Resonator: Performance Restriction?

1997 GS-T, 5-spd, Muffler.

I have done my research and I have searched the forums, but I need more opinions and answers.

The resonator is used to muffle noise and is a restriction from what I have read. I would like to remove this restriction in order to increase performance. Though I am afraid of the results. Would my muffler sound too ricey, how would it sound? Would removing this cause me to fail smog emissions in California?

All help is appreciated.

Chris

it would be hard to make a turbo sound ricey because the exahust goes through the turbo first. But a resonator is used to make the sound deaper. so with out it the exahust is not going to sound as good, defending on your muffler.

take into consideration almost all aftermarket catback exhaust systems come with resonators. because they aren't going to make that much difference performance wise.

The only thing a resonator is there for is to quiet your exhaust down. Your exhaust tone will not change much (if any at all) without the resonator. It will, however, make your exhaust louder.

FWIW, I run 3" turbo-back with no cat or resonators and it sounds mean as hell :) . The muffler won't make much a difference in sound quality as well, only the pitch (loud/quiet). If you don't mind your exhaust being loud, I'd take the resonator off. But if noise means anything to you, keep it on. The performance loss will be very minute, and unless you're an all out hardcore track only racer then I'd wouldn't worry about it :)

Based on the answers given I will remove my resonator. How much would that cost to put a straight pipe on? This has nothing to do with emissions, so I will still pass the smog test correct?

Thanks,

Chris

well to pass emission with a cat back and a straight pipe after it it probably would. but the entire point of a straight pipe is to have a straight pipe going from the turbo manafold to the back. if there is a cat back on it yes it will pass emission but it would also eliminate the entire point of it being a straight pipe.

Sorry I typed it incorrectly. What I meant was, how much would it cost in order to cut the resonator and put a piece of pipe there to replace it?

Thanks,

Chris

Well if you have a friend that can cut it and weld a new pipe in . Then all you have to do is go to like Auto zone and buy those little exhaust pipe inserts things of the right size. If not then going to an exahust shop to have them do it and put their pipe there would be kind of expensive not worth it. But if you have a friend then it shouldnt cost you more then like 10 bucks for the pipe and whatever your friend would charge you if he made you pay

Let's say I don't have a friend who could weld (I'm in High School, not many know how). Where and how much could I buy a piece of pipe in order to keep from buying the expensive one from a muffler shop?

Like try your local Auto zone i think i saw like some pipe inserts or something that were like 10. then go to a muffler shop and ask them what you want them to do it might be like 40 bucks for the labor though.

Alright, thanks everyone for your help.

Chris

Louvered core resonators are the most common type, and they absolutely affect performance. The louvers stick right out into the exhaust stream! If noise is still a concern I would use a peforated core race muffler as a "resonator." The core is flat tubing, with holes drilled in it. Typical glass-pack type construction. Same as all canister mufflers as well which most DSM exhausts come with. An example is the Dynomax Race Bullet mufflers. I run a 3" by 18" in my downpipe to reduce the sound level without affecting flow. The Dynomax Ultraflow that I use for the muffler is the same exact construction but its 6" diamter (so they can fit in more sound absorbing material) and the inside perforated core is actually 4". The Race Bullet is 3" ID, and 4" OD, so it clears the underbody easily. They are about 30 bucks from summit. Just in case people want to quiet thier exhaust down without hurting flow. The way the cops/legislature are these days its not a bad idea ;)

There is hardly any point to replacing 5% of the restriction in your exhaust. Make catback and downpipe part of your future plan, and don't worry about each seperate part.

I can not make up my mind about removing it or not based on the opinions of everyone.

just leave the resonater until you can buy a catback which wont have one