Help me decide what's better for me, a full cat-back exhaust system or just a muffler? I'm not going for crazy power gains, therefore, might save myself some cash. I'm looking at the greddy evo2 muffler, but will it simply bolt on to the stock 5th gen exhaust piping? What are the noise level/pitch differences with muffler-only and full exhaust? Any advantages/disadvantages by getting the muffler only?

 

a muffler gives little to no gains
a cat back will get you some power...=D

 

I don't think a few to barely noticeable gains can justify spending $500+ on exhaust.

 

you can buy a muffler and have a local muffler shop to mandrel bend you some 2.25" piping from your cat, in my area it costs about $80

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't think a few to barely noticeable gains can justify spending $500+ on exhaust.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He is right.

It all depends on how you look at it. If you are talking about a car that does not need the exhaust replaced, then yes, it is not worth it IMO. However, if your car needs the exhaust replaced, then it is justifiable since my friend paid a lille over $500 for an OEM cat-back exhaust.

That's what makes modding a car that needs a lot of work more enjoyable. You can replace the bad parts with aftermarket.

Don't expect an exhaust to make a noticeable difference. Remember, when you mod a car, you pretty much maximize the bottlenecks.

 

if all you have is stock components and dont plan on future mods then a muffler would be all you need. if you plan to make any horsepower later on down the road then you'll want a better exhaust.

 

if you are keeping the car stock and dont plan on doing any mods but exhuast, you are just making your car loud for no reason. if you plan on going somewhere with your setup go catback

 

i got a muffler put on, then down the road got my local welder put a bigger diatmeter piping on my car. so i have about a 2 1/4 inch piping from the cat, it was much cheaper than cat-back i bought the muffler for about 125 had it put on for 60 and then the bigger pipe for 60.

 

Ok, so are there any fitment issues with putting on an aftermarket muffler on stock piping? Pipe diameter may be? Do I get just one of those "universal" greddy evo2 mufflers or do I need to get something else as well?

 

if you want to save money go w/a muffler and custom piping.

 

Isn't piping just piping?

How would a, for example, an Apexi N1 Catback system, be so different from a Apexi N1 Universal Muffler with custom piping with the same diameter, and bends as the catback apexi system? People have told me that piping is just piping.

I don't get why the catback would give more power than a universal muffler with the same exact piping, just welded on by a muffler shop.

 

Aren't some catbacks polished inside for more flow?

 

I hate to admit it, but I was thinking the exact same thing... piping of the same diameter and same bends should yield VERY SIMILAR flow. However mufflers are typically where there is the most variation of restriction/flow characteristics. Therefore, by replacing the restrictive OEM muffler section with a very free flowing muffler, you should get very similar performance gains than full blown "cat-back exhausts of the SAME diameter piping. Obviously you would probably stand to gain a bit more (on the top end at the cost of low) by increasing catback to 2.5". I myself am in the market for a good SS free flowing, low-toned muffler (like the DC Sports twin canister design/Mugen twin loop).

Only advantage to getting a full catback in 2.25" IMO is for SS &gt; and therefore longevity. Otherwise, use the OEM till she falls apart and just change the muffler. Stock one is very heavy too so you might be getting minimal gains simply via weight reduction, but I doubt the average driver can verify the difference if he was deaf (sound tends to make people think they are going faster).

OR am I just missing the boat on this entire topic?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dannyd2004 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Isn't piping just piping?

How would a, for example, an Apexi N1 Catback system, be so different from a Apexi N1 Universal Muffler with custom piping with the same diameter, and bends as the catback apexi system? People have told me that piping is just piping.

I don't get why the catback would give more power than a universal muffler with the same exact piping, just welded on by a muffler shop.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ummm.. mandrel..

Assuming ALL the bends are done exactly the same and the materials are the same, then yes same power.

 

cool, thanks...

Now, to find a muffler shop that does mandrel pipe bending.

 

Start with one of these...





Feeding into this...



Through this...



And then out of one of these...





Modified by Rick Solis at 6:06 AM 7/14/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dannyd2004 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Isn't piping just piping?

How would a, for example, an Apexi N1 Catback system, be so different from a Apexi N1 Universal Muffler with custom piping with the same diameter, and bends as the catback apexi system? People have told me that piping is just piping.

I don't get why the catback would give more power than a universal muffler with the same exact piping, just welded on by a muffler shop.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Anyone else want to comment on this? Please. I want to get a HKS Carbon Ti, but it doesnt come as a catback for the 5th gen. If piping isnt just piping, I'll have to save up more money to get an expensive full catback.

Also, can someone tell me what is in this circled portion of this catback system.



Modified by dannyd2004 at 2:26 PM 7/14/2004

 

go with a muffler and 2.5 custom piping from the catback if you want to save money.

good luck

2.5" all the way !

 

R E S O N A T O R. that's what makes it not sound like a fart can. Brings down decibels and overall high frequencies, costs minimal cfm.

 

ohhhh, i might want a catback now. Fart can, not my style...

Anyone here have a Apexi Dunk on a 5th gen?

 

i got a Apexi N1 catback on my 5th gen. dunks are fuggin huge, and i thought they discontinued them. ANYWAY, im going to be getting a test pipe to go with my setup, and im gonna put another resonator down pipe to get rid of the raspy fart can sound.

 

You'll justify spending 500 bucks after you replace your piping that will rust after a year or so. Don't go the cheap route that's just gay. If your going custom make sure you get some real coooool euro tips to go on your muffler haha! Get something that will make power and that's stainless steel you wont regret it! I did want to add however my friend has custom piping on his civic, although it isn't a lude, it sounds like a wet fart!!!!!!!!

 

LoL... Wet fart, haha!

Yeah, I guess so... Catback it is...

Now, to find something that gives good HP gains, and has a deep tone that isn't annoying. (Under $700)

Greddy Evo II? Thermal CL(Wish it didnt have that stock look)? Apexi WS? HKS Dragger?

 

Well, when I was writing this thread, I was about to buy a prelude and was planning ahead. Now I have the lude and it already had a muffler on it. It is a Tanabe DTM. Not a catback, but looks and sounds great!

 

what year did you end up buying? mileage ?