I just installed shorty headers and werks hi-flo cat. This is on top of the cold air intake, werks ecm tune, and flowmaster 40 muffler. the pipe from the cat to the muffler is still stock.
Before I added the header/cat the flowmaster sounded great. After I installed the header/cat, the car is way way too loud. It also sounds more like a coffee can Honda than ever before.
I am asking anyone for advice on how to reduce the sound without robbing the car of power. I like a nice note, but now the flowmaster is just too much.
Anyone out there have a good exhaust sound with the header/cat combo without using the stock muffler?
Dustin
__________________ Clearimage Shorty Headers.....Kappasphere Cold Air Intake.....Performance AutoWerks ECM Flash and Hi-Flo Cat.....Solo Performance SQR-2 Center Dual Tip Cat-Back Exhaust.....Norm's Fiberglass Painted Rear Fascia.....
Dyno numbers at the wheels:
HP: 162
Torque: 157
Gains of over 20hp!!!
I just installed shorty headers and werks hi-flo cat. This is on top of the cold air intake, werks ecm tune, and flowmaster 40 muffler. the pipe from the cat to the muffler is still stock.
Before I added the header/cat the flowmaster sounded great. After I installed the header/cat, the car is way way too loud. It also sounds more like a coffee can Honda than ever before.
I am asking anyone for advice on how to reduce the sound without robbing the car of power. I like a nice note, but now the flowmaster is just too much.
Anyone out there have a good exhaust sound with the header/cat combo without using the stock muffler?
Dustin
I had the EXACT same problem. The stock exhaust is actually fairly decent, and when coupled with the mods you have, and specifically the cold air intake, it makes the car sound ricey. Truthfully, the sound you hear is actually the result of engine resonances which are being allowed because of the cold air intake. If you were to switch back to your STOCK intake, your car would be much quieter. The CAI allows resonances to reverberate all the way back to your tip (which causes the crappy Honda "coffee can" vibration). There is a solution though that allows you to keep the CAI. Like spinner said, you can install a resonator in-line of your exhuast. My advice (personally) is to get an aftermarket exhaust from one of the companies, and cut that up (your stock exhuast is a bit more expensive if you need to replace it). Install a resonator inline of the main pipe that goes from the coupler to the end of the cat, to the muffler.
This will help eliminate some of the resonances that lead back to the exhuast. You'll still have the coffee can sound at some rpms though, and the BEST way to eliminate this is to do what Porsche did back in the 80s when they had free-flow exhaust on their 944s. Basically, you'll want to replace whatever tip is on you car with one that's double walled, and insulated. If you can't get one that's insulated, you can do what I did and install dynomat (the tar / rubber liner) on the inside of the other exaust tip wall. This completely eliminates the vibrations that cause the start of the reverberations and eventually lead to the echoing of the exhaust (the coffee can sound).
I after installing the liner, I taped off the exhaust tip, and sprayed rubberized undercoating throughout the entire inner wall. (Note, I am NOT spraying it in the exhuast, or on the outside. I'm spraying it between the walls of the double walled tip. The exhaust pipe comes out, and the tip is then rolled back along the outside. This part is chromed / polished. This is called double walled. If you install the liner and rubberized undercoating between these two walls, it will eliminate the sound).
The sound is much much better, it sounds really nice, there are no vibrations, no ricey sound, and at wide open throttle, it sounds more like a Porsche 944 than it does a Solstice. I have my stock exhaust back on because I need to weld it all back up, but if you let the rubberized undercoating dry for about 3-4 days, it'll completely harden and you don't have to worry about it melting and draining out.
This is really the ONLY solution. I tried finding a tip, but the only ones I could find were factory Porsche exhaust tips and you had to buy the entire muffler kit (like $1200 bucks) which was NOT worth it to me, so I made my own.
__________________
Todd,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Automobiles
@ http://www.PETACar.ORG
------------------------------------------- 2006 Pontiac Solstice (#1267)
- GM Cold Air Intake
- Clear Image Hi-Flow Cat
- Clear Image Shorty Header
I had a flowmaster on my 03 Hemi Truck and that was too loud also. I switched to dynamax. I'm currently in Nashville and I got a chance to drive a Critterman's with a magnaflow and listen to a Kappasphere on Solli4me's and Exhaust depot. Solli4me's and Critterman's sounded the same. As for the performance, I can't give you any info on that.
