OK! So I recently had my engine rebuilt by ABF, and my car is super duper loud. I had a new header installed, running NO CAT, a magnaflow straight through muffler right after the test pipe, a glass pack right after the magnaflow, and a Y piece that separates into two other mufflers to make a dual rear exit exhaust. I'll post some pictures a tad later....

But in anycase, I got the car tuned with NO CAT on, and I want to keep it that way. BUT its freaking loud. What I'm thinking is that the Magnaflow and combo with the glasspack is making it loud as heck. So what I want to do is this: I want to get OEM resonators, specifically 3 of them, and place them right after the test pipe, in the mid section of the car, and right before the Y piece.

Do you guys think that it will be exactly the same as the current setup I have now? I mean I've done some research and I believe resonators are made differently, so therefore it should be more affective when lowering the noise level. I plan on using a Nissan 350z resonator (dimensions: 4" body diameter, 2.5" inlet/outlet, 12.25" overall diameter).

I also figured that the resonator used for that car has a much larger engine than the MINI, maybe 3 resonators is a little overkill, but what do you guys think?

Also, if I use couplers and U-exhaust clamps, would that be just as effective as welding? Thanks everyone! Input is welcomed from anyone!!

 

If you want a quiet system, replace everything with Hushpower (Flowmaster) resos and mufflers.

 

Will the hushpower IIs, fit under the MINI? They look a bit big from some of the dimensions ive seen.

 

The 18" Hushpower II fits as the primary resonator (I got one on mine). For the catback, I don't know if a small Hushpower II could fit.

 

Do the hushpoweers really work? I see them mainly on hotrods and stuff. Maybe a hushpower right after the cat and two resonators after ?

 

Do the hushpoweers really work? I see them mainly on hotrods and stuff. Maybe a hushpower right after the cat and two resonators after ?

 

Magnaflows are simply freakishly loud, all there is to it.

 

Thats what my thinking is, and i think that if a muffler/resonator is designed to be a silencer or resonator alone, it might work better than the magnaflow and glasspack i have on there (IE the 350z resonators).

This is the setup I want to do:

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JArclzwK54gWZsaaoo7lHg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xESVDGbXPG8/TObWcNqjAmI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/bojMzXfybAs/s144/Current.jpg" height="66" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/phungshum/Extra?feat=embedwebsite">Extra</a></td></tr></table>


<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WkcZ1xVNiYMcDH2zxh9vIA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xESVDGbXPG8/TObWcRssfGI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/Yc6GwYbKq7c/s144/New.jpg" height="66" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/phungshum/Extra?feat=embedwebsite">Extra</a></td></tr></table>

 

This is the setup i have now, im thinking that maybe replacing the magnaflow and glasspack with actual resonators, that serve the purpose to silence and exhaust might work better?

 

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xESVDGbXPG8/TO...40/Current.jpg


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xESVDGbXPG8/TO...c/s640/New.jpg

 

As a general rule of thumb, the more the resonator quiets the exhaust, the more restrictive/disruptive (to the gas flow) its going to be. Yes you tuned with no cat, which are restrictive parts of an exhaust system, but by putting 3 resonators in there instead of a cat to lower the noise the same level, you're not benefiting THAT much in terms of power "loss" or "gain", however you want to look at it.

In other words adding 3 resonators may have a similar (negative) effect as putting a hi-flow cat on there. Then again, hi-flow cats may now quiet that much either.

I don't have much in terms of suggestions I guess, as I don't know the R53 exhaust systems as well, sorry.

 

I mean i want to add the cat back on, but then of course thats a retune and everything, so im not sure

 

phungshum, here is my setup:

Custom header 4-1 + cat high flow + Hushpower II 18" + "Y" + 2x Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonators. Diameter: all in 2.5" from the header to "Y", then 2" after the "Y" to the pipes (3")

here is the sound at high rev to redline in car while the top is down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK_s3BZSE84


In normal driving, it's loud but not too loud. (Cops didn't intercept me for the noise. And cops pull them often because the noise in my area. I work for the police in my area and, if I didn't tell them, they would never know I modified my exhaust because they didn't have any clues my exhaust is louder than the JCW one.)

 

Better at silencing that is. I heard that the longer the body, the more the sound would be drowned out. If I got a super long Magnaflow round body, say a 4", maybe 22" long, would that be better than an OEM resonator?

Keep in mind, I mentioned getting 3 OEM 350z resonators because I can get them for a better price than the Magnaflows!! Aren't they pack differently also?

 

The longer magnaflow is just as loud, just evver-so-slightly lower in tone. I know, I've tried that on my R53 Mini while we were testing some protptype exhausts. Longer does not mean softer.

 

phungshum, if I was you, and keeping your header and catless setup, I would go with the Hushpower II 18" as main resonator and the rear catbacks of a JCW exhaust. It will be quieter than 3x OEM resonator in a row + magnaflow catback.

 

Magnaflows are very straight through mufflers. In an OEM resonator, theres actual baffles/disruptances (like a maze) that the exhaust gasses travel trhough to get out the other side. In a magnaflow resonator, you can see straight through from opening to opening, and its surrounded by a larger cavity with holes for the gas to move up and around in. However, most of the gas will take the quickest route out, which is straight through, and not much will be "forced" to move throughout the rest of the resonator.

I had 2.5" pipe from the DP straight to a magnaflow muffler in the rear of the car. Lots of drone. I threw on a 22"x4" magnaflow resonator. Helped when it was new, but once the material "broke in" and settled, its just as loud now. So in short, no magnaflows dont do much in the quieting category. Try out the 350z resonators! They will def be more helpful with sound.

 

I think I might go back and put the stock cat back in! After that, I'm probably going to replace the magnaflow under my car with an 18" hushpower II and then tack on two OEM 350z resonators right before the Y piece that breaks up into two separate mufflers. That should help it be super quiet :D. What does everyone think? Is that a solid idea?


I mean before when I had the stock header on there, the magnaflow + glasspack combo was still screaming. Yikes!

 

On second thought, I think its going to go like this instead:

OEM cat --> 350z resonator --> 18" hush. --> 350z resonator --> Y --> dual exit mufflers

 

I run a Mynes V2 header with a JCW catback. I have the stock cat fabricated to be able to pop it out and put the test pipe in for track days. It is a screaming beast with the test pipe in but when I pop the stock cat in makes it very nice every day driver and the best part is no CEL's. The JCW catback incorporates 1 rezonator before the split.

 

Is anyone familiar with the Dynomax race bullet? there is one that is 4" round body, 22" body, 2.5" inlet/outlet. Does anyone know if that will work like the magnaflow i currently have now? What if I added it after the 18" hushpower ii right before the Y opening?