Making changes to the exhaust sytem..Help?

[Chase1996]

Im looking to make changes to my whole exhaust system on my 2013 Scion FRS. The main goal is to give it a little more power and performance, while keeping cost down.
My plans are to buy a header(Not sure what kind), a magnaflow catback exhaust sytem, a catalytic converter. I was wanting opinion on what type of header i should get without affecting the sound quality of my exhaust sytem, and why I should and if so why, get a catalytic converter

[Cole]

You should probably just do a search in the engine sub forum. There's so much information in there, that you'll change your mind a million times on what parts you want to get.

[Chase1996]

Okay thanks

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Cole

You should probably just do a search in the engine sub forum. There's so much information in there, that you'll change your mind a million times on what parts you want to get.

Ya there was one guy on here that changed his exhaust about 5 times before he found the one he liked.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Ya there was one guy on here that changed his exhaust about 5 times before he found the one he liked.

I know that guy IRL, he still isn't totally happy with it. Apparently it's a bit droney at 117-123 kmh

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Cole

I know that guy IRL, he still isn't totally happy with it. Apparently it's a bit droney at 117-123 kmh

I guess the point is that there is no such thing as the perfect mod and every change ends up as a give and take situation.

[MisterSheep]

In all seriousness you should tell us what you're going for? Do you want to be stupid loud or do you want comfortable noise with good performance and not have a "look at me" exhaust.

[kch]

Originally Posted by Chase1996

The main goal is to give it a little more power and performance
...

what type of header i should get without affecting the sound quality of my exhaust sytem

There are a couple things to be aware of:

1) The biggest performance gain comes from a catless header + tune.
1.1 A catless header *WILL* throw a CEL unless you get a tune. Some people use O2 spacers to reduce the frequency of the CEL, but a tune is your best bet.
1.2 You should research your state's emissions inspection process (if any) to see if you will pass with a catless header. In Texas, they just connect to the OBD2 and check that all emissions systems are reporting "ready"

2) Catless headers are substantially louder than stock, particularly during cold start. The cold start was embarrassing until I fixed my tune.

3) The stock catback sounds like poo with a catless header.
3.1 Dual-canister-style exhausts like the invidia N1 will be stupid loud when paired with a catless header.
3.2 For reasonable sound levels with a catless header, popular choices include the Perrin 2.5" resonated and the invidia Q300.

4) If you go completely catless (that is, using a catless header + catless FP), you'll end up sounding raspy or brappy or whatever. See this thread for a comparison between the OP's catless (and brappy) exhaust vs. my single cat exhaust note.

5) You have a choice between unequal length (UEL) and equal length (EL) headers. The traditional wisdom is that EL will give you more max power from 6-7.5k, and will sound like a traditional japanese tuner car; while the UEL will have the characteristic subaru "rumble" sound and provide more mid-range grunt. Purely a personal preference.

6) Some of the more popular headers include the Tomei UEL, Ace 4-2-1 (the new hotness for EL), and the JDL UEL.
6.1 FT86SF makes its own header that several people seem to like. There's also the OpenFlash Header + OpenFlash Tablet combo, which gives you a catless UEL header plus an open-source tuning and diagnostic platform for not a lot of money.

[Chase1996]

Originally Posted by kch

There are a couple things to be aware of:

1) The biggest performance gain comes from a catless header + tune.
1.1 A catless header *WILL* throw a CEL unless you get a tune. Some people use O2 spacers to reduce the frequency of the CEL, but a tune is your best bet.
1.2 You should research your state's emissions inspection process (if any) to see if you will pass with a catless header. In Texas, they just connect to the OBD2 and check that all emissions systems are reporting "ready"

2) Catless headers are substantially louder than stock, particularly during cold start. The cold start was embarrassing until I fixed my tune.

3) The stock catback sounds like poo with a catless header.
3.1 Dual-canister-style exhausts like the invidia N1 will be stupid loud when paired with a catless header.
3.2 For reasonable sound levels with a catless header, popular choices include the Perrin 2.5" resonated and the invidia Q300.

4) If you go completely catless (that is, using a catless header + catless FP), you'll end up sounding raspy or brappy or whatever. See this thread for a comparison between the OP's catless (and brappy) exhaust vs. my single cat exhaust note.

5) You have a choice between unequal length (UEL) and equal length (EL) headers. The traditional wisdom is that EL will give you more max power from 6-7.5k, and will sound like a traditional japanese tuner car; while the UEL will have the characteristic subaru "rumble" sound and provide more mid-range grunt. Purely a personal preference.

6) Some of the more popular headers include the Tomei UEL, Ace 4-2-1 (the new hotness for EL), and the JDL UEL.
6.1 FT86SF makes its own header that several people seem to like. There's also the OpenFlash Header + OpenFlash Tablet combo, which gives you a catless UEL header plus an open-source tuning and diagnostic platform for not a lot of money.

Thank you for your post! As i am just now getting into tuner parts. I somewhat understood that! For me I am going with a moderate increase in MPG, speed, performance etc. with about 60% geared towards sound if that makes sense. My next 2 upgrades will be a CAI and a exhaust. I am looking at the magnaflow catback and the corsa cold air intake. I love the way they sound, what is your input on that?

[kch]

Originally Posted by Chase1996

Thank you for your post! As i am just now getting into tuner parts. I somewhat understood that! For me I am going with a moderate increase in MPG, speed, performance etc. with about 60% geared towards sound if that makes sense. My next 2 upgrades will be a CAI and a exhaust. I am looking at the magnaflow catback and the corsa cold air intake. I love the way they sound, what is your input on that?

No problem. There's a lot of good info on this forum, but it's hard to find it all in one place.

I don't know much about the magnaflow, but I've heard good things. As for the intake, what's your goal there? If it's performance, then save some money and just get a drop-in filter. You'll get 90% of the performance gains for only $50. It turns out that the stock box is pretty well designed. But if you want to change the intake sound, then yeah, go for it.

[Chase1996]

Originally Posted by kch

No problem. There's a lot of good info on this forum, but it's hard to find it all in one place.

I don't know much about the magnaflow, but I've heard good things. As for the intake, what's your goal there? If it's performance, then save some money and just get a drop-in filter. You'll get 90% of the performance gains for only $50. It turns out that the stock box is pretty well designed. But if you want to change the intake sound, then yeah, go for it.

So you are saying the nly extra perks i will get from getting a CAI compared to a filter will be sound? If thats the case I will prob just get a drop in filter. I really like the sound of the magnaflow and do not want to compromise that with a CAI making a different sound. Plus ill save over 200$. Which drop in do you recommend for the Scion FRS 2013?

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Chase1996

So you are saying the nly extra perks i will get from getting a CAI compared to a filter will be sound? If thats the case I will prob just get a drop in filter. I really like the sound of the magnaflow and do not want to compromise that with a CAI making a different sound. Plus ill save over 200$. Which drop in do you recommend for the Scion FRS 2013?

Pretty much every drop in filter is the same. A few cost a little less, a few cost a little more. But from whichever company you want to support the most.

[Chase1996]

Originally Posted by Cole

Pretty much every drop in filter is the same. A few cost a little less, a few cost a little more. But from whichever company you want to support the most.

Ive ready in a lot of places the K&N are very oily and can cause trobles with a MAP or something?

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Chase1996

Ive ready in a lot of places the K&N are very oily and can cause trobles with a MAP or something?

Then get a dry filter