Exhaust resonator delete? or not - 2.5" cat - varex muffler - not loud enough

[rdxd]

Hi everyone

Installed my exhaust system the other day - 2.5" catback -> resonator -> varex muffler
(for those who haven't heard of varex check it out - its a variable exhaust muffler- http://www.xforce.com.au/about-varex-remote-control-sports-muffler.php)

When warmed up it gives off a rich deep tone, which isn't too annoying but I thought it would be much louder hence the purchase of the varex which lets me adjust the volume

I'm contemplating deleting the resonator to up the sound but I've done some searches and some have experienced loss of low end power and/or really bad change in tone of exhaust.

At the end of the day I want my money's worth, I mean I spent $330 on a varex muffler, $250 on installation and pipework, thinking it would come in handy to change the volume when the exhaust gets noisy when in fact its not even noisy at all.

Resonator delete also makes the tone raspier and I would feel better to get more sound out of it since I spent the $ on the varex muffler

Thoughts? advice? I'm considering hittin up the exhaust shop again tmorrow to remove the resonator, need advice asap

 

[RedRyder]

Are you still using the stock header(s) and cat?

 

[rdxd]

Are you still using the stock header(s) and cat?

yeah everything else is stock

 

[RedRyder]

Personally I would upgrade those components first and see where that gets you, or at least the header(s), before getting rid of what sounds like your only resonator. If you just cut out the resonator as is the exhaust may get louder, but the sound quality would likely get worse as well. Header(s) and high flow cat would open things up more.

 

[rdxd]

Personally I would upgrade those components first and see where that gets you, or at least the header(s), before getting rid of what sounds like your only resonator. If you just cut out the resonator as is the exhaust may get louder, but the sound quality would likely get worse as well. Header(s) and high flow cat would open things up more.

Good idea, I'll probs look into it in the long term - just blew ~$600 on the varex and piping
Im not completely dissatisfied with the result, jst finding myself a little ripped off on the varex only because the result wasnt too loud.

THEN AGAIn - there is a breakin period for exhausts if I'm right, because I remember my V6 mufflers becoming louder over time?

 

[RedRyder]

Brand new exhausts have a break-in period, yes. The sound of my Magnaflow catback changed over time.

So even at WOT, with the baffles open, it’s still pretty quiet? Is there a big difference in having the baffles open/ closed at speed? At idle?

Not that it matters now, but I don’t understand how they charged you $250 for piping…should have been cheaper.

 

[rdxd]

I may as well jst wait it out I guess, see how it progresses

Well I wouldn't say quiet, its still got noise to it, I really do think that its the break-in period that I'd need to wait for.

Yeah there's a huge difference, with the valve closed the car goes to stock sound - pretty amazing

I'll do a vid to show the varex off to everyone here

I agree $250 was ridiculous - but it was for piping as well as installing the muffler - nonetheless its the best price I got considering other places asked for $400+

Car parts are really expensive here unfortunately

 

[agginline86]

intake, headers, cat delete, and add a resonator to get rid of the raspy-ness

 

[Ghost Ryder]

It is detinitely a good idea to give it some time to break in. Imo even before you add or subtract any parts you had planned on doing anyways. Waiting to find out if those are still a good idea is free. Removing and re-installing on the other hand, is not.

I wish I could see this thing in person. I have been contemplating a hybrid exhaust sytem that uses an actuator in line in that would be regulated by the vtec selonoid signal. To build maxium torque in the lower rpm during the small duration of the cam (actuator closed). Then open (actuator open) to allow better flow during the larger duration of the cam lobe engaged during vtec. It can even be wired for a manual over ride.

 

[agginline86]

It is detinitely a good idea to give it some time to break in. Imo even before you add or subtract any parts you had planned on doing anyways. Waiting to find out if those are still a good idea is free. Removing and re-installing on the other hand, is not.

I wish I could see this thing in person. I have been contemplating a hybrid exhaust sytem that uses an actuator in line in that would be regulated by the vtec selonoid signal. To build maxium torque in the lower rpm during the small duration of the cam (actuator closed). Then open (actuator open) to allow better flow during the larger duration of the cam lobe engaged during vtec. It can even be wired for a manual over ride.

That would be awesome. After I did my IHE upgrades I can get bogged down in the low RPMs if I'm not paying attention