Home-made exhuast systems - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Natty · 05-06-2002, 05:22 PM

My current muffler is rusted out and while I am replacing it, I want some performance gains.
The Pacesetter system is a POS from what I hear. HKS, 5 zigen, and apex'i are all too much.
That leaves me with sourcing my own. I found a shop that can do madrel bent 2.25 inch stainless steel from the cat back. I just need a muffler. Does anyone make a good one that isn't lound but has a nice sound.
Or am I wasting my time and I should just go stock?
Thanks,
Jeff

cmathews · 05-06-2002, 06:09 PM

If a shop is making it, is it really home-made??? Anyway, just messing with you. I went the custom fab method myself. First off 2.5 in will be louder than stock. Larger than stock size almoast always means more noise.

...but, here's what I did and what I recomend.

2.5 mandrel bent to a flowmaster offset muffler (not stainless steel, but total cost $280)

this is loud. It sounds almoast the same as my father's formula ford (just as loud, too, except at low rpms)

This gave me much better flow and improved the high rpm horsepower without noticibly affecting low end torque.

As I am now learning, however, loud is cool for a week and when you want to show civics that their fake junk sucks, and that RWD is always beter (assuming you have something to back it up with). (ps I used to drive a civic, and have nothing against civics-- just riceboys)

If I were to do it again, I would do this

- glasspack muffler installed shortly after the cat.
- Turbo II mufler or other non resonating high flow general purpose muffler
- maybe even go down to a 2.25 in pipe

I also had my entire system welded together.
ps -- make sure they give proper clearance for the lower rear control arm-- mine rattles (they will be fixing it shortly).

Chuck

rotaryknight · 05-06-2002, 06:24 PM

Lots of the FD guys use a Borla XR-1 as a midpie/resonator.  Reason is that it flows well and does help cut down the sound when you take the cat of a FD.

I see no reason why this wouldn't make the perfect muffler for you exhaust.  But do remember the piping is just as important as the muffler.  Make sure that you shop does do mandrel bends and does not cheap out on you with crush.  

A mandrel bending machien is pretty damn big and most muffler shops can't afford one so double check especially since stailess steel isn't that easy to work with.

cmathews · 05-06-2002, 06:33 PM

I didn't suggest any of the pricey alternatives because it sounded like he wanted to go cheap. When I checked, I didn't see anything by borla that fell into that category, am I just looking in the wrong places?

Chuck

gsu240 · 05-06-2002, 06:49 PM

i have custom 2.5 inch stainless piping from cat back to a Apexi dunk muffler and i think it sounds great. it was done by MIDAS, and was actually pretty cheap compared to full cat back exhaust, by HKS, GREDDY, etc....

cmathews · 05-06-2002, 06:51 PM

Magnaflow mufflers look like a cheaper alternative, and looks like they are supposed to be fairly quiet.

Chuck

9524tee · 05-07-2002, 03:05 AM

do 2 and a quarter piping from the cat back , with least amount of bends possible, put a glasspack resonater right after the cat , then put a high output muffler that has a decent amount of insulation at the end... should work good .

tnord · 05-07-2002, 08:57 AM

i had magnaflow on an old eclipse turbo of mine, it wasn't loud at all, but i'm sure the turbo had something to do with that. don't get a "turbo" style muffler, they typically have louvered cores. i would reccommend magnaflow.

HonduhToyoKiller · 05-07-2002, 09:14 AM

!  as for building the best custom exhaust system !

you should read this 1st :

http://www.magnaflow.com/05magazine/05sportc.htm

This a very nice ,informative and effective article so read it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='

'>

05-06-2002, 05:22 PM	#1
Natty Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 944 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My current muffler is rusted out and while I am replacing it, I want some performance gains. The Pacesetter system is a POS from what I hear. HKS, 5 zigen, and apex'i are all too much. That leaves me with sourcing my own. I found a shop that can do madrel bent 2.25 inch stainless steel from the cat back. I just need a muffler. Does anyone make a good one that isn't lound but has a nice sound. Or am I wasting my time and I should just go stock? Thanks, Jeff __________________ 1991 White 240sx Fastback LE, rusty spoiler, weak driveshaft, exhaust rattle.... Rattles are just your cars way of saying 'I love you.'