I had the EXACT same problem. The stock exhaust is actually fairly decent, and when coupled with the mods you have, and specifically the cold air intake, it makes the car sound ricey. Truthfully, the sound you hear is actually the result of engine resonances which are being allowed because of the cold air intake. If you were to switch back to your STOCK intake, your car would be much quieter. The CAI allows resonances to reverberate all the way back to your tip (which causes the crappy Honda "coffee can" vibration). There is a solution though that allows you to keep the CAI. Like spinner said, you can install a resonator in-line of your exhuast. My advice (personally) is to get an aftermarket exhaust from one of the companies, and cut that up (your stock exhuast is a bit more expensive if you need to replace it). Install a resonator inline of the main pipe that goes from the coupler to the end of the cat, to the muffler.
This will help eliminate some of the resonances that lead back to the exhuast. You'll still have the coffee can sound at some rpms though, and the BEST way to eliminate this is to do what Porsche did back in the 80s when they had free-flow exhaust on their 944s. Basically, you'll want to replace whatever tip is on you car with one that's double walled, and insulated. If you can't get one that's insulated, you can do what I did and install dynomat (the tar / rubber liner) on the inside of the other exaust tip wall. This completely eliminates the vibrations that cause the start of the reverberations and eventually lead to the echoing of the exhaust (the coffee can sound).
I after installing the liner, I taped off the exhaust tip, and sprayed rubberized undercoating throughout the entire inner wall. (Note, I am NOT spraying it in the exhuast, or on the outside. I'm spraying it between the walls of the double walled tip. The exhaust pipe comes out, and the tip is then rolled back along the outside. This part is chromed / polished. This is called double walled. If you install the liner and rubberized undercoating between these two walls, it will eliminate the sound).
The sound is much much better, it sounds really nice, there are no vibrations, no ricey sound, and at wide open throttle, it sounds more like a Porsche 944 than it does a Solstice. I have my stock exhaust back on because I need to weld it all back up, but if you let the rubberized undercoating dry for about 3-4 days, it'll completely harden and you don't have to worry about it melting and draining out.
This is really the ONLY solution. I tried finding a tip, but the only ones I could find were factory Porsche exhaust tips and you had to buy the entire muffler kit (like $1200 bucks) which was NOT worth it to me, so I made my own.
T/A thanks for the info. I actually have a Flowmaster 40 muffler on my car not a stock muffler. I might replace the flowmaster and stock cat-back pipe with a magnaflow or kappasphere pipe.
I hope that will do the trick.
__________________ Clearimage Shorty Headers.....Kappasphere Cold Air Intake.....Performance AutoWerks ECM Flash and Hi-Flo Cat.....Solo Performance SQR-2 Center Dual Tip Cat-Back Exhaust.....Norm's Fiberglass Painted Rear Fascia.....
Dyno numbers at the wheels:
HP: 162
Torque: 157
Gains of over 20hp!!!
T/A thanks for the info. I actually have a Flowmaster 40 muffler on my car not a stock muffler. I might replace the flowmaster and stock cat-back pipe with a magnaflow or kappasphere pipe.
I hope that will do the trick.
I had the magnaflow on my NA Sol...plus GMPP CAI and Vector tune. It was plenty loud. I liked it, tho. But in neighborhood driving or when I saw black & whites approaching, I went very gentle on the throttle. You have headers and other stuff as well. Yours is going to be even louder. From what you have already said, I don't think you will like it. What did you think was going to happen with all those mods?? The electric cars are pretty quiet. lol. (sorry, couldn't resist). Bottom line: you may just be wasting more money with the Magnaflow and still not get what you want.
__________________
'07 GXP - Loaded 3/19/2007 - 5 Speed auto
Black - Charcoal Leather red stitching- LSD - Monsoon - MP3 - OnStar - XM - A/C - ABS - Cruise - 5 Speed Auto- Fog lamps - GXP Floormats - Chrome wheels - Sport pedals
"Original Sol" 2006 2.4 - 5 speed manual
Black - Sand/Steel leather - ABS - A/C - Power windows/locks - Magnaflow exhaust - GMPP CAI - Vector ECM tune - Delivered Oct '05 - Said goodbye Mar '07 - It was a hell of great ride!
T/A thanks for the info. I actually have a Flowmaster 40 muffler on my car not a stock muffler. I might replace the flowmaster and stock cat-back pipe with a magnaflow or kappasphere pipe.
I hope that will do the trick.
