More Dual Exhaust Questions

**rhitee93** · 05-11-2007, 05:45 PM

OK, I know this topic is brought up all the time, but after a couple of hours cruising through the old posts, I still have questions about putting duals on my Magnum SXT.

I am torn between the Exhaust Depot setup and the Zoomers. The Exhaust Depot sound is nice and the price is low enough that I don’t really even have to think about it. The video I have seen, however, seems waaaay too loud for my “Wife and 2 kids” suburban type lifestyle.

I am leaning towards the Zoomers. They sound great in the videos, but at 3x the price, I have to think (and save) quite a bit. It looks like they were going to offer a group buy sometime soon, that certainly helps.

I would like general opinions on both systems, but I have a couple of specific questions as well.

First: My stock system is completely welded. What is the best way to cut the current pipes? Is there a clean way to do it on the car or should I just unbolt it at the header and do it in the garage with a pipe cutter?

Second: Has anybody had any problem with the dealer not honoring the warranty after having a cat-back system installed? It sounds like most people have not had issues, but I am pretty paranoid about that at the moment. I am due for my first oil change in a couple of weeks so I thought I would try to chat up the service guy about it, but even if he tells me to go for it, he can change his mind later.

Anyway, a newbie thanks you all for your time…

**ZMagnum** · 05-11-2007, 05:56 PM

I had my Zoomers installed at a shop. The same shop that my dealership uses to install duals on some V6's that they sell. They also recommend the shop to their customers. So, naturally they don't talk about warranty issues for having duals. One of their own service writers has a Charger SXT and had the duals put on by this same shop.

The Zoomers are quiet except when you stomp on it. Everyone likes the sound though. Even my 70 year old classical music listening father liked it. There are some that say the Zoomers where too loud but those seem to be few and far between.

The installer just cut the stock exhaust system in a few places. I don't know exactly where. Most if it came out in once piece. The new system was installed and fully welded. He welded it by lowering the whole system from the cats. I'm not sure what he unbolted but it was up high under the engine. Maybe the front pipes? Not sure.

Remember that you need hangers and suspenders for the left side. The left side facia needs to be cut. Ther are Mopar exhaust bezels available or you can just leave it cut. It's hard to tell anything was done. Also, remember that you need a left side gas tank heat shield unless you have an AWD SXT. Then you should already have it. Use the right side resonator heat shield as the gas tank heat shield (reshape it and glue it).

**rhitee93** · 05-12-2007, 12:19 AM

I appreciate the info. I am OK with facia work, but I would have forgotten the hangers until I had the kit here.

Seems I read in one thread or another that using the driver’s side heat shield from an R/T would work. Is that a good option?

**ZMagnum** · 05-12-2007, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by rhitee93

I appreciate the info. I am OK with facia work, but I would have forgotten the hangers until I had the kit here.

Seems I read in one thread or another that using the driver’s side heat shield from an R/T would work. Is that a good option?

DannyC did something like that but still had to mount it somehow. Only the R/T or AWD gas tanks have the mounts for it.

**MooNDoGGie** · 05-12-2007, 02:34 AM

Just use the resonator heat shield. It works fine. DannyC spent a fortune on that R/T heat shield and he still had to 3M tape it to the gas tank like we did with the resonator shield. Do yourself a favour and save some dough.
Zoomers are not quiet but they can be if you want them to be. The big thing with zoomers is there is no drone. Not at any rpm range on the v6 and as I understand on the v8 either. Yes they are much more expensive but if you plan on doing more performance mods down the road you will be glad you did a true duel free flow exhaust rather than a cheater exhaust(y-pipe) It depends where you wanna be at the end.

**Christopher** · 05-13-2007, 12:55 AM

I understand from the Charger Forum the new system from exhaust depot is much better than the econo set up and is less than 500 big ones if you are one of the first 10 to order .
I am waiting for mine ..

**Turf** · 05-13-2007, 12:39 PM

my dill-weed service manager said putting on duals would void the powertrain warranty. he is a tool

**DannyC** · 05-13-2007, 02:09 PM

Yep I spent $200 for the full tank heat shield like the hemis use. I then Had to glue 2 plastic nuts to the tank on the drivers side to hold it in place. The center and passenger side already had the place for the fasteners. And let me say it was a real pain to get the old shield off cus it's thicker than it looks and getting it from over the drive shaft was rough.

