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Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:18 pm
by morgstar
So I finally got around fitting my empire performance 4-2-1 stainless steel headers to my NA6 on the weekend.
Everything (almost) went to plan, I had to lengthen the oxy sensor cable, no biggie as it was to be expected, it fitted ok but very slightly makes contact with the block ( I can live with that for $200 ) but I did snap one bolt where the headers bolt to the front of the cat. After a few choice words and with time slipping away I thought, stuff it I’m going for a drive!
Over all impressions were positive, seat of the pants feeling was maybe a little more throttle response but that could be the power of suggestion from the deeper engine note, but there was a horrible buzz at about 3000rpm, it was there before hand but I thought it was the heat shield on the original headers.
So having run out of time I booked it into the local exhaust place today to get the bolt fixed and trace the noise.
I got the phone call today to say that it is the cat buzzing at certain rpm's, would I like to change anything else while they are working on it?
I can’t really afford it but yes, yes I would!
So from my new headers, a new 2 1/4" free flow cat, 2 1/4 pipe into a resonator, 2 1/4 " mandrel bend into a 2 1/4" straight through muffler ( brand name escapes me at the moment ).
While the job is currently unfinished the shop did tack weld it all together for a trial hearing, fantastic bark with out the fart that seems pretty common with hot 4's but still plenty of leaks (obviously) and way to loud - they assure me once all welded up it will quieten down and that the same system sounds pretty good on other MX5's they have done.
Will up date this after I pick it up tomorrow :D

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:57 pm
by NitroDann
Volume will halve and the sound will become about a third less aggressive when it is fully welded vs tacked.

Dann

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:37 pm
by morgstar
And... it drones. A lot! At least at 100kph under light load. So we are going to try swapping out the double chambered muffler for a tripple and cross our fingers.

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:09 pm
by NitroDann
Far out...

What size is the muffler?

Dann

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:20 pm
by morgstar
2 1/4", same length as the oem muffler ( except it was oval) by 6" wide.
Sounded great when it was started up and the car had a real appetite for revs but from inside the note lost its nice snarl and of course the drone... I was going to take the afternoon off if it was good and go for a blast up my favorite road.l :(

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:22 pm
by NitroDann
Does it have a big tip?

Dann

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:25 pm
by morgstar
2 1/4" stainless "pipe" following the path of the original. Im not a fan of the canon style for looks or note.

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:38 pm
by NitroDann
The big tips often induce some droney sounds.

What size is the outlet on your headers? Going from 2" straight outlet straigth up to a bigger pipe will contribute if that is what is happening, otherwise it sounds like you just need a bigger muffler, or go to a chambered one if you are very sensitive to certain notes.

Dann

Re: Exhausts.... one thing leads to another lol

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:59 pm
by morgstar
Thanks Dann.
I think the headers are 2" and imagine a free flow cat wouldn't dampen any noise either.
I am pretty fussy and im hoping the 3 chambered muffler does the tric.