DerrickW

I'm thinking/hoping this is a thread that helps quite a few. I've had my 07 Type-S 6-spd about 9 months now & absolutely love the car. I'm a car guy but am not mech savvy like a lot of you are. Change my own oil & that's about the end of it.

I know you guys that've been on here forever tire of the newbs posting new threads every week; "How do I get a deeper exhaust tone,...don't want hiway drone, ...hate raspiness, ...yadda."

Could someone post --I guess what we be the written equivalent of-- a schematic of the exhaust system? To a nonmech like me there's a lot of recurring terminology in the exhaust threads here; resonators, pre-cats, cat, 3rd cat, j-pipe, mid-muffler, etc. Would someone who knows lay out the sequential path that exhaust gases take from cylinder-to-tailpipes? And then, if you're really feeling charitable, a sequential of the typical modification path?

& I get that there's truly no such thing as "typical", but a week or so ago someone recommended I start with the mid-muffler delete & see how I like the sound. Which I will. Then, if that doesn't get me there, what would "typically" or maybe "logically" would be better, be the next step in seeking superior sound and power output.

Hope this makes sense. I don't want to go out and get a complete cat-back with new quad tips and everything, drop $1,650 or whatever, only to find out the car sounds like a 17 year old's riced 02 Civic. Also hope this isn't asking too much.

MonkeyTrucker

Exhaust manifold --> precats (front and rear) --> j-pipe --> catalytic converter --> long pipe (w/resonator) --> mid muffler --> "Y" --> mufflers --> tips (lol)

See attached

DerrickW

I've seen lots of "3rd cat." You only list two. Or are you counting precats as two, & therefore the cat is 3rd?

Try not to lol at me, brother. I'm learning.

MonkeyTrucker

There's only one true catalytic converter.

Nothing wrong with learning. One of my favorite mantras is a day something new is learned, it was a great day.

DerrickW

Where does resonator(s) fit into this chain?

MonkeyTrucker

Before mid muffler and after "third cat"

I edited my first response and included an attachment of the diagrams from the factory service manual.

DerrickW

Sweet. This really helps. So in this diagram 'exhaust pipe A' = J-pipe, 'exhaust pipe B' = y-pipe? This helps a visual learner like me. Care to pontificate or wax poetic on the second part of my inquiry??

MonkeyTrucker

Yes, "A" is the j-pipe, because it looks like the letter "J" from an overhead or underneath view. "B" goes flange (triangle bolting area), resonator, mid muffler, then the "Y"

I've got a cold air intake as 1st mod and then high flow precats and aftermarket j-pipe that "deleted" the "third cat" as my second mod in relation to intake / exhaust mods.

I've not touched anything in the "B" portion of the diagram's exhaust pipe.

Sounds nice when wide open throttle, no rasp or drone.

My opinion, go performance then sound or looks

UTAH TSX

We removed the mid muffler on the type-s and it sounded much better. we later installed a magnaflow resonator in place of the stock resonator, to me me it was a waste of money could barely tell the difference, then we removed the 3rd cat and that made it sound really good not to raspy just a nice growl and non of it made any difference in power that you could feel, just for sound only

DerrickW

This is the real world advice I was looking for. Thanks. I think I'll follow this path - and then do j-pipe aftermarket upgrade early next year maybe

DerrickW

Hey MT, which is the 'mid muffler' in the .pdf diagram you've posted? Is it the big beast of a bulb immediately before the section labeled "EXHAUST PIPE B" ?

MonkeyTrucker

It's the square muffler just before the "Y" on the "B" pipe. The longer rectangle shaped one in the diagram is the resonator.

DerrickW

Please forgive a newb for such on-going questions. Nothing is really "square" in the diagram. I'm assuming (& we all know what happens when we do that) its the first chunk 'upwind' of the Y ...in the diagram the arrow originating at "EXHAUST PIPE B" and pointing to the y-pipe is only about a 1/4 inch or so away from it. Am I reading you right? I'm making an appointment to have it removed and don't want to fubar this.

thank you, brother

polobunny

DerrickW

Final question on this one, I promise. (b/c I'm going into the shop tomorrow!) The '3rd cat' would be which in the same diagram?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

not pictured, it's bolted to the oem jpipe.

if you have the cash...snag a real exhaust. You'll chase this over the rainbow but you'll hack up your stock exhaust, then you'll try and jpipe, then the high flow cats...and you'll likely realize that NOW it does sound like a civic with a cheap exhaust and be forced into reverting (we never do) or an aftermarket exhaust.

If you don't have the cash...do jpipe first...that replaces the 3rd cat in most cases with a straight pipe...then high flow cats...leaving the exhaust un butchered and intact...then you can hack away and make it as loud as you want. That's how I'd do this all over again if I were revisiting.

Decent example of RV6 and ATLP in one video, not type S openings, obviously. Exhaust upgrade is for sound, looks and a wee bit of performance in my opinion. Aside from driver feel...it is the biggest thing you'll appreciate when actually behind the wheel if you're a true driving enthusiast.

Good luck, and welcome!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

then again, I have some good friends that do the "stage 3" as it's called...and do resonator swap to the long magnaflow and remove that mid muffler. I still have mine hacked up in the attic...and the rest of the exhaust too

MonkeyTrucker

Same advice I tried giving him in post #8. Do a performance mod that adds sound as an added benefit .

"Deleting" stuff just for sound is ridiculous imo, and will complicate "noise" when adding performance later. Maybe he'll heed your advice.

...not a single thanks

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

The funny thing was, in my semi delirium last night I kept thinking, Monkey Trucker really took the time to give solid advice and give diagrams and he got zero thanks. Not that that's what we're here for, but I thought maybe you took his sister out and never called her back!



Yeah, I agree...now that I've done it and fucked it all up...I'd go back and do primary and rear cat to high flow...would have only set me back $125 on the used set I bought...maybe it would have sounded great already. Maybe the True Duals down the line.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

I have a 6spd base with v3 HFPCs, v3 jpipe, and had my mid muffler removed.

I think it sounds great. No drone. Really it's quiet unless I'm on it. Once you're on it, it's sounds like a pissed off beast. Right around VTEC there is a sound that is close to rasp but I wouldn't even call it that. I'm happy with it.

If you want that low grumble all the time get an aftermarket exhaust. If you want to just change the tone a little...remove the mid muffler.

DerrickW

Wow. PLEASE accept both my apology and (belated) thanks. You, sir, have been a fantastic wellspring of information. Just trying to keep about 15 of life's plates spinning right now (none of which are my TL), got busy and lost my manners.

As you've seen, I did delete the mid-muffler just for sound - and am glad I did it. In full stock trim the car was just too damn weak sounding. Getting a nicer exhaust note for $50 was a no-brainer to me. I'm not going to heavily mod this car. J-pipe to free up some useful ponies and then that's probably it. From what I've read going to an aftermarket j-pipe + mid-muffler delete should get me an add'l 10-20 horse, produce a very nice tone and not lead me someplace where I just have to go backwards & start re-redoing things b/c the sound has gotten out of hand. At least that's what I'm hoping