Weak links in Gen4 Exhaust. Is the Y pipe?

[shav]

Interesting thread guys.
Anyone know how much the phat dumps cost?
Also would I correct to assume it would be better to spend good money on a decent dump like phat has or tcp for that matter, and then upgrading the rest of the exhaust with 3" mild steel mid, 2.5" or 2.25" Y piece with aftermarket free flowing but quieter mufflers (if thats possible)?

Guess what I am after is the best free flowing TBE system for as little as possible. As much as it is an contradiction in this game, is it possible? S/S or mild steel doesn't bother me as I plan to keep the car long term (5+ years). Just looking at bang for buck.
If read in other threads, that perhaps just doing the dump, mid and Y piece is enough for about 170-180kwatw (auto) and still maintain quiet-ish exhaust. Thing is, I still want to hear the exhaust a little without it being obtrusive. Could removing the center muffler allow me to hear the system a bit more than stock while still maintaining the stock mufflers?

[PoidaGT]

Interesting thread guys.
Anyone know how much the phat dumps cost?
Also would I correct to assume it would be better to spend good money on a decent dump like phat has or tcp for that matter, and then upgrading the rest of the exhaust with 3" mild steel mid, 2.5" or 2.25" Y piece with aftermarket free flowing but quieter mufflers (if thats possible)?

Guess what I am after is the best free flowing TBE system for as little as possible. As much as it is an contradiction in this game, is it possible? S/S or mild steel doesn't bother me as I plan to keep the car long term (5+ years). Just looking at bang for buck.
If read in other threads, that perhaps just doing the dump, mid and Y piece is enough for about 170-180kwatw (auto) and still maintain quiet-ish exhaust. Thing is, I still want to hear the exhaust a little without it being obtrusive. Could removing the center muffler allow me to hear the system a bit more than stock while still maintaining the stock mufflers?

The cheapest TBE will be an X force Mild steel system with a rear muffler delete.
I honestly doubt any other exhaust would get better results on the dyno.
Phat's dump pipes are very good but will cost more than X force and I doubt they will yield any extra KW on the Dyno.

[bigBADbenny]

Bear in mind most mid pipes w/ hotdog res are droney w/ dump & aftermarket muffs.

So budget for a 12" oval mid muff if going that way, especially if wagon.

[dazzz168]

OP. choose any 3" dump on the market that suits your budget and get one of these Grimmspeed adapters. It has a smooth taper and works well without any leaks etc.

Also, The stock mid pipe flows more than enough for stockish turbos, so I wouldn't bother changing it. I've had all sorts of exhausts on my Forester (obviously different car, but same engine and exhaust etc) and I've now settled with an Xforce Mild Steel dump mated to stock mid pipe and Prova mufflers. Performance wise with the VF52 on 98 or E85, I believe it's on par with a car running full 3" mid pipe and see no need to go bigger. I went 3" once and I felt I loss a bit of low end off boost torque and didn't gain anything up top I can notice... I did notice a lot more noise though lol.

Hope that helps.

[shav]

Nice responses guys. Cheers

By the look of it, a dump pipe of some form is needed and aftermarket mufflers with a mid muffler removal?

[Kekotic]

Nice responses guys. Cheers

By the look of it, a dump pipe of some form is needed and aftermarket mufflers with a mid muffler removal?

I don't agree with the keeping stock centre. You just need to get the combination right. A lot of people have had great success with a large centre muffler as benny said.
Also I think a key thing is to not go 3" straight through. If you go 3" Y-pipe that is effectively going from 3" to 6" at the Y-pipe.
I went Mild Steel 3" centre with 10" muffler to 2.25" Y-pipe.

The rear mufflers are very important too in preventing drone. All the people with tiny mufflers that complain about drone

Anyway here is a comparison between stock centre and custom centre on my car.

Stock Centre, PHAT dump and PHAT quads.



Custom Centre, PHAT dump and PHAT quads.

[dazzz168]

Nice responses guys. Cheers

By the look of it, a dump pipe of some form is needed and aftermarket mufflers with a mid muffler removal?

I don't agree with the keeping stock centre. You just need to get the combination right. A lot of people have had great success with a large centre muffler as benny said.
Also I think a key thing is to not go 3" straight through. If you go 3" Y-pipe that is effectively going from 3" to 6" at the Y-pipe.
I went Mild Steel 3" centre with 10" muffler to 2.25" Y-pipe.

The rear mufflers are very important too in preventing drone. All the people with tiny mufflers that complain about drone

Anyway here is a comparison between stock centre and custom centre on my car.

Stock Centre, PHAT dump and PHAT quads.



Custom Centre, PHAT dump and PHAT quads.

Nice Lib and nice vids! I can tell the one with the 3" centre has more rumble and will be a bit droney on a wagon,in saying that the stock centre vid was recorded with a different device etc as you can hear every little sound around. You sedan guys are lucky you don't have the drone issue of the wags.

[Kekotic]

Have never heard of the Wagon thing until you mentioned it Darren. Very interesting.

Another win for Sedans

Also thanks for the compliment

[bigBADbenny]

Fwiw... my phat dump, mufflered 3" mild steel mid and tcp quad sound great, just a tad noticeable on the freeway...
Growling everywhere else...
It's almost silent with stock/ish muffs.

So I'm still considering a second 100cel cat for -5db and total EPA legality...
Or just put on my EL headers as they'll reduce the boxer burble..

[shav]

Nice videos kieran.
Seeing as I have a sedan, I reckon I could get away with the stock center pipe.

[Kekotic]

Seeing as I have a sedan, I reckon I could get away with the stock center pipe.

I do not understand what you mean

[dazzz168]

Fwiw... my phat dump, mufflered 3" mild steel mid and tcp quad sound great, just a tad noticeable on the freeway...
Growling everywhere else...
It's almost silent with stock/ish muffs.

So I'm still considering a second 100cel cat for -5db and total EPA legality...
Or just put on my EL headers as they'll reduce the boxer burble..

What brand mid muffler did u end up going with BBB?

[bigBADbenny]

It's a Barney custom from Hallam Performance Exhausts.
It cost around $450 new iirc...

Bosco iirc is on phat dump & quads and stock mid...

[Kekotic]

It's a Barney custom from Hallam Performance Exhausts.
It cost around $450 new iirc...

Bosco iirc is on phat dump & quads and stock mid...

Just to back up BBB. I am also on the Barney mid

[shav]

Seeing as I have a sedan, I reckon I could get away with the stock center pipe.

I do not understand what you mean

Sorry.
I meant with regards to your first video, I could just do the dump and mufflers and keep the stock mid sections as is.