Would a catted UEL header be too loud?
 

As of now, the only exhaust modification I have is a non-resonated Perrin cat-back exhaust, but I'm looking to add a bit of the 'boxer rumble' to the car with a UEL header. And I want to keep a catalytic converter for various reasons.

I know this is a hugely subjective opinion, but does the volume of the exhaust go up a lot when added a UEL catted header to the stock over pipe/ front pipe with a non resonated exhaust, or does a lot of the volume gain come from getting an aftermarket front pipe/over pipe?

It will be loud and raspy with that setup. The cat doesn't reduce the noise that much. You will want a resonated midpipe regardless of what aftermarket header you pick because the material is thinner which makes it a lot louder.

You might be able to pull it off with a resonated mid pipe.

I'm a fan of catless headers (due to the cat in the header dying faster) and leaving the cat in the front pipe. You really only need one to eliminate the nasty smell and a lot of that black residue. Noise is controlled by pipe size and resonators. 3" exhausts even resonated are real bassy, drone prone, and still very loud. 2.5" is much more manageable and easier to control the volume\rasp.

i have a tsudo UEL (no cat) header, stock over pipe and front pipe, and perrin 3" non-resonated catback. it's very loud and has has some rasp above 4k rpm/WOT. from what i understand, a cat doesn't affect volume, but it does affect the resonance pitch. so i'm guessing (if you have the 3" perrin version), it will be very loud, with some rasp. i'm swapping out my 3" mid pipe for one with a resonator to address my rasp issues.

Plus it also depend on what tune you will be using.
Oem tune will have far less drone in the dip that the tune that remove the torque dip, because of the more agressive valve tune ( more opening).

My setup: MXP equal length headers (they are slightly unequal length...certainly a bit of boxer rumble), stock overripe, perrin catted front pipe, perrin 2.5 resonated catback, tuned.

I can certainly tell you that the majority of the volume comes from the header. When I got the front pipe (went on after the catback), I couldn't really tell a difference in volume. The header was quite a big jump from the catback/frontpipe setup. It's right on my tolerance of volume level. I did some sound deadening, but nothing too crazy. Daily driving is fine, cruising at highway speeds (70+) is a bit loud. But man it's worth it when you are "on it."

I'm local so if you are around baltimore or Pure Automotive I can offer you a ride for sound impressions (pm me to let me know). Exhaust shopping is always a bit of guessing game, and its always different in person than any video out there.

I was about to post and say that mine isn't raspy but then I remembered that the stock midpipe does indeed have a resonator.

My setup is the ofh with stock overpeipe, front pipe and mid pipe with a nameless track pipe. It is loud but it isn't so insane you can't daily drive it.

[ame]http://youtu.be/VCyB5roFkes[/ame]

[ame]http://youtu.be/zWbuV0uewLM[/ame]

It sounds like I'll definitely have to get a resonated mid pipe, even with the stock front pipe & over pipe. As far as other questions asked, I have the 2.5" Perrin cat-back and I wasn't planning on getting a tune yet - which is part of the reason for staying with a a catted header.

I've got a similar question, if I have the TRD catback exhaust and was interested in having that UEL sound, would a catted UEl header increase the volume by a lot?

I DD this car so I don't want anything too loud, I just want a some rumble to the sound.

likely yes. you'd definitely get the rumble, but it will also most definitely be louder. i don't think it would be insanely loud or anything, assuming you have the stock front pipe and overpipe.