After Market Exhaust Question

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shyamrox

Bought an X
Location
Cincinnati
Hey All,
I've been reading a few posts and I'm trying to understand something about bolt-on "cat back" exhaust systems.

As I understand it there are two main components to this...
1. the piping. (If you increase the pipe diameter, it allows better air flow.)
2. the muffler. (Better muffler, better air flow.)

Is my understanding correct so far?

My questions:
- If you stay with the same tubing diameter, is there any point in buying a whole cat-back exhaust system which includes the piping? Wouldnt it be "just as good" to only buy the muffler?
- If you increase the size of the tubing, arent you still restricted by the width of the tubing that is before the catylitic converters?

The ultimate newbie question:
I'm sick of reading and watching videos of people revving thier xterras... so can someone just tell me whats the most bang for my buck that will give me a deep throaty sound and best bang for the buck performance? lol ;)
 
S

shyamrox

Bought an X
Location
Cincinnati
Oh yea, and I'm not looking for that nasty sound they make when people drill holes in thier muffler or cut thier muffler off or something like that :) That would be most bang for the buck..but that sounds aawwwwwfffffuull IMO :)
 
Rammer'sX

Rammer'sX

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Sylvan Lake, MI
On the second gens, the Magnaflow 12580 is pretty popular... But you can use a coupon from retailmenot from advance autoparts for any muffler. Let me get the info and I will share it shortly

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
 
granitex

granitex

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Columbus OH
with any of the cat back's you will not get much performance increase until you also run a set of headers. The stock manifolds are pretty restrictive in comparison.

personally I am running a set of nismo cat backs with a set of DT headers, good performance pickup and not a lot of drone on the highway. but you can hear me coming.

And for your question about the exhaust diam,, it depends on how the tubing is bent. if it is all mandrel bent compared to not, than yes it can be more efficient, it has to do with the kinks and squashed places that restrict and disrupt air flow.
 
01XterraPhilly

01XterraPhilly

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Conshohocken, PA
What if you just got a muffler and left the stock piping on? I'm assuming there will be a sound difference based on the muffler being different but will there be any restrictions or inhancements performance wise? Keeping in mind everything else is stock
 
01XterraPhilly

01XterraPhilly

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Conshohocken, PA
im in the same dilemma where i apparently got some tiny little holes in my muffler and im trying to figure out what is the best course of action. Im leaning more towards just the muffler just for cost issues but i wouldnt mind going with a 2.5" tubing through out. any suggestions for a first gen?? sorry if this is cross posting with the generations
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
Doesn't the OP have a 2004? (1st Gen)

Anyway - The OEM 2.25" diameter is s lightly limiting, but going to just 2.5" is not....so that's as large as worth it.

One thing to keep in mind is MPG. There's exhaust scavenging pulses that the VG33E engine uses that will be disrupted when you modify the exhaust. This can help power but hurt mpg. If you don't increase the breathing IN, adding the ability to breath OUT easier will not have much impact though.

Unless I had an unlimited budget, I would not do a new exhaust unless the old one needed replacement anyway.

When I did mine on my '01, I rerouted the new exhaust to eliminate that giant OEM monstrosity muffler, and allow room for an OBA tank in the same spot ~ under the seat there.
 
01XterraPhilly

01XterraPhilly

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Conshohocken, PA
i got a thrush turbo muffler from advanced and i found out that my pipes are 2" and i bought 2.25." all my a little annoyed about that bc my mpgs could be better maybe a little but it would definitely breath better. So we had to get an adapter for the 2" to 2.25." eventually ill switch it out when funds are in my favor
 
Rammer'sX

Rammer'sX

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Sylvan Lake, MI
Why dont you return the muffler and replace it with a magnaflow 2 in 1 out, this way you can maintain the 2" from the engine to the muffler, then the 2.5 from the muffler to the rear, it will breathe much better and you will get rid of the Y pipe. Let me look for the details on the muffler Im talking about and I will point you to that thread.
 
Rammer'sX

Rammer'sX

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Sylvan Lake, MI
D'uh, the details about the magnaflow are a couple of threads before my last post. Look for a coupon in RetailMeNot from Advance Auto Parts and you can get this muffler, free shipped to your house for about 80 bucks, (with a 40 off coupon). You will need then need to replace the Y pipe for two pipes in, and use the single tube out. It sounds pretty darn good
 
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