Is there any low-cost way to get a little more character out of an exhaust note on my 08 using the stock components, and without resorting to the incredibly loud open downpipe? Aside from buying a cat-back of course. I've heard that getting a muffler shop to cut out the resonator and weld a straight pipe section in its place is effective, but how much does that cost, and wouldn't it void at least part of my warranty? Also, would that be at all reversible? I'm just curious.
doubt it would void any warranty as its after any sensors therefore wouldn't have any effect on them. now if you were to get tuned for it thats a different story. not sure. but i had the resonator cut out of my honda for $50 at some mieneke in kennesaw like 3 years ago. so don't pay more than that. and yeah,i would assume that it would definitely make it a little louder.
The "rumble" of past Imprezas was due mostly to the unequal length headers. I don't know anything about the setup on 08s and their headers, or if there are aftermarket headers yet. A muffler might give you just the change in sound you like, but it won't make a rumble where there isn't one already.
As far as I know, the 2008s have the same unequal length setup as every other impreza. It's a boxer engine straight out of the Legacy. You can tell even with the stock exhaust in place. I've heard my car with the DP open, and that was some mean shit. Definitely the classic "boxer rumble." Like a really pissed off V8. I just want something in between that and the stock sound, so this sounds like the way to go.
dude get that catback from ulitmate racing that you were asking opinions about...I think its sick. Dont waste time and money hacking up the stock exhaust, keep it stock like its supposed to be. Bolt on a man's exhaust (not stock) and keep the stock one stock so if you need to its ready to go back on and the car will truly be 'stock'.
Yeah, you don't want to hack up your stock one. We can work out a deal on my Autobahn exaust I have at the house... I don't think the exhausts are the same for an 03 and an 08, but you can go to a muffler shop and see how much it would be to use my muffler and just weld on the necessary 3" pipe to fit your car.
Just from looking at my stock exhaust, it would be almost impossible to fit your muffler on my car without hacking up my stock midpipe anyway. We could use the midpipe you already have, but that would mean it would have to be bent and adjusted quite a bit....if it's possible to fit it at all, and I'm not even sure what that would cost. Probably a lot. Basically your exhaust and my exhaust are completely different in almost every way possible. Sucks. Thanks for the offer though. The reason I'm considering the resonator delete for $50 is because it will do pretty much the same thing the $625 UR catback does at this point, and that's give me a little better exhaust note with a negligible power gain. When I want more power from my exhaust, I'll invest in a full system, downpipe and everything. At the same time I understand the merits of keeping it stock. So I'm on the fence.
Maybe just hold off and have a listen at all the different exhausts people will be running at the subaru challenge. Granted your in an 08, but each manufacture has there own unique sound. Meet up and get a nice list of brands you like and start from there.
You don't hack up your stock midpipe! You take off everything stock after your DP, you take my muffler, and then you have an muffler shop fabricate a new midpipe and weld it to the muffler. That way you keep your stock exhaust in one piece and have a cheaper option than a $650 exhaust.
I realize that makes sense, but wouldn't the fabrication be really, really, ridiculously expensive for being just the midpipe? I brought up a similar idea to alex via PM and he simply suggested I order a cat-back off the shelf. I'll look into what it would cost, though. If it's cheaper than I'm thinking then it might be the route to go. The other issue is that your exhaust was pretty damn loud....or was that mostly your DP?
I checked per your suggestion. UR is the only company I know of putting out anything besides short shifters and exhaust hanger bushings. The UR exhaust looks like a great part, but I simply don't want to spend the money for essentially more sound. I should probably just be patient..... But that wouldn't be any fun!!
Opening up the exhaust will not only give you a better sound, but it WILL help with horsepower gains as well. Do not hack your stock exhaust. I'd wait for other companies to make an exhaust for the car. The 03 exhaust is completely different than an 08. Something something dual exhaust. Something.
The sedans, which are exclusively a North American model, have dual tips. My car, which is a 5-door, just has the one on the passenger side. And yeah, the dual tips are kind of ricey looking.
Yeah, you guys are right... After doing some research... No way an 03 exhaust can fit in that biatch. Time for plan B.
Call up Mainstream Performance and see how much they'd charge for a custom 3" cat-back. I've seen a few of their custom exhausts and the price is always good and the quality is top notch for custom work. Way cheaper than getting some name brand exhaust. I'm not sure who else in the Atlanta area can make mandrel bent exhausts anymore.
Why is the exhaust routed around the left side of the differential and exiting out the right side instead of being more straight-flow and exiting out the left? I understand to get it placed at the exhaust cutout in the bumper, but why is it designed to exit on the passenger instead of the driver? To better weight distribution? I doubt that would really be detected by anybody. I would think it should be better routed around the right side of the diff.
This is the stock 08 Exhaust next to the aftermarket: As for why Subaru came up with the 90 degree bend in their exhaust is beyond me...
from what i have read about it, that was the only way to make that muffler fit. they couldn't rout it to the drivers side because the factory muffler is just too large.
IMO getting rid of the resonator is not the way to get a better sound. It's only a good way to get better flow and more drone. I don't know if this would work for the 08 setup, but I remember talking to Scuby Drew a while ago about his exhaust. What he did was undo the axleback from the rest of the exhaust, then stretched the exhaust hangers towards the back of the car. It separated the axleback from the midpipe by an inch or two. It effectively removed the restriction of the stock muffler (sound and flow) but still made it look stock. I'm not saying this is the way I'd go about it, but it does unleash the boxer rumble for free.
yeah, the washer exhaust mod. dont just unbolt the axleback, you'll have shit banging around under there. I dont like this because hot dirty exhaust is just blowing out all under your car. my first cheap temporary exhaust mod was taking off the axleback and having a muffler shop make me a lil slanted turndown pipe for $30...I still have that sucker somewhere, haha
I thought about doing that, spacing the axleback and the midpipe, but I didn't know what to do it with that would hold. Also thought about the little turndown pipe, but I want to keep the tailpipe in place if possible. Thank you guys for all the feedback. Keep it coming if you like! I really appreciate it.
Ok, so I spaced my midpipe from the rearmost section of the exhaust system just using a couple of nuts threaded onto the bolts between the two pieces. It sounds pretty much exactly like I was hoping. A bit more beef, but still not that much louder than stock. Plus the two parts are still firmly attached to one another. I think it'll be good until I have the money to spend on a full system. The only thing is that (what I believe is) the turbo spool is pretty loud now. I get a rather prominent WHOOSH when I accelerate hard above about 3500rpm. If I hold the throttle constant it stops after about a second or so. Is this just the exhaust whistling through the small opening or is this actually the turbocharger spooling? It doesn't happen on the overrun, btw, only under power. Any feedback is appreciated.
Bump because I've got a couple questions: What if I were to pick up a glasspack with the same in and outlet diameters of my stock axle back and havie it put in place of the stock muffler? I've seen, at least online, that most glasspacks are relatively inexpensive and finding one with the diameter I need doesn't seem like it'd be too hard. JEGS seems to have a very large selection. Anyway, this would undoubtedly give me more rumble but still keep the exhaust note from being obnoxious, no? Also, how much would a muffler shop charge to do the work do you think? Thanks!
Some muffler shops charge an arm and a leg. There is one right near GT that you could go check out. I went in and talked with them, seemed like nice guys. SS Customs, its on Northside right where 10th St crosses.