How to? 300HP + QUIET exhaust sound
VIP Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,445
From: GST Motorsports - Rally Division
Car Info: dangerous with a wrench
werd. I drive a TXS rfl setup around town all the time, and (knocks wood) I've never been pulled over. I just keep it under 3500 rpm unless I'm off in the middle of nowhere.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31
From: So Cal
Car Info: 2002 WRX
Even with a completely stock WRX exhaust system, a bigger turbo, STI injectors, fuel pump, and computer will make your car louder than stock (not really much you can do to go around that). But having a stock exhaust system on what I consider "power" upgrades will basically put those expensive "power" upgrades on "mute", in terms of getting all the power you can out of them. Why would you want to do that? A JDM STI exhaust would be as quiet as you can get it with those "power" mods (basically about the same power level as the STI). But keep in mind that you can extract even more power with those mods if you had a catless 3" exhaust system (at the expense of it being more noisy).
I have a Vishnu Stage 2 Kit on my 02 sedan with an STI exhaust (for the stealth/noise factor). It's definitely louder than stock (although not annoyingly so), but I was so surprised to hear how noisy it really was (standing outside of my car) when my car was on a dyno and a big plume of black smoke came out of my exhaust at the peak of the dyno test (everyone said it was normal).
YMMV.
tk
I have a Vishnu Stage 2 Kit on my 02 sedan with an STI exhaust (for the stealth/noise factor). It's definitely louder than stock (although not annoyingly so), but I was so surprised to hear how noisy it really was (standing outside of my car) when my car was on a dyno and a big plume of black smoke came out of my exhaust at the peak of the dyno test (everyone said it was normal).
YMMV.
tk
Guest
Posts: n/a
It looks like the concesus is that your car will be louder if you achieve 300hp. It's just a matter of how loud you want to go. Some like to have people hear them from a mile away and some like to sneak up from behind. But if you're pushing 300hp, it's gonna be hard hiding it. Kind of like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
And like tk1971 said, a stock exhaust will put the "power" upgrades on mute restricting your mods from their full potential. If you're going to go JDM, you can pretty much bet that the exhaust is going to be pretty loud. You may want to try an Apex'i World Sport, STi, or maybe Fujitsubo to bring the db down a little. Non-JDM I would suggest Turbo XS, APS, or Vishnu.
I would try to find some sound clips and see what you like. Although it may not give you a true illustration, it will at least give you an idea of what your ideal sound/tolerance is.
Good Luck!!
And like tk1971 said, a stock exhaust will put the "power" upgrades on mute restricting your mods from their full potential. If you're going to go JDM, you can pretty much bet that the exhaust is going to be pretty loud. You may want to try an Apex'i World Sport, STi, or maybe Fujitsubo to bring the db down a little. Non-JDM I would suggest Turbo XS, APS, or Vishnu.
I would try to find some sound clips and see what you like. Although it may not give you a true illustration, it will at least give you an idea of what your ideal sound/tolerance is.
Good Luck!!
VIP Member
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,425
From: Under your bed, in your closet, and in your head
Car Info: Corvette Z51
Actually most Fujitsubo's are pretty damn loud 
The new trend in Japan now are touring style mufflers: they still maintain high flow like the N1 styles that have been popular these past few years but are considerably softer and meet JAMSA standards (98 db I believe). A few of these new models will sound familiar: Blitz Nur-Spec Touring, HKS Hi-Power Quiet, I think if I recall correctly Apex'i developed a quiet version of their GT-Spec, Kakimoto R, and Fujitsubo Legalis. The only disadvantage they have versus the popular N1 styles are that they are heavier.
BTW, when I say N1 style, I don't specifically mean the Apex'i N1 -- I mean the muffler style that is often found on the Japanese N1 Endurance Series cars (you know, long wide canister-style muffler and fairly short tip).
The new trend in Japan now are touring style mufflers: they still maintain high flow like the N1 styles that have been popular these past few years but are considerably softer and meet JAMSA standards (98 db I believe). A few of these new models will sound familiar: Blitz Nur-Spec Touring, HKS Hi-Power Quiet, I think if I recall correctly Apex'i developed a quiet version of their GT-Spec, Kakimoto R, and Fujitsubo Legalis. The only disadvantage they have versus the popular N1 styles are that they are heavier.
BTW, when I say N1 style, I don't specifically mean the Apex'i N1 -- I mean the muffler style that is often found on the Japanese N1 Endurance Series cars (you know, long wide canister-style muffler and fairly short tip).
