Hey everyone. So I finally got the 3 big mods done for my 2003 Tl-S.

3 1/2 Magnaflow Full Cat-Back exhaust. With Magnaflow mufflers.

Injen RD CAI

DC Sport Headers (HHC5528)

The car is loud when you step on it. But cruising around it's not really loud. Idle is a little more throaty if that's the right term. Performance wise I don't know. I honestly can't remember how it performed stock I never took any times down or anything. I did these mods one by one overtime so I got use to any gains since it was done gradually and not all at once. I guess it feels quicker.

I think that's about all I'm going to put into this car except maybe the tranny swap. Kinda sucks that were limited on what we can do. No Turbo or Supercharger and FWD

What about the 3.5 conversion? Is it worth the $$$ and time?
And people with the same mods as me did you guys really notice any gains? Anyone got a Dyno with these mods?

 

Why would You use 3.5" mufflers? Are you running a 80mm Turbo or something?.
Biggest gains from your mods comes from the Headers.. CAI gives better sound and a little boost in top end.. Mufflers? We'll with 3.5" I can't comprehend why would you go that high N/A.. 2.5" was good 3" was future proof and Turbo Aplications.. 3.5"? 4L Build + Turbo?

 

I went to dynamic muffler, It's a shop in my area. and he wrote down 3 1/2. Now I'm not completely sure if that's what they used for the entire piping. Or if that's just the tips size. It's not like piping straight into A muffler. It's piping that goes into Magnaflow housing then a tip.

 

We'll the main pipe does look big dunno if 3.5" big but BIG! But the split doesn't look that big perhaps he used 3.5 for main then split into a smaller diameter to make up.

3.5" overall? Is just too much total overkill and can't say for sure it's not detracting any performance.

 

I'll measure the pipes and find out haha, I don't know if it's true but the head guy of the shop said. If I want true performance I should only get one exhaust. Instead of the y-pipe leading to the fake dual. To just get straight piping all the way to one muffler.

 

One muffler will sound way to ricey for the TL... And he must be smoking something because the Y-Pipe doesn't harm anything its there to reduce noise not to add performance. He installed 3.5" which is also completely off-the-scale with the diameter needed for a J32 N/A, 3" is BIG ENOUGH < Guaranteed by the PROs in Acurazine so I would not trust his judgment anymore. Next time you go he will do a Single Pipe 4" just for the Kicks...


Continuing the Sound Point.
Ex:
Have you seen Sport bikes with a single Exhaust? = LOUD AS FUCK!
But a touring version of the same bike?
Dual Exhaust Sport Tourer = Silent, or at least quieter than its Sport Bike counter part.


That its the reason why the TL its using a Dual Fake Exhaust it has nothing to do with faking a Dual "Performance" Exhaust Setup its to reduce Noise only.. Which in the TL you can say its DEAD SILENT, TL-S uses 3 Mufflers for Crying out Loud.


A proper tuned Dual Exhaust will be better than a Single Setup ALWAYS! But it has WEIGHT as a Con.. Not good for the guys looking for the ultimate performance mods.

 

...are those press bends ?

 

That's not a Magnaflow catback or 3 1/2 piping. Looks like 2.5" pipes using just standard stock pipes and non mandrel bender. Mufflers are probably Magnaflow though.

 

press bends ... dam. for the non-knowing consumer though lots of shop employees will swear there is no difference to make the sale!

 

Dam I feel shitty, Well I'll live and learn. Muffler tips are Magnaflow and the mufflers are both Magnaflow. It's the shop everyone in my area goes to. He has had GT500's,Stingrays,SS Camaro,Porsche's and the like having work done on them at his shop so I trusted his work and word. Guess I was played as a dumb ass kid lol.

Next time I walk into any shop I'm gonna be educated on what I want done. I was just excited on getting an exhaust and had faith with the shop. But thank you guy's for letting me know what's up

 

^^^ Hey man, don't sweat it.....ya got the things done that ya wanted for getting the motor to breathe better. From here, just have fun and maybe save up some money for the CL"S" 6 speed stick.

PS: Consider painting the exposed underneath rear exhaust stuff with a high temp black coating for a better detailed and more stealthy appearance.

 

Nice work. Anything else will be pricey. Another relatively cheap little upgrade is swapping out your sparkplugs for some iridium ones.

Back when I had the CL-S, putting in the NGK Iridium plugs gave my car a bit more zip.

 

well its not like you dont have a nice setup ... just maybe get yourself a lightweight crank pulley & free up another 4-8 ponies, underdrive or stock diameter your preference, maybe a tb spacer (i dont have one but some say it gives some performance), & i'd say for a hundred bucks an easy bolt on-bolt off as needed xlr8 test pipe is a great mod (6 bolts easy to do & direct fit). overall though, unless you start thinking about tranny, engine & cam swaps our cars will never really be very fast. ... with a type-s i'm not sure if there is any tb or im mods you can do - for those who know chime in - but you can get your lower runners p&p'd & im sure do some more p&p'ing & possibly get another 10-15 hp.

 

False. this is just all in ur head.

 

^^^ IMO, if anyone replaces the old original plugs with new ones in their car's motor,
they will feel the sensation within their head as well as the car itself.

If it feels good.....just do it !!! Everybody could use a bit more zip.

 

yea what he said!!! & in no way will the irridiums perform better than the stock laser platinums. maybe "as well", but in no way "better".

 

The Xlr8 test pipe what would that do? It replaces the Catalytic converter right. How does it affect sound?

 

You should have really noticed the headers.

Yes, straight pipe replaces the cat. It would be about the same hp to put in a 2.5" magnaflow universal cat (and much less $). No stinky exhaust that way. The test pipe will likely make it much raspier.

breather mods really help the J engines. Big intake, bigger throttle body, ported manifold and runners. Also grab an underdrive crank pulley.

 

LOVE PRESS BENDS!!! lol. I went through that as a kid. Don't trust anyone that wants your money for anything.