Resonator question

Ok i got a ticket for having a loud exhaust i went to the state ref to get it tested it was too loud. So i got a resonator put in i didnt get the high flow just to be on the safe side and make sure it passes the noise test of 95 db or less give or take 1.5. Anyways now when i go out driving it feels like it killed performance by alot. I know i didnt get the high flow one but damn i remember getting that 2.5 inch exhaust with the magnaflow muffler and it didnt seem to add as much horsepower. But when i get the resonator installed it feels like it just got HELLA SLOWER. do they really kill performance by that much or am i just worrying about it. Cause it sounds hella better now its not as loud and you can hear my turbo spool up way better i was thinking of keeping it on forever cause i liked the sound. until i went out racing sunday night my car felt hella slower.

what kinda resonator did you get? 2.25???

Using hella in a post 3 times should get you donkey punched, but I'll toss in my 2 cents anyway :D

Resonators suck. They are almost ALL louvered core design, which places a substantial restriction in the exhaust path. I prefer a perforated core design, but you have to look to find them. I use Dynomax Race Bullet mufflers. If its not permanently installed, reverse it so the openings int he louvers face the rear of the car. It will do less muffling, but may help reduce restriction slightly.

Yes it does make some difference.... the pressure is changing .... best/only way I can think of explaining it is like a 3 lane highway opening up to a 4 lane for a 1/4 mile and then back down to a 3 lane.....
It also helps to smooth out the "put-put-put" to make it a purrrrrr.. lol

Yes it does make some difference.... the pressure is changing .... best/only way I can think of explaining it is like a 3 lane highway opening up to a 4 lane for a 1/4 mile and then back down to a 3 lane.....
It also helps to smooth out the "put-put-put" to make it a purrrrrr.. lol


So its good to have a resinator and a hi flow catalytic convertor right? but same as your piping?

ya i got a 2.5 inch resonator i only got it cause i need to past the noise test. But i love the sound of my car now. But the probelm is it feels like my top end just DIED i mean my stock turbo is already slow but it just feels like when i had my exhaust stock its that bad. So i was thinking if i switch to a high flow resonator would that make it better or should i just go back to no resonator and hope i dont get a noise ticket again?

ya i got a 2.5 inch resonator i only got it cause i need to past the noise test. But i love the sound of my car now. But the probelm is it feels like my top end just DIED i mean my stock turbo is already slow but it just feels like when i had my exhaust stock its that bad. So i was thinking if i switch to a high flow resonator would that make it better or should i just go back to no resonator and hope i dont get a noise ticket again?


haha dang man. If it killed your top end than i dont think i want to install my resinator anymore. =\ I bought a hi flo resinator from ebay that is 2.25. But the thing is i never installed it "yet". The onlything im waiting on before i do my muffler work is a 4-1 header and a 2.25 catalytic converter which im going to modify. Im going to knock out the middle honey comb thingy from the inside of the catalytic converter and make it into a strait pipe. So you think i should install my resinator also? Everything is measured 2.25 from the headers strait thru to the muffler.

heres is the resinator that i bought.. supposably its hi flo... so will this kill my top end?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7975966670&category=33629&sspagename=WDVW#ebayphotohosting

I dont see where that ad tells us if that resonator is louvered or perforated core, and there are no pics of the inside (shady IMO). You'll have to tell us what type it is. If its perforated core, I Wouldnt hesitate to install it.

I dont see where that ad tells us if that resonator is louvered or perforated core, and there are no pics of the inside (shady IMO). You'll have to tell us what type it is. If its perforated core, I Wouldnt hesitate to install it.


well i have it already and the inside of it is 2.25 all the way thru. I can see straight thru it. You know how the inside if an aftermarket racing muffler looks right it has that inside kinda padding?? well it got that same look inside the resinator... so put it like this... the inside looks like a mini muffler. So is a go or no go? im sure of the 2.25 catalytic converter that im going to knock everything out on the inside of it to make the air flow straight thru... as of the resinator... scince he said it reduced his high end i dont know if im going to put it in??

if you dont live in Cali then dont install it. I live in cali and cops here will get on you for ANYTHING!. But 1 thing i may add. I hate the sound of non turbo DSM's with exhausts no offence man i had one myself i had headers a high flow cat a 2.5 inch catback and a magnaflow dual tip muffler it didnt sound as half as cool as my GSX does with the resonator on i can hear the sucking and turbo spooling because my exhaust dosent cover up the sounds.

sooo no resinator than? scince you said it made your car a bit slower... i just thought it will help my hp..? or should i put that resinator inplace of my catalytic converter?

If there are no "louvers" sticking out into the exhaust path, and it has holes drilled in the core instead, its a perforated core, and is ok to use. It should not have a noticeable effect on power. A louvered core type is more restrictive, and may cause a noticeable decrease in power. But I have never run one of those on my car ;) Perforated only, for obvious reasons.

COOl! so it is a perforated resinator. Heres a picture diagram of my resinator. Just to clearify everything up.

http://members.cox.net/fresh4/resinator%20design.GIF

Cool ;)