait piped car and i think it may be a little on the loud side, even for montana. I might have to get one of these bad boys. Ha as far as the smell who cares that much, its the smell of power, definetly not a hybred

If you are really that concerned about the environment then you should really not drive the 7 they blow tons of smoke

 

I see nothing wrong with moconnor's post - he's trying to give you another option that is more earth friendly. You posted about feeling guilty installing the Pettit on Earth Day and he presented an option that is more earth friendly and that, in his opinion, most people wouldn't notice regarding performance.

I've thought about this for my 3 rotor as I don't like to come out of the car smelling like fuel. Of course, to each his own.

 

Since the topic is resonated mid-pipe and power related, maybe some could offer some input on this aspect of it:

I have single turbo FD, no emissions of any kind. The exhausts consists of an RB dual tip cat back, and the pipes to get the exhaust from the engine to the RB.

This car is not driven on the street.

At low RPM's the noise is acceptable (my neighbors appreciated the change from Apexi GT to RB Dual), but at WOT it is really loud.

Autox isn't so bad, but driving next to a wall on straight it is too loud for me with a helmet on.

Would adding a resonated mid-pipe (or something like it, suggestions welcome) add enough back pressure to require re-tuning?