Mufflers

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:01 pm

Long story short, i'm tired of the aftermarket muffler i've got, it runs 2.5in pipe.

Does anyone know of a muffler to suit NA8, which will sound sporty, but not have any drone or excessive noise?
I just had a long trip up into the hills of Perth, and the drone and sheer volume of noise almost drove me mad, with the roof up even.... :frown:

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:10 pm

depends on a lot of factors.

Do you have a resonator in the midpipe?

What sort/size tip do you have? A good trick is to make your tip slightly smaller than the rest of the piping, this will cut noise without significantly restricting the system.

2.5" is probably a bit big for an otherwise standard NA8, but should be OK with a good muffler. used OEM mufflers are generally good quality and cheap.

read a few articles on Autospeed.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:43 am

long trips on the highway and aftermarket mufflers don't really go well together.

what is your budget?

there are stacks of brands out there.. i would tend to go with RS R, or remus, SMB.. i.e. the quality brands..

there is also a brief exhaust database in the forum.. sift around for it, there should be a few examples you can listen to :wink:

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:55 am

Matty wrote:depends on a lot of factors.

Do you have a resonator in the midpipe?

What sort/size tip do you have? A good trick is to make your tip slightly smaller than the rest of the piping, this will cut noise without significantly restricting the system.

2.5" is probably a bit big for an otherwise standard NA8, but should be OK with a good muffler. used OEM mufflers are generally good quality and cheap.

read a few articles on Autospeed.

As far as i'm aware it's completely stock from the cat back to the muffler. The only exhaust modifications have been to the muffler itself, the connecting pipe, and the tip.

Any tips on where to find a good quality used muffler? I haven't had much luck locally. I'll head over to autospeed now.

sliq wrote:long trips on the highway and aftermarket mufflers don't really go well together.

what is your budget?

there are stacks of brands out there.. i would tend to go with RS R, or remus, SMB.. i.e. the quality brands..

there is also a brief exhaust database in the forum.. sift around for it, there should be a few examples you can listen to

Agreed! Budget is flexible, but anything over $200 would mean I have to delay purchasing shocks. Say $100-400.

I've never heard of any of those brands. The only aftermarket muffler i've had on any of my previous cars was a Sebring, which sounded fantastic.
I'll have a dig around, cheers!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:47 am

Remus is always a good choice, nice sound, and no drones. They arent the loudest however (which is what you sound like you want) and are quite expensive....... very expensive in fact....

as Matty said, look into a stock muffler, they have more of a note than most other cars and dont drone etc, plus they are pretty cheap.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:56 am

if you check with the local muffler guys you may be able to add something to the existing set up to tone down the dreaded drone.

Postby **Okibi** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:24 am

Would you be happy with the stock exhaust note or do you want more performance than stock?

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:31 pm

If you already have a 2.5" system, I would highly recommend the SP Motorsport muffler (made by Walkers Exhausts in Sydney).
This is the same muffler as used on the factory SP's, and has a nice note, but not too loud, and it DOESN'T drone.
Contact Walkers exhausts, or Mania should be able to get them in for you.

RawSouth · Postby **RawSouth** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:45 pm

Hi Benny,

Do you have any details for Walkers Exhaust?

Cheers,

Josh

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:01 pm

Walker are a good exhaust, mum's old Laser had one and it sounded great! it wasn't unbearably loud, but it was certainly obvious that it wasnt stock.

I imagine it would sound similar on an MX5, mum's Laser had the single cam BP.

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:02 pm

Walker E S Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd(02) 9829 1933
11 Aero Rd
Ingleburn NSW 2565
(02) 9829 1662
0438 242 758

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:37 pm

Thanks for all the input guys.

I'm taking it to an exhaust shop i've used before on Thursday, and will discuss some options then.
The owner mentioned that a resonator is the cheapest option and would reduce some of the noise, but whether it does by "enough" is hit and miss.

I had a look around on autospeed and picked up a bit of information. I'm wondering now whether I should fork out extra for SS.
I also scoured a few forums for exhaust sound samples. It's really hard to know what it would sound like from the cabin though, because that is my primary concern (ie how loud).

This is the kind of sound I would like, if not aiming for stock (ignoring loudness)

http://www.sebring.at/website/websitemo ... _am_rc.mp3

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:41 pm

Went to the exhaust shop today and they confirmed, it is completely stock from the cat back to muffler. It goes cat > resonator > muffler. From the muffler to the tip is all 2.5in.

At $380 for a 2 inch mild-steel muffler with no means of hearing what kind of sound it will make before fitment, I am concerned.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a used stock muffler? I'm thinking that's going to be the safest bet.

Is the NA6 and NA8 muffler the same?

Cheers

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:38 pm

why not go with the resonator option- as the exhaust guy suggested- it will tone it down for sure and save you money.

Wivvix · Postby **Wivvix** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:58 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:why not go with the resonator option- as the exhaust guy suggested- it will tone it down for sure and save you money.

I'm not convinced it will. If it's currently stock from the cat back to the muffler, that suggests to me that the problem is confined to the rear muffler assembly.
The resonator will get rid of some of the low frequency sound, but maybe not enough to change the exhaust note and overall resonancy as much as I want. I don't like the bellowing roar of the existing setup. Some people do, I don't. I prefer something more raspy with note.

Stock is probably going to be cheapest and most reasonable, I figure.