Ok, so I have an 03 WRX wagon, and my mods are...Vishnu catless uppipe, ERZ catless bellmouth downpipe (deletes both cats after turbo), and I just pulled off my stock muffler(I mean I unbolted it from the axle back, I have a stock cat back). It's loud but I grew up around classic hot rods so I can handle the noise. I plan on installing a custom bent 3" cat back straight pipe (no muffler involved). The thing is, I like the way it sounds right now without the stock muffler and I would like to retain this sound. When I bolt up my 3" piping it will dump the exhaust gases out the back of the car, like a regular car does, instead of mid car, like I am now, so I don't believe the extra few feet of tubing will effect its sound. So the real question is, when I look under the car, inbetween the downpipe and the axle back, there's a heat shield about halfway down...what is this? It could almost pass for a cat, but it's not. I've been told this is a resonator..is this true? And if it is, I'll probably haveto install a glass pack or resonator onto my 3" piping to keep this sound. Anyone know where I can get a 3" inside diameter glass pack or resonator? Thanks for putting up with all the questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Smitty

 

yes it is a resonator

you can just have pipes and 3 inch resonators

that just adjusts volume

the tone will be pretty much the same