Yeah, but the thing to remember though, is that mufflers, and resonators will reduce the volume. However, that "fart tip" sound, comes directly from the exhaust TIP itself (regardless of what muffler you have). It's resonance that's created (started) by the CAI that travels all the way through the entire system intake to exhuast, and finally reverberates at the end (the tip). A lot of the people who race cars that would otherwise be fairly ricey sounding (like Miatas) go with supertrap exhuast tips. They are adjustable and kind of look like the things that trumpet players shove in the front of their trumpets.
However, I like stuff to look stock, which is why I did what I did. The dynomat on the inside of the exhuast lip really made the difference. If it's good enough for Porsche, it's good enough for my Solstice!
__________________
Todd,
People for the Ethical Treatment of Automobiles
@ http://www.PETACar.ORG
------------------------------------------- 2006 Pontiac Solstice (#1267)
- GM Cold Air Intake
- Clear Image Hi-Flow Cat
- Clear Image Shorty Header
Ok, what tips did you install and where did you get them....
I have two factor tips, but don't like the sound.. I will try double walled or what ever they are called...
THe 18" resignator or glass pack... well in time it will become empty... sooner then later.. I have 2 and they are gone ..
__________________
SMULESTICE VIN 100591 Mysterious, Black Pillars, Rear Spoiler, Stubby Ant., Flowmaster Hushpower II muffler w/ 2 resignators to dual outs and factory tips, Custom Cat, Norm's Dual Fascia, RK sport front end and side skirts. BLOWN AWAYCOOLED by DDM Works
Ok, what tips did you install and where did you get them....
I have two factor tips, but don't like the sound.. I will try double walled or what ever they are called...
THe 18" resignator or glass pack... well in time it will become empty... sooner then later.. I have 2 and they are gone ..
Hunter I am still looking into exhaust tips. T/A has done this on his car. I am hoping that he can recommend a tip that can be modded like he said.
Resonators wear out? How long does this take?
__________________ Clearimage Shorty Headers.....Kappasphere Cold Air Intake.....Performance AutoWerks ECM Flash and Hi-Flo Cat.....Solo Performance SQR-2 Center Dual Tip Cat-Back Exhaust.....Norm's Fiberglass Painted Rear Fascia.....
Dyno numbers at the wheels:
HP: 162
Torque: 157
Gains of over 20hp!!!
Well I put my 2 12" on in Feb and they are toast... I would say about 3k miles??
__________________
SMULESTICE VIN 100591 Mysterious, Black Pillars, Rear Spoiler, Stubby Ant., Flowmaster Hushpower II muffler w/ 2 resignators to dual outs and factory tips, Custom Cat, Norm's Dual Fascia, RK sport front end and side skirts. BLOWN AWAYCOOLED by DDM Works
I have the ECM tune and the GM CAI and I have it on good authority (critterman) to stay with that combination. I love the way mine sounds and wouldn't want to ruin it.
I put on dual exit Flowmaster muffler and the harshness at WOT was unbearable. My exhaust guy put in a Car Chemistry Insert Muffler into the pipe just in front of the muffler. This has made the exhaust sound GREAT and dropped the volume to the same level as my Magnaflow cat back was. I also replaced the stock exhaust tip with the double wall rolled tip that Pontiac has for the Solstice. NO ricey sounds or bad resonnance now.
__________________
06 SLY, Sand&Steel, Clear Bra, CAI, TRI-Y long tube headers, high flow CAT, Magnaflow cat back dual exhaust, ECM tune, painted calipers w/decals, large bore throttle body
I put on dual exit Flowmaster muffler and the harshness at WOT was unbearable. My exhaust guy put in a Car Chemistry Insert Muffler into the pipe just in front of the muffler. This has made the exhaust sound GREAT and dropped the volume to the same level as my Magnaflow cat back was. I also replaced the stock exhaust tip with the double wall rolled tip that Pontiac has for the Solstice. NO ricey sounds or bad resonnance now.
What is a Car Chemist Insert Muffler? You replaced the stock tip with a Soltice tip???
What other tip do we have ??
__________________
SMULESTICE VIN 100591 Mysterious, Black Pillars, Rear Spoiler, Stubby Ant., Flowmaster Hushpower II muffler w/ 2 resignators to dual outs and factory tips, Custom Cat, Norm's Dual Fascia, RK sport front end and side skirts. BLOWN AWAYCOOLED by DDM Works
