New Exhaust Volume

[Theessence]

I got my CAI installed the last summer and now I've got the money to get a new cat-back exhaust built. From all the research I've done it looks like I should get 2.5" pipe. I'm gonna get the stock resonator taken off and I think a flowmaster 80 series with dual outlets on it.

My issue is I've read that it's ridiculously louder than stock and that might be an issue with the neighborhood I live in. Especially since I'm gonna want to ride it WOT for the first week or so after I get it. Also I'm gonna be commuting to school here next year so it's probably gonna be mind-numbing to hear that loud of a rumble for an hour every day.

What I'd like to do is somehow keep the new low tone and wider, less restrictive exhaust while lowering the volume a little more than I would get normally. I mean I definitely want it louder than stock but I don't want it to wake up my whole neighborhood every morning. How do I do that? If I put a resonator in the line isn't it going to restrict it and defeat the purpose of the wider exhaust? Is there any other way to do it?

[xeroinfinity]

The 2.5" and flo master isnt that loud realy, unless youre above 3K rpms.

I realy dont notice the GT droning down the highway.
but the SE has headers and is a little more droning sometimes when trying to talk, on the phone.
Both just have stock radios , and it drownds it out pretty well.

After a few 1000 miles the tone does kinda mellow.

[Theessence]

Maybe I'll just put it on and see how it sounds. If I do that and decide it's too loud, is it a real pain (or real expensive) to put a resonator in or do something else?

Oh also I heard some aftermarket exhausts around here and some of them make loud popping noises all the time. Does that always happen or what?

thanks for the quick response as always

[xeroinfinity]

If you use dual dual outlets it is louder then just single duals.
I supose thats what is up with my GT, it has dual single tips but the SE has dual dauls that are 2.5" in and 3.5" out, they are huge!

The popping or raspy is hard to get away from especialy if you have a 4 cyl. The V6 isnt so bad after a few miles.
only at high rpms then letting off, do I notice mine poping. Raspy at 5-6k rpms sounds good .

[Theessence]

I was thinkin about getting dual singles (1 on each side) but I might go with the single duals because they're telling me it will be $100 cheaper... which I don't 100% understand.

So when this is all done, should the gain be noticable? I've heard that the hp gain is anywhere from 5hp to 50hp. I don't know what's reasonable to expect. I figure if I got 10-20ish hp gain from CAI and exhaust then I'd be happy. Either way, now I won't be another stock-looking grand am from the outside!

[xeroinfinity]

Yeah I would go for at least the single duals, you would be disappointed with just on pipe out the back.

And you should notice a difference, with a DHP PCM you'll realy feel it in your pants! You should be able to get it done for around $250-300 with a flo master 80 series.

[Gir-_-]

yeaaaa!!

lol, but yea the 2.5" piping is plenty big for your GA, just a full cat-back with the resonator cut out, make sure you take it somewhere good to bend it cause its a pain going over the axel.. its a blind turn or something basically...

the 80 series fits nice and well, I did mine in a criss/cross motion so it wasnt just straight 90degree then just dual out cause it was sorta close... so I tucked mine under and it faces \ going this way>> it has some drag I think but you cant even see the exhaust from the side. You just see exhaust tips coming out and it rumbles the trunk

[Theessence]

Yeah I don't think they make the DHP PCM for my 2.4L. I remember I asked them if they make one and they said no luck. You have any idea where I could get one or what another option would be?

[Gir-_-]

Originally Posted by Theessence

Yeah I don't think they make the DHP PCM for my 2.4L. I remember I asked them if they make one and they said no luck. You have any idea where I could get one or what another option would be?

Not sure, From what I remember the 2.4L may of been used in other car applications, I want to say chevy but I might be thinking of the sunfire cross with caviler lol if thats how u spell it

[Theessence]

Yeah I'm pretty sure its used in some cavaliers. I've been looking for quite awhile and can't find one for that engine.

If I got it "retuned" at the dealership, would it get tuned to optimize my current configuration of airflow or would it just bring it back to what a stock GA should run at?

[aptyk88]

i have a 97 grand am se with 1 cat , no resonator and just a 2.5'' straight pipe all the way back and its LOUD!