Hey guys, I've been considering upgrading the exhaust system on the TL-S.

I'm interested in opening up the exhaust between the heads and the mufflers. I'm not looking for a huge change in sound so I'd like to keep the stock cat-back.

Now that I mention it, how restricting is the stock TL-S cat-back compared to aftermarket?

I would like to have a bit more of a "throaty" sound, more like the G35/37.

I see that there are options that I'm not really familiar with since this is the first time I've owned and car and not a V8 or V6 Jeep.

Can someone please explain the options that I have as far middle exaust goes?

I've read about a J-Pipe, Precat Deletes, etc...but not sure what the hell everyone is talking about.

Thanks in advance.

 

If you want a throaty sound like the G35, replacing the stock resonator with an aftermarket one would be ideal.

The stock catback is restrictive compared to an aftermarket catback.

 

I'd suggest running an aero resonator on the stock catback for a deep sound... others ran magnaflow or dynomax resonators, both of those don't compare to the sound the aero results

 

With most of the catback systems you will see 10whp/10 ft lbs of tq. If you don't want to get too much more aggressive I would follow the advice of the 2 previous posters and just change out the resonator and maybe the j-pipe too.

 

get an aftermarket exhaust XLR8 or ATLP paired with eithers Jpipe and boy ohh boy

 

Greddy

 

The OP said he is not looking for a huge change in sound. But as far as hp boost, Greddy is the sh*t!!!

 

See, that's the thing. I, like everyone, want more power. I'm just new to the whole import car thing and am just terrified that if i do anything to the exhaust as far as cat-back goes that I'll end up with some kind of ridiculous bumblebee sound coming out the the backend.

I've purchased a very nice, and what I would call luxurious sport sedan and I just don't want to put some exhuast on it and then it sounds like crap.

I'm okay with the exhuast getting louder as long as it sounds good. I just know some people love that loud as hell coffee-can ricer sound...

 

Get a full atlp exhaust setup! Not ricer at all

 

What can I do to the exhaust system, between the headers and the mufflers, to make it as free flowing and highest performance?

 

first off, lets educate you on the TL's exhaust system so you understand it better.

1. The TL doesn't have headers, they are cast into the block.
2. After the exit from the block for the exhaust are 2 cataytic converters, 1 on each side with a 1200 cell density.
3. After the catalysts come the J pipe, this connects the front and rear bank exhaust together
4. Next comes the 3rd catalyst to take out any leftover stuff
5. Then comes some piping
6. then comes the resonator
7. some more piping
8. the mid-muffler
9. piping
10 splits into 2 pipes
11. mufflers.

There is tons of blockages here, lets start off with the cats. The first primary cats block a ton of flow, with some freer flowing ones (ATLP/Eshift-pro) you can get a decent gain, or with the R-V6 deletes, you can get rid of them completely.
Then comes the J Pipe, the stock pipe is squished together, the R-V6, ATLP and excelerate ones are good ones to choose.
Then theres the 3rd cat, you can buy a test pipe to get rid of it, or put in a freer flowing one.

 

If you want your exhaust to flow freer and noticeably improve the car's performance, there really is no viable option other than a catback exhaust, and the loudness that comes with it. Just my 2 cents.

 

there ARE alot of blockage there. 3 cats, pipes, resonator and a mid muffler...

 

Well this is the route I went.....

*3rd cat busted out insides
*J-pipe
*Removed factory mid muffler
*Removed resonator and put in magnaflow resonator

Mostly I like my car to look mostly stock, I think the stock type-S pipes look better than any aftermarket pipes I have seen yet (I really like the beveled tips a lot more than the ATLP). I wanted it to sound good though and it certainly does, it sounds like a beast when I get on it although fairly subtle when I am not driving spirited.

 

^ dude wait till you get a jpipe upgraded on there.... beauty is still in storage?

 

This is exactly what I am thinking. Did you do all the mods at once or were you able to hear the difference between each one.

I'm with you on the stock TL-S pipes looking great. I like them better than anything else I've seen thus far.

Is removing the insides of the 3rd cat basically the same as removing it? If I recall correctly, the insides are ceramic material with fiberglass???

 

Do not gut the existing cat, instead you can sell it and the money you get will more than suffice for buying a test pipe.

 

if you get rid of the any of the cats....i take it you WILL NOT pass the emissions test that is given annually huh??

 

Yeah man its still in storage... I get outta this hellhole in a lil less than 2 weeks though I have about 2k worth of stuff sitting in my mailbox in Germany...


I got the resonator put in and mid muffler removed first and could tell an immediate difference in sound. Great. Did the 3rd cat gut down the road when I was doing an oil change, didnt really notice a difference. Since my car is in Germany I dont really care about selling the cat. My idea about the whole thing was that there are no O2 sensors after the cat so I knew no codes would be thrown from it and I still wanted it to [I]appear[I] that there was still a cat in there.

 

Well some people are not subject to annual emmisions testing so if you are worried about failing or whatever than get a test pipe. When the annual test time comes around undo the 6 nuts and bolts that hold it in and slide your cat back in.....

 

^

Will, let me know if you're looking to mod your exhaust (J pipe, test pipe etc)

 

^^^....defintely looking forward to at least a j-pipe and maybe a test pipe...ATLP looks and sounds nice as well but that'll be later on down the road

 

Gotcha