Guest
Posts: n/a
I didn't know that Fujitsubo's were that loud. I went on the site and heard the sound clip and it didn't sound that bad (the Legalis Model I believe). But then again those clips are pretty compressed and so my speakers were probably lying to me. I like the sound though.
I used to have an Apex'i N1 on my '97 Prelude and I really liked the sound. The sound was drawn away from the cabin and most of it was focused outside the car, but you could still hear it inside. Definitely not as loud as my brother's RSR!!! That thing breaks teeth!
Have you made any choices yet?
I used to have an Apex'i N1 on my '97 Prelude and I really liked the sound. The sound was drawn away from the cabin and most of it was focused outside the car, but you could still hear it inside. Definitely not as loud as my brother's RSR!!! That thing breaks teeth!
Have you made any choices yet?
Last edited by Stryder03; Dec 19, 2003 at 12:52 PM.
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,369
From: Reno, NV
Car Info: 1993/2000/2001 GF4 mostly red
Originally posted by Wingless Wonder
I found this out firsthand when I went from a 427 cu. in engine in my Camaro to a 481 cu. in. engine using the same exhaust. Similar results when I put an upgraded ECU into my turbo GLHS Omni. Both louder at WOT.
I found this out firsthand when I went from a 427 cu. in engine in my Camaro to a 481 cu. in. engine using the same exhaust. Similar results when I put an upgraded ECU into my turbo GLHS Omni. Both louder at WOT.
Alan, you're full of surprises! I want to hear about that car next meet, because I've heard they were just ridiculously cool for an unreliable, not truly fast domestic. 
I've always thought of those as sort of like a US-derived companion for the 323 GTX.
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,859
From: Flying on the H1 w/ 75 psi of compression on all 4 cyl
Car Info: PnP VF30 w/ STi injectors Perrin intake walbro fuel pump w/ a TXS TBE
Based off my experince i have a Turbo XS TBE, Helix uppipe, stock turbo. The axle back was a Magna Flow. I was doing some wide open throttle runs to break in my pads and rotors, to and my friends who were standing along the empty road watching me pass by they said all they could here was my engine. I was passing them doing about 100 mph in my old neighborhood where no one use to live but me. Oh i have the high flow cat too.
Hope this helps which choice you make. Good luck
Hope this helps which choice you make. Good luck
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 17
From: Chicago, IL
Car Info: 1999 Supercharged Maxima
Thanks guys. Your posts have been very helpful.
They have a $750 rebate on the '04 WRX.
Very tempting....
I am leaning toward:
Blitz Nur-Spec Touring
or
STi
I wonder if I can buy TXS Stage 3, withOUT their exhaust...
They have a $750 rebate on the '04 WRX.
Very tempting....
I am leaning toward:
Blitz Nur-Spec Touring
or
STi
I wonder if I can buy TXS Stage 3, withOUT their exhaust...
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,859
From: Flying on the H1 w/ 75 psi of compression on all 4 cyl
Car Info: PnP VF30 w/ STi injectors Perrin intake walbro fuel pump w/ a TXS TBE
You can take any thing out you want w/ turbo XS or anyone i believe. You just pay for what ever you want.
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 306
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Car Info: 03 Sonic Yellow WRX Sedan
300hp+ and quiet = EASY!
Catless Up-pipe, Catless Downpipe, Stock midpipe w/ resonator, Prodrive axel-back or similar 2.5" straight through design.
The car will be slightly louder, aside from the sound of the turbo spooling and some wastegate and bypass valve sounds, it'll be barely louder than stock. A good description is "Quiet at idle and when putting around town, but SCREAMS at WIDE OPEN THROTTLE"
To add to the 300hp+ mark, try a silicone y-pipe and ECU reflash. Correct tuning should yield about 227whp and LOADS of torque on demand.
Catless Up-pipe, Catless Downpipe, Stock midpipe w/ resonator, Prodrive axel-back or similar 2.5" straight through design.
The car will be slightly louder, aside from the sound of the turbo spooling and some wastegate and bypass valve sounds, it'll be barely louder than stock. A good description is "Quiet at idle and when putting around town, but SCREAMS at WIDE OPEN THROTTLE"
To add to the 300hp+ mark, try a silicone y-pipe and ECU reflash. Correct tuning should yield about 227whp and LOADS of torque on demand.