Exhausting tale of...Exhaust

[Fiveoh]

OK, for those of you with a 3.5 and wanted to know about how well the Mag sounds with no resonator, here goes.

First I would like to say that, a local mom&pop, but professional, muffler shop was extremely helpful and willing to assist me with testing different types of exhaust options for the Magnum. And to top it off, I only pay $10 bucks for labor per visit (so far two visits). Of course, once I decide on the final setup, I pay for the parts (if any). Well here goes.

Mods: Jet Chip II and CAI.

1. First we took off the stock SXT muffler with a Magnaflow XL Performance series muffler. We kept the stock resonator on and the car sounded nice, but no throaty or loud growl. It was a tad bit louder than stock, but unnoticable to Mr. Q Public. The Mag seemed to pick up some speed and acceleration on the highway (0-80)

2. Next we removed the resonator and welded a straight pipe tail. The Magnaflow was left intact. The Mag sounded great at startup and WOT. It was extremely loud, but with a mean deep growl. The Mag accelerated nicely. Everyone was impressed. However, the drone was unbearable at cruising speed of 70 and was loud and steady at 2300-3000 RPM - Cruising speed with and without Cruise Control. Even with my radio up, the drone was annoying. In fact, the resonation interfered with the bass in my music, almost like the resonation from wind buffeting (when one window is opened). I do not recommend this option unless resonance isn't an issue.

3. We then decided to try a glass pack with the Magnaflow. We also installed a cheap resonator tip. The sound was slightly quieter than Option 2, but the exhaust had a deeper tone at idle. At WOT or increased rev, the Mag sounded mean and ready to fight with a loud deep tone at acceleration. However, once I jumped into cruising speed, the drone reappeared. This time the drone wasn't as bad as Option 2, but still annoying. The nice thing was the Mag wanted to jump into action everytime I pressed the gas (this is subjective opinion, not scientific).

Monday we will try placing a high flow resonator with the Magnaflow muffler. I'll update this thread with what happens. That will be my third, and probably final, visit for my tests.

Before I conclude, I want to make a few comments about this test. The reason for using Magnaflow is simply because the muffler shop only had Magnaflows, no Borlas, Corsas, Zoomers...etc. My main concern isn't sound, but resonance free ride and, more importantly, free flow exhaust. I know, Zoomers does all this, but at this time I can't afford it...give me a few more months...heh.

If you want the sound and resonance isn't a issue, then simply replace the stock muffler with a high flow muffler and discard the stock resonator (recommend a resonator tip). If you are looking for resonant free ride, then a good resonator/muffler combo is a must (exception being Zoomers).

[ZMagnum]

Thank you. Great write up. I look forward to the rest of your tests.

[Fiveoh]

I want to mention that I wanted to created a video clip, but it is just too damn cold out here. However, Option 3 sounds very close to the Zoomers SXT video clip, but with resonance in the cabin. Also, the guys at the muffler shop stated we could try a dual exhaust setup with two Magnaflow XL Performance mufflers.

The SXT already has a heat shield in place for a second muffler, at least mine does. That might produce the same non-resonance results as NorthernRider's setup. His vehicle is a 300 Hemi, so I'm not positive if the resonance free results would transcend to the Mag SXT.

[LonghornSpencer]

Hmmm...Thank you for the time and efforts in this, so helpful! Look foward to the results. Any dyno plans?

[Fiveoh]

Once I get the exhaust setup I'm looking for, then a Dyno is something I want to accomplish. Not sure if any of the Dyno shops here are AWD ready.

[Fiveoh]

Did two video clips of the Mag. One video shows the startup and rev and the other from inside the vehicle. I didn't do a drive-by because it was too cold and the wind was pretty strong (the camera's mic didn't like the wind).

The clip of the ride inside has a bit of high frequency noise from the wind, guess the camera audio wasn't setup too well. However, you can pick out the resonance if you up your bass a bit.

Mods on the Mag:

1. Exhaust: Magnaflow XL Performance Exhaust, with a 14" glasspack and no resonator

2. Jet Chip II, CAI

Startup/Rev 5.51 MB

Inside 14.3 MB

[Fiveoh]

Another update. Went to see about getting a high flow resonator put on, they didn't have one at the local shop. But they ordered one from Magnaflow. I don't know the part number, but it is a round 18" with 2.25" inlet/outlet. It should arrive next week and I'll post the part number then.

Once it arrives, I'll be down there to get it installed. We'll take the glasspack and resonator tip off, but leave the Magnaflow XL Performance muffler on with the Magnaflow resonator. Afterwards I'll make another video clip.

If this works, then I could go dual with 2.5" piping, two Magnaflow XL Performance mufflers and resonators. If I decide to keep the dual setup, I'll be charged $210 total (muffler: $40 x 2 = $80, resonator: $50 x 2 = $100, labor $30). Single exhaust will only cost me half that price.

[ASU_Magnum]

just curious, what you have spent so far?

[Fiveoh]

$20 for labor (two visits) and $40 for the muffler. They originally made me pay $55, but that was given back and prices were renegotiated for this test. The cost I paid so far is factored into my total cost listed above. Glasspack was free, a friend had one he never used and they put it on for this test...and that is definitely coming off. When all is done, I will have paid a little over $100 dollars for a single exhaust and $210 for dual (if I go that route).

The thing about the muffler is, on the Magnaflow site they list the price as $76, but this shop sold it to me for $40, so I did get a deal. We called Magnaflow today about the resonator and it is priced at $50. Making the pipes isn't hard, hell...even I got to bend a couple pieces...really cool machine. I don't know how much labor would cost from other major mechanics, but these muffler guys are local custom car nuts and really wanted to work on the Magnum...not to mention they are old vets and pro-military.

In the end, if I get resonant free exhaust, I'll post non-marked down prices of everything involved. This test isn't so much to get people to purchase a particular brand, but to ensure others don't waste money on "cheap" exhaust mods by cutting, replacing, installing unnecessary parts. If a $400+ system is required, then so be it...at least we'll know what does and doesn't work for under that price...heh. I'll make pics next week to show the single exhaust results.

[boggart]

Here's a link to my thread where I did basically the same thing you are doing.

Linky Linky

Hopefully between your trials and mine, people will have the info they need.

[Fiveoh]

Yeah, your test and NorthernRiders' thread inspired me to try out different options as well. At first I wasn't going to relive your experience with the glasspack, but since you had duals I thought there might be a different result for single exhaust...but alas...same result drone and resonation.

With the resonator, I didn't want to use the stock SXT or RT (I thought they were both the same resonators..aren't they?). Thankfully, Magnaflow had one for cheap to try out. If it works with no drone, then cool. As for going dual...your setup is a Y into one muffler and dual out to tails, correct?

The thing about going dual is...I really don't want to run duals on my SXT. However, if do try it then there are two options:

1. Straight dual from cat to dual mufflers and dual resonators (not sure how this would impact performance)

2. X-pipe after CATs to dual mufflers and dual resonators (again...not quite sure how this would impact performance either).

Not sure how the underside of your vehicle looked, but mine has the mounts and shields for those two options.

[boggart]

Yeah, mine is single muffler, dual out. Mine doesn't have the drivers side heat sheilds. I didn't want to spend the $200 needed to put those on so I went with this setup. I hear what you're saying about duals and single sounding different too. Hope you can put up some soundbites when you're done. I'd like to hear OldNavy's too.