It was a very tough decision on which axle back exhaust to get. I did decide to stick with the single exhaust. If I ever decide to go duals, It will be years from now, after I've done everything else I want to do. It is a work in progress I'm taking my time with. I've had the car one year now, and all I've done was remove the rear seat, remove the spare tire, and get some cool matching floor mats and steering wheel cover (yellow and black).

I though about these single exhaust axleback options:

Magnaflow: Nice tone, good hp increase, well known brand, easy to get at local shops.

Flowmaster; I heard a clip of duals, and they sounded wonderful. One of my friends Doug Talbot who own's Talbot's Garage in Kettering, Ohio close to where I live suggested a Flowmaster (he orders them). I like the black bodies on them, I wish the tip was black. I never read if the give a boost in hp, so as nice as theysound, that concerned me.

JBA - I really like the sound, and the price is nice as well. This was the one I almost bought tonight. I read of good hp gains made with this exhaust coupled with the JBA shorty headers. I just don't know what the hp gain is without the headers. I plan to get the headers, but the cost of them plus labor is expensive (for me), it will be a while.

MRT- It was hard for me to pull the trigger on this one. I wanted to keep it stock looking with a more assertive exhaust note, but nothing that is obvious, so in that are any of the others I mentioned might have done a better job of that. On the other hand, I wanted to make sure that whatever I got would give me at least a little nudge up in hp, and from what I've read the the MRT seems to give the most. I guess I'll have to believe it until someone proves another exhaust makes more.

I thought, F it, I turn 40 this year, I'm going to get the exhaust with the most hp no matter how rude it sounds. I'm going for it. Part of my decision is the fact that I've taken my car to the dragstrip once already this year (15.4 90mph 1st ever try) and plan to go a lot more. I'm worried about the drone issues because I like to take long trips sometimes. Maybe something like the JBA would be the safer choice, but the deed is done.

I called up a garage(Kammer & Kammer in Huber Heights, Ohio) that has a dynometer. I've scheduled for my car to get tested for hp next week on Thursday the 13th. They said 3 pulls is 90$. Maybe I could get them to do one pull for the baseline, then install the exhaust, then do the next 2 pulls. If not, I'll just have them do a baseline with the 3 pulls, install the exhaust, then after my next paycheck or two get another dyno run. I'll report back my results of what the MRT single axleback gains in hp over the stock exhaust. That's the plan, if I have enough money after paying the bills.

Then, later on that same Thursday afternoon, I plan to go back to Kil-Kare Dragway to see if I can beat that 15.4 I got last time. I ordered the MRT exhaust two business days air mail, so it should make it on time.

 

Congrats, your car will sound awesome I have the duals it sounds awesome just alot of work involved still not done! But anyway you will love it and your car should feel a little bit more responsive!

 

definitely let us know how it goes with the dyno and new sound. im interested in the same setup.

 

You'll love it!

 

Very cool, and thank you for taking the time to do a baseline on the track and on the dyno before and after this exhaust upgrade. I really appreciate it as I am sure everyone else does. Also, your times are good! Thats a good baseline and hope you do better at the track this time around.

 

It hasn't come in yet, I ordered it 2 business days air mail Friday Night. So hopefully tommorrow it will arrive. I'm kind of nervous, I haven't received a confirmation e-mail from MRT yet, you would think they would send me a brief message like "We got your order, your credit card info checked out, deal is done, part is on the way." But I've heard nothing. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid.

 

In this case, I think no news is good news... LOL

 

I got my exhaust yesterday, but didn't put it on. I took the car to get dyno tested this morning. 3 pulls, 99 dollars.

1st pull:
163.6 hp 5100 rpm
182.9 tq 3900 rpm

2nd pull:
164.2 hp 5100 rpm
182.3 tq 3900 rpm

3rd pull:
168.5 hp 5200 rpm
181.7 tq 3900 rpm

The guy in charge of the testing suggested baselines of 164 hp and 182 torque. He also suggested that when I bring it back that I make it a day when the weather is similar.

Then I took it to Talbot's Garage, where my friend Doug Talbot installed it for 20$, plus I'll buy him a few pitchers of beer when I see him at the bar. It is loud, but not any louder than I thought it would be, and not as obnoxious. I like it, and my father even likes it. It definetly sounds meaner.

I did notice that I could hear it moving a little whenever going over bumps. It came with 2 clamps, but he only used one. It didn't come with insructions. I wonder where the other clamp goes, and if that will stop it from jiggling. It's not bad, I just wish it wouldn't do it at all.

I had my dad follow me in his car, and he didn't see it moving around at all. Then I had him drive my car with me following, and nothing looked abnormal to me.

It's a beautiful day here in Dayton, mid 70s. I'm going to Kil-Kare Dragway this evening to make a few runs. I'll report my results here. After I get back home from Kil-Kare tonight, I walk down to the bar (The Stowaway) and see if Doug is there. If he is, I'll buy him a pitcher, and then casually mention the slight jiggling over bumps.

Well, that's it for now, I must go take it to the carwash before going to Kil-Kare, don't want to show up with a dirty car!

 

Awesome report man!!! Good baseline! Can't wait to hear how you do at the track.

 

My suggestion is to look and see if there is any evidence of where things are hitting... should be a little mark perhaps... You may want to try loosening up the mid-pipe and adjusting it to see if you can get some more clearance for things...