Got a modded 2000 EK from a friend, and it's too loud. Don't want db tickets, and long drives give me a headache. What's the cheapest option to make it quieter?

Car has a two piece header (not sure on brand), a DC Sports SCS7021 catback exhaust. (I love the car, had 2 Preludes back in the day, so it feels good to be back in an old school Honda)

Do I remove everything? Take off the header? Have the muffler swapped? Silencers, baffles, sound deadening, etc...? I don't even know where to start.

 

Add a resonator if you don't already have one in the exhaust system. Vibrant ultra quiet would be a good option.

Change the muffler to a quieter piece if it's loud. I'd leave it at those two components, shouldn't be any reason to change the header or the overall piping itself.

 

What engine is in it? Is it a coupe/sedan, or a hatch? Does it have a catalyst? If not, that's a great place to start.

 

Thank you both for the replies!

I saw a few mentions of the Vibrant resonator on the forum; will it really lower the sound that much? (Looking for to be as quiet as stock within a budget)

My buddy who owned the car suggested that the header is probably making a lot of noise as well; but audibly it sounds like it's coming from the rear of the vehicle.


2000 EX Coupe, D16Y8

What's a catalyst?

 

The header will not hold much responsibility for the noise unless it has a significant leak.

spAdam meant a catalytic converter. Personally I'd just use the resonator, but from a sound perspective a CAT would have similar results.

 

And also if it’s got a plate on it, it should have a cat.

 

Yup, the car still has it's cat.




Watched this guy testing a resonator on his RSX. Doesn't seem like much of a difference when he revs outside, but seems a little lower in the cabin. Still loud.

OEM exhausts seem to be discontinued, and salvage yards seem dry.


Is it worth chopping up the DC Sports SCS7021 to swap the muffler and add a resonator, or should I go to a muffler shop and see what they can do? (And try to sell the DC exhaust?)

 

I remember DC exhausts being unnecessarily loud, and that was when the weren’t 21+ years old. But they did have nice all-stainless tubing and stuff. If it’s in good shape, it would be better to try and pass it on than to hack it up at the local muffler shop.

But adding a middle resonator and a WS2 or similar muffler will make it nice and quiet if that’s what you’re after.

It’s worth checking out the cat to make sure it hasn’t been punched out by some knucklehead. It usually makes the exhaust sound buzzy and raspy, even if the rest of the system is well built.

 

Oh yeah? DC exhausts being loud is a good thing; hopefully that's an easy fix then.

This DC exhaust is about 3 years old.
My buddy got the 3 years ago, put on Tein coilovers, two piece headers, that DC exhaust, and nice wheels. So everything is about 3 years old, with less than 4,000 miles on it. That's why I'm hesitant to hack up the exhaust.

As of now, I'm just gonna find a good exhaust shop, have them look at it, and see what costs what. I've seen people mention the WS2, but I'm not spending that kinda cash on this car. It would be nice to sell the DC exhaust, but I'm just trying to get the exhaust quiet as cheaply as possible.

 

Go to the junk yard and grab the exhaust from another EK, if you have a hatch even a 4-door cat back will work you will just have to have the muffler shop cut it and make it fit. Then sell the DC.

 

That makes the most sense. Hopefully I can get a few bucks for the DC to cover whatever I replace it with.

I've been checking local yards on Car-Part.com & FB Marketplace for EX/Si exhausts (I have a EX Coupe), haven't had luck so far.

 

I did find this that might work! You might be looking at $250 to piece together an OEM exhaust!

46943 Walker Resonator New for Honda Civic Acura EL 1997-2000 | eBay


For 1999-2000 Honda Civic Muffler Walker 66534VX 1.6L 4 Cyl | eBay

 

I appreciate your help.

I saved that Walker muffler, but the Resonator seems like it won't fit.

There are are a few scrap yards near me, I'm going to try them in-person to see what they have. Then swing by a muffler shop and ask their advice. Basically trying to figure out ALL my options before I commit.

 

You sure? cause the resonator states it fits a 96- 2000 Civic EX coupe 2 door.

