Getting new exhaust, need some help

94mx3precidia · Post by **94mx3precidia** » July 22nd, 2007, 12:42 pm

hey, my stock exhaust is getting old and rusted and i think its time to replace it. Im looking to see what you guys have done. I had a look under my car today to see how everything was routed and i think its gunna be difficult because of 1) the resonator is pretty small and i dont know if any aftermarket ones could fit. 2) there are alot of turns in the exhaust system.

I was originally planning in going straight pipe but now i dont think so. Is there a way that i can fit an aftermarket resonator in? really all im looking for is what you guys have done and how i should do mine. What i plan on doing is gettting a cherry bomb and new pipes to the end with a new muffler tip. I work at a auto parts warehouse and i can get those relatively cheap.

solo_ryder · Post by **solo_ryder** » July 22nd, 2007, 7:38 pm

Ok, well I am not entirly sure what you are trying to do... If you are just gonna run a resonator (like I am) then you will have no issues running headers back pipe and a big resonator. On my old car I had a 24" one, on my current I have a 18" one with no cat. It fits no problem behind the shift linkage. If you are gonna get new exhaust might as well have a shop do it for you, they will have no issues bending pipes to make it all fit.

94mx3precidia · Post by **94mx3precidia** » July 22nd, 2007, 8:19 pm

ok so just so im clear the exhaust system goes something like this. first it exits the ports then down the ex headders then into the flextube then into the resonator then down the pipes to the end? im such a newb with exhaust its not a joke. what should i do, just take put the cat and resonator and say replace the resonator with a cherrybomb or something then put a silencer on the end? would i even need a silencer? Ive heard that without a cat its really loud.

umcamara · Post by **umcamara** » July 22nd, 2007, 9:46 pm

If you're car is '95 or older, I believe you could pass a Safety Inspection without your catalytic converter. I'm in no way recommending that you remove it though.

I redid my own exhaust running 2" piping straight from the pre-cat on my '96 RS. I've just ordered a Flowmaster 60 series 3-chamber muffler because I've heard nothing but good things about it. I've only ever seen young 16 and 17 year old kids with cherry bomb mufflers because they want their car to be loud. It depends what your goal is.

94mx3precidia · Post by **94mx3precidia** » July 22nd, 2007, 10:04 pm

ive got a 94 gs, im just worried that when i take out the resonator that i wont have enough room to fit the cherry bomb or what ever in.

umcamara · Post by **umcamara** » July 22nd, 2007, 11:11 pm

Removing the resonator and replacing with a test pipe won't change your overall exhaust dimensions. Everything will be the same, except you'll no longer have a resonator. It's just a matter of unbolting the over axle pipe that leads to your muffler, and one way or another fitting a new muffler.

Many people on here regret removing their resonator because apparently it makes the car too loud and raspy. However I've removed mine, and am running no muffler until this week when it comes in, and I don't find it unbearable.

Removing the resonator shouldn't make for any power gains though, because it's basically just a straight through pipe with ribs or bumps on the inside. (From what I could see when I took mine off)

94mx3precidia · Post by **94mx3precidia** » July 23rd, 2007, 8:13 am

ok thanks, well it turns out that im thiunking of something else. does the exhaust system go like this? flextube to cat, cat to muffler, muffler to resonator, then out the pipes? cuz i think ive been switching the muffler and resonator. The whole time ive been thinking of what ever comes right after the cat.