Full Stock Exhaust - Anyone content with full stock & NEVER planning for aftermarket?

[Mikem53]

You can still have an exhaust "note" that says sports car without disturbing the neighbors or your hwy cruising and free up a few ponies..better breathing allows for more power., so one cannot ignore the exhaust system in pursuit of performance. It maximizes other engine mods.

Originally Posted by fooddude

I never disagreed that a header/exh would be a great upgrade..I just meant I would like to do drivetrain mods first/before (and even rather than) doing headers first. I want to be quiet, not a cop magnet. I just don't want to wake the entire darn neighborhood everywhere I drive lol. Maybe you will understand when you're older or have driven modded/noisy DD cars for around 20 years (def gets old after a while and it's super nice to have a quiet, yet modded, car).

Yes, aftermarket headers and tune + stock exh sounds like a great idea to rid of the dip while keeping things relatively quiet still. Perhaps I will do this too... but only after all my desired drivetrain and FD mods first

You cannot really relate drivetrain mods to exh mods the way you described (ie: "Say you want better handling for your car, why bother with suspension/coilovers if your still on the stock tires?") ...yes, to make the most use out of your coilovers or suspension you need good tires to back them up, I totally agree... but lightened drivetrain parts will still work just perfectly fine with or without an aftermarket exh/headers.

Who cares if you have full aftermarket headers and exhaust. Or if it sounds or looks good. It's all about function; and in all honesty, the stock stuff works just fine. Yes, aftermarket exh will rid of the dip and give you a tad extra hp than stock..but I will enjoy lightened drivetrain mods and a nice short FD much more...all while being quiet

Track days with no sound level rules... I would just dump the exhaust for weight savings, or if I had extra money after my drivetrain/FD mods, get a lightweight Tomei exh.

[Robert@Openflash]

We have tested several different combinations and for us driving the car on the street and tuning it all the time we actually run our shop car with a stock exhaust. We have just a drop-in filter, OpenFlash UEL Header, and OpenFlash tune on stage2 E85 and we made over 200whp with the stock catback. I would say that pick a exhaust where you actually like the sound of it. We have a sound clip on our facebook page to give you an idea of a bolt on car with stock exhaust. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by fooddude

I was curious if anyone else had the same views as me and/or is fully content with the stock exhaust system and never ever planning to get an aftermarket exhaust?

I like aftermarket exhausts (especialy the Tomei and Amuse); but the noise is a big concern.. the only reason I would get and want an exhaust is for weight savings (since catback exhausts honestly only give negligible power increases for NA cars); and headers, for some extra power...but the big cons and result from a full aftermarket exhaust system is being noisy and a cop magnet and kinda outweigh the pros much more (lighter and only a little more power...not to mention thousands of dollars and even more for a custom ecu + tuning).

My plan would be: Light pulley, light flywheel, light driveshaft and a 4.88 final drive gear, which would be the only engine/drivetrain mods I want to do..while leaving the header, exhaust and intake completely stock (only a drop in filter) - Sleeper/ninja style for DD and to help avoid law enforcement significantly.

I feel these drivetrain mods would be much more significant and felt in terms of performance improvements than exhaust.

I had a hybrid EG in the '90s that has been through many diff exhausts; but in the end I returned to stock for low-pro'ness. Also had an SR'ed S13 in the late '90s/early'00s; but of course it had to have a 80mm exhaust to take full advantage of the turbo (otherwise, if it was NA, I would've left it stock).

Your opinion? ...what is your take on leaving the header and full exhaust system of the FR-S/BRZ completely stock?

I think it's nice to see(and hear) and have an incog and understated car.

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by Kiske

I assume you haven't heard the Perrin 2.5 Resonated or Invidia Q300 systems.

Not all of the 86 market have a loud exhaust nor want it, there are quite a few members that prefer an elegant approach to modding without the desire to make the car annoying to drive. Not many will want to help/converse with you when you throw out arrogant remarks.

Didn't mean to come off as arrogant.. I apologize if I have. Options/change/recommendations are always good; Nothing is ever set in stone in life anyways

Thanks for the recommendations. Yes, I am aware that some aftermarket exhaust have a quieter quality. A good option for me perhaps.

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by Robert@vishnu

We have tested several different combinations and for us driving the car on the street and tuning it all the time we actually run our shop car with a stock exhaust. We have just a drop-in filter, OpenFlash UEL Header, and OpenFlash tune on stage2 E85 and we made over 200whp with the stock catback. I would say that pick a exhaust where you actually like the sound of it. We have a sound clip on our facebook page to give you an idea of a bolt on car with stock exhaust. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Nics vids and good job- both on the big power gains and also using a stock muffler

Btw...what was the very first base run dyno when it was full stock before all of your mods/tuning? 200+whp is pretty amazing with such a small amount of mods you've done (and of course, your tuning).

Your vids def made me interested now in a header while leaving the stock exhaust ....very incog..I dig!

[dave77]

Yea I totally know what you're talking about with quieter exhaust. So much better imo. I've also had several cars with louder aftermarket exhaust. One really good exhaust I had though was the apex-i evolution exhaust on my s14 240.

