Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Re-doing my exhaust

So what about this? If I put a magnaflow in place of the res and then changed my stock muffler with another magnaflow. Of course that would also include upgrading to the 2.25" pipe. I don't want a loud car at all. 1st, it's still the family car. 2nd, FL is about to change it's "racing" laws. In October they are making so you can be ticketed for driving fast by yourself and even for "spectating". Anyway I want to stay as low profile as possible. Granted I already have a CTA and that is pretty loud if I take off but you can't hear that at the light. Any suggestions??

By the way here is the link if you want to see it in writing (the law).
This BLOWS

The thought of a turbo has definately crossed my mind. I don't have the funds for it any time soon so i am just going to mod it in a different way. I was origionally going to go the CTA route for an intake but i decided to wait for the CAI. I plan on pulleys, adjustable cam gears and exhaust(of course routine maintanance such as new spark plugs and wires. I want to upgrade to one of the Optima red top batteries too(i think they look good). As far as exhaust goes, well i want it up to show quality. I have many friend who bring their cars to shows and i would like to represent for the tours ya know I plan on doing suspension and rims somewhere in the middle of all that. I think i answered all but your question....oops got carried away. Anyways, i am not preparing for a turbo but i do want an exhaust that makes people thing i have a V6 or V8.

Andenthal has your answer: You aren't ever really going to have the need to go above 2 1/4in piping and the Magnaflows are availabe in a polished finish, for your show competition; plus they have an excellent sound. just upgrade your exhaust from the flex joint back to 2 1/4in pipe with the two Magna's in the stock locations. L8 apexing Aussie can help you w/ the Magnaflow hook-up.

How loud do you think that setup would be? Noticable at take off I'm sure but would it be really loud? Loud enough to piss off my wife?? That is probably the MOST important point. :rolleyes:

What if I popped off my resonator and straight piped it. I have a Dynomax @ the rear. What do you think that would sound like?

Andenthal,
If you are putting two magna's back into the stock positions and upgrading you exhaust pipes to 2 1/4in dia. the exhaust will be more aggressive when your "on it" but it shouldn't drone at highway speed or decel, or have any generally "bad" characteristics.

Tom,
My very first exhaust mod was to straighht pipe my Res. but I never ran an after market muffler w/ it. Do you have a Dynomax Super turbo muffler? If so, I highly recomend an upgrade to a staight-through Hi-perf. muffler; unless sound control outweighs you performance desires.

Yes I have a Dynomax ST. Are you saying that I should replace the Resonator with a straight-through or replace the muffler I have now. I'm more concerned with performance than noise but I dont want to be heard down the block and be mistaken for a Honda with a fart can.

Unless you plan on running the stock exhaust pipe w/ a 8in Diameter (round) body muffler and a 4in. tip, I don't think you will have to worry about the Fartcan sound. The ST really sucks it up when it comes to exhuast gas flow, so I would recomend a quality straight through/perforated core design muffler(magnaflow/dynomax/eddlebrock). Unless you are going to mount the Muffler farther up the exhaust path, the Dynomax Race ovals (would be a direct-fit replacement part) are kinda raspy in the stock muffler position.

What is the importance of pipe diameter? Offhand, I would have figured that there's no particular need to upgrade the 1 7/8" pipe... I see import compacts all the time where the exhaust tip is no more than one inch, and their engines are not all that much smaller than a zetec. Shouldn't I be able to do reasonably well with a mildly modded zetec using the 1 7/8" pipe with, say, Magnaflows in place of the resonator and muffler? Would upgrading to 2 1/4" pipe after the flex pipe really make any significant diference?

posted by Paul Klientz YES!! I did, and it even w/ crush bends it was by far the best performing exhaust I've had on the Zetec. I really hate my exhaust right now, but I know once the turbo comes it will all be worth it .