 

You're right. Thanks!
I used the eBay vehicle check, thought it was for the 96', but I was just reading it wrong.

I found , so I'll probably end up with that, and either the first Walker muffler you suggested, or their "Quiet-Flow". This way I can take off the DC exhaust, and see if I can get a couple bucks for it.

Also, ordered some Kilmat sound deadening to do the trunk & doors this weekend. If that makes a difference, I'll buy more and do the floor. Trying to attack sound from every angle.

 

Nice! you can't beat that! being that an OEM exhaust is hard to find this is a good deal! Do you have the stock cat still on? how about the header?

 

I honestly don't know about the stock cat.

I only know the model of the exhaust (DC Sports SCS7021), and my friend said he also added a "cheaper" two-piece header because he was thinking about adding a turbo down the line.

I'll hit a local shop Monday to see what they can do (maybe they can find a stock one), or how much they'd charge to swap out to the Walker. Whichever option is less.

Just trying to get the car sorted, and cross off any maintenance, before I do any of my own mods. Had to take out a Xenon kit because it was draining the battery, and need to get lights for the cluster because the current LEDs are either not lighting up, or staying on permanently. Other than that, interior detail today, and going to test out some Amazon Basics sound deadening tomorrow. Then the controversial decision.... to sell Enkei RPF1's's for an OEM Honda wheel, or BMW bottlecaps. This is my second car; roads here in NYC are a nightmare; and I've bent rims in the past. These RPF1's are a discontinued color, and I'd rather a more easily replaceable wheel with more rubber on it.

 

UPDATE..... from shop.

• A). The shop looked at my car and suggested I chop the muffler off the
  DC Sports SCS7021
  DC Sports SCS7021
  cat back that's currently on my car, and replace it with a "quiet" muffler they have. $350 total (roughly)

OR

• B). I go out and buy this
  Walker Exhaust & Resonator Assembly ($112)
  Walker Exhaust & Resonator Assembly ($112)
  , and a
  Walker SoundFX muffler ($64)
  Walker SoundFX muffler ($64)
  for a total of $195.... Then the shop said it would cost another $250-300 to install/weld it to my current system (Two-piece header & Magnaflow OE style cat). Around $500+ total!

So if I go with option A, I'm just out $350. Option B, I can possibly sell the used DC Sports cat back on Facebook or Craigslist to get a few bucks back. Even then, I'd only be looking at around $100+, so either way still in the $300-400 range.

Anyone have a cheaper idea? Is that even possible?

 

Could try shoving a silencer in your current muffler.

 

I haven't seen a video of a silencer making THAT much of a difference.
It's like they all go from a 10 volume to a 9.... or just stay a different pitch of 10.

 

option c: unbolt the axleback and find a stock axleback at a junk yard and bolt it on.

 

Sometimes that works. Less often than not.

 

I wouldn’t chop up that DC Sports exhaust.

unbolt it and have them put in replacement piping and a muffler.

Or unbolt it and go junkyard hunting for a stock exhaust system.

If it doesn’t bolt up to the exhaust manifold you have on there, then have the exhaust shop modify the piping to fit.

Or buy a stock exhaust manifold at the JY as well.

 

Not sure a stock axleback would fit with the rest of the DC exhaust without welding.

Yeah, seems risky to chop up and start welding stock pieces onto the DC piping. But I honestly don't know, I'm just guessing on that one.

Exactly, I don't want to chop up the DC Exhaust only because I think there's a chance I can get around $150 for it. That way whatever I have to buy or pay to fabricate costs $150 less.

I asked this first shop if they could find a stock exhaust, and they said no, which seemed strange. They must have connections.

Also I've been searching on FBMarketplace & car-part.com for a stock exhaust, but no luck so far. I'm honestly surprised it's this hard to find a stock exhaust that would fit this Civic.

This week I'll check out muffler shops to see what they can do, or make.

 

Thrush 17715 turbo muffler, cut off the coffee can muffler and clamp this in place. Heck of a lot quieter, a bit of drone at highway speed, but livable. Just make sure you support it with good hardware