Anyway, I'm def gonna keep my exhaust stock. And I'm also into these lightweight drivetrain modifications. I may or may not have already installed a CF driveshaft. I wanna do the crankshaft pulley....and also flywheel and clutch. But I've heard when you get too many lightweight drivetrain parts the CEL can come on, at least with too light flywheel/clutch.

I haven't considered the FD until now. Only concern would be too high rpm at highway speeds so it'd be louder and worse mpg.

[PantsDants]

Another thing to consider on the exhaust front is to get something custom-made at a muffler shop, which will come out significantly cheaper as they'll reuse your cats and resonator. I was quoted something like $400 for a header-back. Also if it's a decent shop, they'll ask you how you want it to sound (loud, deep, growl-y, etc) and pick mufflers and/or pipe diameter for you.

FWIW, this is the route I plan to go when I get my OpenFlash header installed. I'm on the fence as to whether I want to replace just the OP/FP or do the whole thing. I do like the idea of a mean, snarly exhaust note that isn't super loud or artificially-deep sounding, but I feel like I'd have to modify the tail end of the exhaust as well to really achieve that. But I am in the same boat as you in terms of not wanting it to be ridiculous ricer loud.

[Robert@Openflash]

This car stock with about 1xx miles on the car made 172whp. This thread will give you a break down of this car works and how it behaves to bolt-on parts: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46468 You will have an idea of how power is extracted from the car at different stages of tuning. We are continuously developing this platform so new features and tuning tweaks has been made with each update. Making 200whp is with 100% e85 but of course the precise tuning help achieving that power consistently and safely.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

Cheers,
Robert@Vishnu

Originally Posted by fooddude

Nics vids and good job- both on the big power gains and also using a stock muffler

Btw...what was the very first base run dyno when it was full stock before all of your mods/tuning? 200+whp is pretty amazing with such a small amount of mods you've done (and of course, your tuning).

Your vids def made me interested now in a header while leaving the stock exhaust ....very incog..I dig!

[Robert@Openflash]

Since you are planning on getting the OFH, I suggest you wait until you get the header installed first. Hear the sound of yourself and decide then if its too loud, which is doubtful, or if its too quiet that you want to modify the stock exhaust. If it sounds great with just the header then why not spend that money on something much more worthy and beneficial for the car. My opinion for this car is if you want a quiet exhaust go for something that has a resonator and/or a muffler in the exhaust system. If the system has no resonator or it only has one canister then this system will probably sound quite loud, especially if you go catless. just my 2cent.

Rob

Originally Posted by PantsDants

Another thing to consider on the exhaust front is to get something custom-made at a muffler shop, which will come out significantly cheaper as they'll reuse your cats and resonator. I was quoted something like $400 for a header-back. Also if it's a decent shop, they'll ask you how you want it to sound (loud, deep, growl-y, etc) and pick mufflers and/or pipe diameter for you.

FWIW, this is the route I plan to go when I get my OpenFlash header installed. I'm on the fence as to whether I want to replace just the OP/FP or do the whole thing. I do like the idea of a mean, snarly exhaust note that isn't super loud or artificially-deep sounding, but I feel like I'd have to modify the tail end of the exhaust as well to really achieve that. But I am in the same boat as you in terms of not wanting it to be ridiculous ricer loud.

[koevasi]

Just get some JDM exhaust tips
I personally think the pulley is a waste of money even for $100 since you will get used to any negligible 'gains' in a couple of days.
If you don't like noise, what about vibration? I would just get some solid bushings to make the car feel 'lighter'.

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by Robert@vishnu

Since you are planning on getting the OFH, I suggest you wait until you get the header installed first. Hear the sound of yourself and decide then if its too loud, which is doubtful, or if its too quiet that you want to modify the stock exhaust. If it sounds great with just the header then why not spend that money on something much more worthy and beneficial for the car. My opinion for this car is if you want a quiet exhaust go for something that has a resonator and/or a muffler in the exhaust system. If the system has no resonator or it only has one canister then this system will probably sound quite loud, especially if you go catless. just my 2cent.

Rob

Yes, I hear ya. Money saved can go to much better things (coilovers, wheels, cassette player, etc. ) ...I plan on just leaving the stock exhaust. I like it stock

@PantsDants: Yes, I know I can even get a custom one made to be quiet with selected mufflers/resonators. No offense; but in all honestly I really dislike custom exhausts from fab shops much much much worse than the nicer higher quality japan made ones (been through waay too many custom exhausts back then and the quality will always be not 100% to my standard ..even from top fabricators..everything from mounting position, pipe quality, pipe bends/angles, ugly usdm made mufflers, etc ..it just will never get as precise, nice and quality as a pre-manufactured jdm exhaust imo). If I did get an exhaust, it would be for sure a jdm one; but again, I like the stock exhaust just the way it is - sound-wise and looks-wise

[Fleischwagen]

Totally agree with having a quiet car over something insanely loud. Has anyone utilized an electric exhaust cut-out yet? The VW R32 dudes run 'em often. (I came from VW world )

[fooddude]

Dang...a straight pipe cut-out; I remember them. A lot of Honda drag guys (and of course other brand cars and domestics) used them in the 90s. That def would be insanely loud haha. A little ghetto too lol.