So I bit the bullet and unleashed the inner bogan, and had a custom exhaust fabricated. The main requirements of the exhaust was that it flows better, much better, and also can be both loud and quiet when needed. So, valved. It also needed to be flowing enough for when I add headers, high flow cats, supercharge and tune it, that there isn't any real restriction. But perhaps I need to just do headers, cats and tune to see how it is first... Probably will be enough.
ATTEMPT 1:
The first iteration we made an "equal length" twin 3" mid section, which eliminates the secondary cats, starting where the at the factory flange after the primary cats. There is still cats in place, and importantly the exhaust is still legal and roadworthy. DYOR on the equal length posts on the internet, but IMO makes the exhaust sound much better, as both sides of the exhaust are balanced. It then goes through the muffler, into a custom "Y" pipe and uses the stock 3" rear section of the exhaust for the stealth and factory look. Perfect.
Photos:
We then went into a valved twin 3 inch in and twin 3 inch out Varex muffler: VMK31-300 - https://xforce.com.au/products/vmk11-300/ But we forgot one important step. "Required Merge-pipe or X-pipe to be installed on the upstream of this muffler".. Which means that when in closed or quiet position one whole side of the muffler closes completely, and the other 3 inch pipe gets routed through a single 1 5/8 pipe internally in the muffler. Which after trying to drive home and go up a hill on the freeway threw an engine code when we strangled the engine and was an absolute disaster... It took some thinking as to why it was happening but we figured it out.. Even if it had the X Pipe installed, to flow this whole engine through that 1 5/8 pipe is stupid, and not possible. What a crap design. Ridiculous.
The shame was this setup was so rowdy at loud, and sounded so mental, but really on quiet mode was still too loud. It was crazy loud inside the car still, which on my 6 hr commute on the freeway each week would have killed me, even if the muffler did work.. It was so loud that i went back to the stock intake tube from the K&N setup I had before HERE. Which quietened things in the cabin a lot thank god, just while I sorted this. As the quiet mode was snuffing the engine, I had to run it on loud for a week everywhere. Hectic.
A vid of this iteration: HERE
Look, it was sick, but would have annoyed the living hell out of my family and neighbours. I do miss it..
ATTEMPT 2:
We used the same mid section, removed the crap muffler, and installed twin / side by side varex mufflers in its place: VMK16-300 - https://xforce.com.au/products/vmk16-300/
Photos:
The result is a system which is now heaps more restrained at loud mode (sad face) though still sounds great, but also more importantly is pretty much stock sounding. No engine issues, seat of the pants in loud mode its clearly more snappy still than stock, noticeably, probably 10% more efficient on fuel on the freeway (if anyone in an LX actually cares about that).
Video of this setup: HERE
I'll try to get some more videos of the new setup on fly bys etc when I can. Thats all for now..
ATTEMPT 1:
The first iteration we made an "equal length" twin 3" mid section, which eliminates the secondary cats, starting where the at the factory flange after the primary cats. There is still cats in place, and importantly the exhaust is still legal and roadworthy. DYOR on the equal length posts on the internet, but IMO makes the exhaust sound much better, as both sides of the exhaust are balanced. It then goes through the muffler, into a custom "Y" pipe and uses the stock 3" rear section of the exhaust for the stealth and factory look. Perfect.
Photos:
We then went into a valved twin 3 inch in and twin 3 inch out Varex muffler: VMK31-300 - https://xforce.com.au/products/vmk11-300/ But we forgot one important step. "Required Merge-pipe or X-pipe to be installed on the upstream of this muffler".. Which means that when in closed or quiet position one whole side of the muffler closes completely, and the other 3 inch pipe gets routed through a single 1 5/8 pipe internally in the muffler. Which after trying to drive home and go up a hill on the freeway threw an engine code when we strangled the engine and was an absolute disaster... It took some thinking as to why it was happening but we figured it out.. Even if it had the X Pipe installed, to flow this whole engine through that 1 5/8 pipe is stupid, and not possible. What a crap design. Ridiculous.
The shame was this setup was so rowdy at loud, and sounded so mental, but really on quiet mode was still too loud. It was crazy loud inside the car still, which on my 6 hr commute on the freeway each week would have killed me, even if the muffler did work.. It was so loud that i went back to the stock intake tube from the K&N setup I had before HERE. Which quietened things in the cabin a lot thank god, just while I sorted this. As the quiet mode was snuffing the engine, I had to run it on loud for a week everywhere. Hectic.
A vid of this iteration: HERE
Look, it was sick, but would have annoyed the living hell out of my family and neighbours. I do miss it..
ATTEMPT 2:
We used the same mid section, removed the crap muffler, and installed twin / side by side varex mufflers in its place: VMK16-300 - https://xforce.com.au/products/vmk16-300/
Photos:
The result is a system which is now heaps more restrained at loud mode (sad face) though still sounds great, but also more importantly is pretty much stock sounding. No engine issues, seat of the pants in loud mode its clearly more snappy still than stock, noticeably, probably 10% more efficient on fuel on the freeway (if anyone in an LX actually cares about that).
Video of this setup: HERE
I'll try to get some more videos of the new setup on fly bys etc when I can. Thats all for now..
