Flowmaster is too quiet???

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I had a flowmaster installed a few months ago after reading through all the posts here. I used the same part number as everyone else, and it seems too quite. I mean there is a slight more growl when I first take off and I think its louder in vtec, but it just seems quite.

One thing I did different than some people is I simply reused all the stock exhaust pipes. AKA, we cut the pipes going to the old muffler off right at the muffler, and then simply extended and expanded them to the new flowmaster.

I figured since the headers and cats are stock, I'm not gaining any HP by putting larger pipes after them.


I'm wondering if I'm the only person with this opinion.


####Edit: 1.27.08####
After seeing some videos of other NSXs with flowmasters from inside the car, I realized the sound difference inside the cabin and outside may be larger than I thought. I then decided to videotape from outside my car so I could hear what that sounds like, and it's not bad...
Being that the total cost was $272 for the muffler AND install which is $1,000 less than any aftermarket catback, I'm pretty happy with it for now.

Heres what it sounds like:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9214042222302812696&hl=en

For those wondering how we installed it using the stock pipes and tips, here are some pics:



 
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The stock pipe are pretty small in diameter that will restrict flow. Therefore reduce sound level.
 
10-4, it's your pipes. They are much smaller that what my muffler shop used. One of the local guys had a flowmaster installed just like mine. They used different pipes and ours didn't sound alike. I think it all depends on piping, bends, tips, etc.
 
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No, but my flowmaster is pretty damn loud to me! Cop say's it's ok when I'm not on it, but it get's my blood pumping to hear it rip. Oh it's not stock pipes either. Ask Zishan, it use to be his car :biggrin:

But it's far from quiet.
 
No, but my flowmaster is pretty damn loud to me! Cop say's it's ok when I'm not on it, but it get's my blood pumping to hear it rip. Oh it's not stock pipes either. Ask Zishan, it use to be his car :biggrin:

But it's far from quiet.


I'm not sure either. My buddy use to own a muffler shop and he made it.

Btw, I wonder how it would have sounded without cats.......Koolaid, find out! :biggrin:
 
Are there any verifiable documentation that shows that the stock pipe diameter is not suffice for a NA engine?

suffice in what way? we are only speaking in decibales, not power output. it has been proven that larger headers and exhaust free up power so in answer to you idiotic question, YES.

as far as if they are too small for the muffler he is using....considering it is a camero/firebird muffler with a much larger (v6 or v8) motor.....yeah the stock pipes are too small to fill the chanber enough to get the thing to rap like it is obviouse he is looking for


why are you so negitive ALL the time?
 
10-4, it's your pipes. They are much smaller that what my muffler shop used. One of the local guys had a flowmaster installed just like mine. They used different pipes and ours didn't sound alike. I think it all depends on piping, bends, tips, etc.

Gotcha.
So I'm assuming this means I need larger headers, cats, AND exhaust right? Just expanding the pipes after the cats won't do it will it?
 
Gotcha.
So I'm assuming this means I need larger headers, cats, AND exhaust right? Just expanding the pipes after the cats won't do it will it?

I think they should have used larger pipes to fabricate a bolt on cat back system and left your OEM exhaust in one piece. And they should use pipes as large as the inlet/outlets of the Flowmaster muffler.

Now, if they used your OEM pipes, the exhaust flow might bottleneck exiting the Flowmaster.

Again, I'm not 100% about any of this without looking/measure your exhaust myself.

But these are some of the things I would look into. Headers are great, especially if you have a NA1, thats a great mod for you. You can leave your cats alone, since those are most likely illegal to remove in your state. But removing them will make it louder, and also lighter. But you will not be able to pass inspection.
 
Btw, I'd interested in seeing a picture of your set up. From what I recall, the Flowmaster is set up differently than the OEM muffler. Different air flow and different dimensions. I'd like to see how they did it.
 
Buddy, without headers, your car will be quieter than anyones posted here that has headers. Thats the key on this topic.
I am assuming you have a NA1 car and not a new one with factory headers.
Get a set of those TopSpeeds and away you go.
Just search my posts on my headers and exhaust and what not.
Trev
 
I'm not sure either. My buddy use to own a muffler shop and he made it.

Btw, I wonder how it would have sounded without cats.......Koolaid, find out! :biggrin:

I would have already, but remember it's got the modded NA1 cats to work with NA1 exhaust and NA2 headers? So it's gotta be custom made test pipes and I'm too lazy and cheap to get it done :frown:
 
Buddy, without headers, your car will be quieter than anyones posted here that has headers. Thats the key on this topic.
I am assuming you have a NA1 car and not a new one with factory headers.
Get a set of those TopSpeeds and away you go.
Just search my posts on my headers and exhaust and what not.
Trev

I have NA2.
 
Are the factory NA2 headers sufficient (2002), or does one need to upgrade to aftermarket headers?

Does anyone have experience with factory NA2 headers and the B&B Tri-flow cat back exhaust. The B&B Tri-flow exhaust, use to be referred to as RM exhaust system?

Will there be any HP gain when using factory NA2 headers and B&B Tri-flow cat back exhaust system?

Thanks for your input.

Ian
 
Simple answer would be yes, there are gains. How much, I don't know. I have NA2 factory headers, NA1 flowmaster exhaust, and modified to fit (lengthened) NA1 cats.
 
I would have already, but remember it's got the modded NA1 cats to work with NA1 exhaust and NA2 headers? So it's gotta be custom made test pipes and I'm too lazy and cheap to get it done :frown:


Are you sure? I believe the NA1 exhausts come in 4 pieces. Headers/Manifolds, connecting pipes, cats, then muffler(cat back system).

I can't recall, but they might have modified the small pipes and connected those to the OEM NA1 cats.

Next time your under there, take a looksy. :smile:
 

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Are you sure? I believe the NA1 exhausts come in 4 pieces. Headers/Manifolds, connecting pipes, cats, then muffler(cat back system).

I can't recall, but they might have modified the small pipes and connected those to the OEM NA1 cats.

Next time your under there, take a looksy. :smile:

The NA1 91-94 comes in 7 total pieces. The 2 manifolds, the 2 pipes that connect to the 2 cats, and then the 1 exhaust.

The NA1 95-96 comes in 9 total pieces, the 7 from 91-94 plus 2 adaptor pieces the go between the cats and exhaust.

The NA2 comes in 5 total pieces, the 2 headers, 2 cats, 1 exhaust.

The NA2 header is just a couple inches shorter than the manifold/connecting pipe setup of the NA1.

That is why my 91-94 NA1 cats need a couple inches of pipe on each to reach the NA2 headers.

You should know Z, :) after all if WAS your car before :tongue: I'll take another peek and pictures when I gotta drop my exhaust to do my oil pan gasket and baffle this week, or weekend.

NA1 test pipes would be too short and NA2 test pipes wouldn't have the proper bend needed to connect to my NA1 exhaust. To make it work, I'd need to have extended length (header side) NA1 91-94 test pipes. OR I could get NA2 test pipes and added the little adapters from the 95-96 exhaust either oem (which might bottle neck actually) or these from sos:

http://www.scienceofspeed.com/products/exhaust_airflow_products/NSX/ScienceofSpeed/exhaust_adaptors/

exhausts.gif
 
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i just installed my spugen exhaust about 2 weeks ago and im loving the sound of it! it's a custom made exhaust though for 2002+ but did some repiping and all is done. the muffler itself is made of flowmaster but it's more like chambered inside instead of a free-flow type but correct me if wrong on that part. when cruisin, it's loud but not too loud but when you're WOT, then it sounds bad a$$ !!!:wink:
 
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