05-06-2002, 06:09 PM	#2
cmathews Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 61 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If a shop is making it, is it really home-made??? Anyway, just messing with you. I went the custom fab method myself. First off 2.5 in will be louder than stock. Larger than stock size almoast always means more noise. ...but, here's what I did and what I recomend. 2.5 mandrel bent to a flowmaster offset muffler (not stainless steel, but total cost $280) this is loud. It sounds almoast the same as my father's formula ford (just as loud, too, except at low rpms) This gave me much better flow and improved the high rpm horsepower without noticibly affecting low end torque. As I am now learning, however, loud is cool for a week and when you want to show civics that their fake junk sucks, and that RWD is always beter (assuming you have something to back it up with). (ps I used to drive a civic, and have nothing against civics-- just riceboys) If I were to do it again, I would do this - glasspack muffler installed shortly after the cat. - Turbo II mufler or other non resonating high flow general purpose muffler - maybe even go down to a 2.25 in pipe I also had my entire system welded together. ps -- make sure they give proper clearance for the lower rear control arm-- mine rattles (they will be fixing it shortly). Chuck __________________ "It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you drive your car. You better learn that." Winning comes only after preparation. If you don't prepare so you can win then you are inadvertantly preparing to lose. Drive it like you stole it!

05-06-2002, 06:24 PM	#3
rotaryknight Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 408 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Lots of the FD guys use a Borla XR-1 as a midpie/resonator.  Reason is that it flows well and does help cut down the sound when you take the cat of a FD. I see no reason why this wouldn't make the perfect muffler for you exhaust.  But do remember the piping is just as important as the muffler.  Make sure that you shop does do mandrel bends and does not cheap out on you with crush.   A mandrel bending machien is pretty damn big and most muffler shops can't afford one so double check especially since stailess steel isn't that easy to work with. __________________ Daily Driver- 91 240 SX SE...S13 Blacktop HKS FMIC, EVC IV, W/G, Racing Suction, DP, Dual Drager, springs/pillow ball mounts Whiteline sway bars Tokico blues Koyo Radiator, Fluidyne fan J30 VLSD stock exterior. Fun Car- 94 FD3S (TO4S). The White HKS FD in FnF......may she rest in pieces.

05-06-2002, 06:33 PM	#4
cmathews Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 61 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I didn't suggest any of the pricey alternatives because it sounded like he wanted to go cheap. When I checked, I didn't see anything by borla that fell into that category, am I just looking in the wrong places? Chuck __________________ "It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you drive your car. You better learn that." Winning comes only after preparation. If you don't prepare so you can win then you are inadvertantly preparing to lose. Drive it like you stole it!

05-06-2002, 06:51 PM	#6
cmathews Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 61 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Magnaflow mufflers look like a cheaper alternative, and looks like they are supposed to be fairly quiet. Chuck __________________ "It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you drive your car. You better learn that." Winning comes only after preparation. If you don't prepare so you can win then you are inadvertantly preparing to lose. Drive it like you stole it!

05-06-2002, 06:49 PM	#5
gsu240 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: GA Age: 43 Posts: 409 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i have custom 2.5 inch stainless piping from cat back to a Apexi dunk muffler and i think it sounds great. it was done by MIDAS, and was actually pretty cheap compared to full cat back exhaust, by HKS, GREDDY, etc....

05-07-2002, 03:05 AM	#7
9524tee Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lexington KY Posts: 545 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	do 2 and a quarter piping from the cat back , with least amount of bends possible, put a glasspack resonater right after the cat , then put a high output muffler that has a decent amount of insulation at the end... should work good . __________________ Nancy Kappa Monkey Squad

05-07-2002, 08:57 AM	#8
tnord Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,975 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i had magnaflow on an old eclipse turbo of mine, it wasn't loud at all, but i'm sure the turbo had something to do with that. don't get a "turbo" style muffler, they typically have louvered cores. i would reccommend magnaflow.

05-07-2002, 09:14 AM	#9
HonduhToyoKiller Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 18 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	!  as for building the best custom exhaust system ! you should read this 1st : http://www.magnaflow.com/05magazine/05sportc.htm This a very nice ,informative and effective article so read it <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> __________________ I rather push a Nissan than drive an Honda . If GOD was not merciful Honda would not have been existed! One of the most sad reasons we should envy japanese Silvia S15 owners : " they cant count their gears with one hand" AIManny184