**CANDYAPPLE** · 05-13-2007, 03:26 PM

When asking around at different muffler shops (not the one that went up in flames with exploding propane tanks just down the street from me, on Friday (had a great view out my condo window!) But I digress..more than one installer claimed that a heat shield is not required on the drivers side. When I asked why, the answer I got was there is a sensor of some sort on the passenger side that is heat sensitive, but no sensor on the drivers side. How true that is, I don't know. He claimed to have put on systems with no heat shield under the left side gas tank with no problems at all. I am still looking for the "perfect" set up for me. That includes an X pipe, two mufflers, lower than Zoomers pricing (In Canadian dollars!) no cabin resonance and a pair of nice chrome pipes. I have the trim bezels on order already and the lower facia is painted satin black to match spoiler,mirrors, trim, roof rack etc. Everything in red or black!

Cheers CANDYAPPLE

**DannyC** · 05-13-2007, 03:51 PM

Ok so you think it's ok to have a hot muffler under a plastic gas tank? I'd rather be safe than sorry. Insurance and warrenty wouldn't touch it if something happened.

Yes I paid alot for the shield but if money is an issue you can just use the shield from over the resinator. My whole exhaust install only cost $400 at a local shop. Very professional and fully welded. Most of the kits cost over the $600 I spent for exhaust and heat shield.

**CANDYAPPLE** · 05-13-2007, 04:13 PM

[quote=DannyC;876742]Ok so you think it's ok to have a hot muffler under a plastic gas tank? I'd rather be safe than sorry. Insurance and warrenty wouldn't touch it if something happened.

Well Danny, that's one of the questions I have been wrestling with. There are a lot of opinions as to which is the correct way. The Mopar/Borla set up uses only the one muffler, I believe, so it's not a true dual system. That is why no extra heat shield is what they suggest!

Cheers CANDYAPPLE

**DannyC** · 05-13-2007, 04:29 PM

Oh ok I thought you were going full duel all the way. No you don't need a shield if no muffler is there

Also someone posted a picture of a single muffler with 2 inlets and 2 outlets. This may be an option and probably doesn't require the X pipe since I think pressure equalizes in the muffler but not sure.

My guy removed the "Y" pipe and ran 2 seperate pipes to 2 seperate mufflers and the tailpipes to the back with SS tips.

**ZMagnum** · 05-13-2007, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by CANDYAPPLE

When asking around at different muffler shops (not the one that went up in flames with exploding propane tanks just down the street from me, on Friday (had a great view out my condo window!) But I digress..more than one installer claimed that a heat shield is not required on the drivers side. When I asked why, the answer I got was there is a sensor of some sort on the passenger side that is heat sensitive, but no sensor on the drivers side. How true that is, I don't know. He claimed to have put on systems with no heat shield under the left side gas tank with no problems at all. I am still looking for the "perfect" set up for me. That includes an X pipe, two mufflers, lower than Zoomers pricing (In Canadian dollars!) no cabin resonance and a pair of nice chrome pipes. I have the trim bezels on order already and the lower facia is painted satin black to match spoiler,mirrors, trim, roof rack etc. Everything in red or black!

Cheers CANDYAPPLE

If that was true then how come the Hemi engines have the heat shield on both sides? I've felt the left side muffler after a long trip. That thing gets too hot to touch.

**black MAGic** · 05-13-2007, 11:47 PM

I had the same concerns as you when considering my duals. I felt like the Exhaust Depot setup would be too loud, plus the econo version didn't have an x-pipe. I liked the dual Zoomers because of the x-pipe & the "no drone" characteristc. I went with the Zoomers and have been very pleased. Going from stock exhaust to the Zoomers was a big increase in sound, but in a good way. As big an increase as this was, I can only imagine how loud the Exhaust Depot would be. No knock on them, it would just be too loud for me. As far as performance, there is a definite increase in throttle response. I don't have any proof in numbers, however the "but dyno" detects a definite increase in H.P. I did the install myself. I cut the facia & used the resonator heatshield from the passenger side for the drivers side fuel tank. Also had to install hangers for the driver side (got them from my dealer). Hope this helps!

Here's a link to a video clip of my Zoomers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wKzRYgKWjk

**Jimsmag06** · 05-14-2007, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by ZMagnum

If that was true then how come the Hemi engines have the heat shield on both sides? I've felt the left side muffler after a long trip. That thing gets too hot to touch.

Let me get this straight....You touched the muffler after a long trip?
You must have southern roots, like me!