prestige_acura

My neighbor (Will) just had a custom built exhaust put on his mustang.
He said a friend of his here in Dallas has a performance shop. He install performance parts and specializing in design and building of custom exhaust for everything ranging from bmw, jags, mercs, to fords, mercury, etc. Mentioned that I may be able to get a full cat back type exhaust system on the TSX, throw in a cold air intake, and it should be good for another 10 hp?!
The cost for the custom exhaust installed may be around $500.
What do you guys think? i have an auto, but I guess it would give the car a bit of a kick. Will was telling me that the TSX is probably on putting 170-180hp to the ground since you lose 15-20% hp thru the flywheel. This is all above my car knowledge. But if I am running 180hp....surely 190hp would feel sweet!~
I do appreciate the current stock performance I have.
I just hope this guy wouldn't F*ck the car up in the process. Will suggested I put enough mufflers on the TSX to make it sound like original factory exhaust....cuz on a 4-banger, it'll sound like rice if I try to get the deep throaty sound I crave.
just wanted to get you lot's input. I'm not willing to spend much to sup up this car but an exhaust or chip wouldn't be bad. Will said the only worthwhile addition is a supercharger that'll give it anothe 30 hp max!
Anyway, tell me what you all think please~

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Hmm...if you could get this guy to build a system for you similar to the factory system on the SRT-4 (no mufflers and only pipe after teh cat) it should make the car sound sweet. Should give a similar sound to the Comptech system.

503TSX

IMO, I doubt that the exhaust will give you that much of an HP boost, at least without the headers, and intake, and new mapping curves to compensate for everything. Also be aware and make sure this guy knows what he is doing... there's nothing worse than going from 100TQ from 1000-2000rpm to going to 75TQ... =oP tQ loss is the worse...

biker

Hmm... let's see $500 for a .1s gain in 0-60 that you can't even feel. :thumbsdn:

tony4311

well it's NOT going to give you 10 hp even with the cai. I'm assuming he's just going to make a cat-back so you won't notice any power difference. If he does it make sure he uses mandrel bent not crushed. putting a bunch of mufflers on a car won't make it sound good using a quality muffler will. Most of the once size fits all mufflers sound like crap which is was gets used most of the time by muffler shops. I've got a comptech on my other car it sounds find no "ricey" buzzing or anything.

I wouldn't waste time with a chip of some kind either. They're usually generic and also one size fits all. Best thing to be would be to take it to someone that knows what they're doing with a dyno and get it tuned.


In the end if you just want it for the sound there's really nothing wrong with that just find out if he's got good mufflers not some crappy ebay mufflers that sell them based on the tip design. Also make sure he puts in a resonator. A lot of shops take those out which greatly adds to the horrible sounding exhausts.

prestige_acura

I wanted to get a full exhaust with headers and intake. Unfortunately, I am illiterate when it comes to this stuff. I am looking for the most cost effective and painless manner in increases hp. There's no chip for TSX yet, CAI would help I guess, and exhaust would be the 3rd option. Any other bright ideas guys? Do you think I am better off buying a cat back exhaust with headers+ intake from an established brand that produces exhaust.....DC, or HKS or K&n or whoever??

ricecake

re: custom work. it will depend on the reputation of the shop and the specialist doing the work. my husband has a custom turbo kit on his Mazda Protege 5 and it appears to be one of the best kits, based on what he has been hearing from others' experiences. the guy who did the work had a lot of experience working as a sheet metal fabricator as well as doing performance modifications. he does work with other makes, but specializes in imports--not sure how much of a difference that makes, but if someone is not familiar with Honda engines at all, it would make me somewhat skeptical. however, since,TSX's engine is different even from the other K-series engines, maybe everyone will still be on the same learning curve. not sure.

however, we are (finally) going to get a header for my TSX, and it will be a custom job, and we are going with the same shop, since Andy has already done good work. the reason i think most people go with national brands is because they have either relationships with the OEMs (like Comptech has with Honda/Acura) or have the scale to conduct proper R & D, fwiw.

tony4311

if you buy the parts make sure they're the same inner diameter. You may have to get bottle necks taken out at that place though.

for instance look at the end of this one by the silencer. Thats where it's made to connect to the stock cat but if you have everything aftermarket you won't want that. The place you're going to should be able to fix that.

503TSX

The most cost effective and painless way to get more horsepower? shoulda gotten the TL. =o) 7k more for 70 more HP, plus the other goodies... no more work involved... sorry, had to mention it.

When did K&N start making exhausts? hmmm...

ricecake

factually correct if you are talking raw HP, and i haven't done the weight-to-power ratio for the TL, so i wouldn't know about that measure. but some of us are interested in modifications because we actually have an interest in the means by which power is either increased OR the car is made more efficient.

another relevant thought: if you are wanting the "most cost effective and painless manner" to increase performance, i do not know whether custom work would be the way to go, given the fact that you need to bring the car in for pre-fabrication measurements/diagnostics, etc. also, when or if something goes wrong, because it's custom job, every problem requires more in-depth analysis, fwiw.