Exhaust on 5AT
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 30,341
Likes: 9
From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Originally Posted by DaVeeD
Alright people one simple question... Do you think its bad to put an exhaust on a auto??? Plain and simple.... some people say its odd to have an exhaust on an auto for the simple fact that when that car shifts that the exhaust dosent get the full "NOTE" and makes the car sound funny. I wana know what you all have to say... was thinking about getting HKS for my 5AT plz let me know... RIDE SAFE
Believe me, it adds mucho, as well as many a smile.
C.
The exhausts on AT's work the same as MT - the transmission has nothing to do with exhaust - 
There are about 7 different systems to use - I have personally done about 4 of them just for testing on performance and sound quality, drone, etc.
It really depends on the sound you want. Take my advice and go to a few shops an listen to their cars on some systems that are at least 2-3 weeks old and make your own decision. You should be in the car driving one they are significantly warmed up too - the drone isn't evident as much until they get hot.
The best advice I can give is this -
If your not going to do internals on your car, then going true dual exhaust is not functionally the best way to go...you will gain some HP and TQ, but not as much as you think. There isn't enough engine in these cars to warrant 2 pipes of flow - unless your going FI or like I said, doing internals as well.
I have tested the Borla, Stillen, Fujitsubo and Nismo systems on flow benches and my car - and what I ended up with, with the most HP and TQ gains, with TUNABLE SOUND is this:
I use the Stillen y-pipe (and Will likely replace that unit with a better designed one) and converted all piping to 2.5" where it wasn't factory. Just after the y-pipe I run an 18x2.5x3" glass pack. Then all the way back to the factory muffler.
By doing this, there is no headache drone sound, and the performance is BETTER than the aftermarket units I tested. I am getting 9HP and 4lbs of TQ more than the best aftermarket unit of the 4 above - which was the Borla.
This stem, as mentioned is sound tunable as well. You can easily swap out the glass pack for shorter or longer ones to tune, as well as use other standard resonators until you get what you want, though you have to run a particular setup for at least 2 weeks before changing. I like the performance of the glass-pack, straight through and no real chambers to affect flow, rather than the others. By keeping the factory muffler, you also keep much of that G35 sound as well, but it gets deeper and stronger sounding. Be sure to keep the flanges where you can easily take the exhaust down when needed for mods/repairs.
As you do Intake mods - the sound will change as well. The only other rec I have is for headers. I have yet to do them...but will soon. I don't like many of the aftermarket units - mostly because of their pricing, but I may have a custom set made at 1/2 the price.
If you notice in my sig - I have significant mods - internals as well, and the true duals were too much for the car...it breathed too well...and that is something to worry about!
Good luck and take it from someone with the money to do it over and over again - just for the fun and science of it - you MUST listen to other cars with systems to make your best choice. Brand names mean nothing - exhaust is a very personal choice, and taking apart a $1,500 systems to make it sound better/worse - is rally not doable - the muffler is the key to enjoyment.
On another note - and this is the Infiniti muffler I have on my car - try the FX 45 muffler - it flows great, as it's designed for the V8, and still filters out the drone (flow was about 25% better than the G35 muffler) - it is great when all of the exhaust sound come from the pipes, without resonating bass waves throughout the car as they bounce from the ground into the cabin while you drive.
There are about 7 different systems to use - I have personally done about 4 of them just for testing on performance and sound quality, drone, etc.
It really depends on the sound you want. Take my advice and go to a few shops an listen to their cars on some systems that are at least 2-3 weeks old and make your own decision. You should be in the car driving one they are significantly warmed up too - the drone isn't evident as much until they get hot.
The best advice I can give is this -
If your not going to do internals on your car, then going true dual exhaust is not functionally the best way to go...you will gain some HP and TQ, but not as much as you think. There isn't enough engine in these cars to warrant 2 pipes of flow - unless your going FI or like I said, doing internals as well.
I have tested the Borla, Stillen, Fujitsubo and Nismo systems on flow benches and my car - and what I ended up with, with the most HP and TQ gains, with TUNABLE SOUND is this:
I use the Stillen y-pipe (and Will likely replace that unit with a better designed one) and converted all piping to 2.5" where it wasn't factory. Just after the y-pipe I run an 18x2.5x3" glass pack. Then all the way back to the factory muffler.
By doing this, there is no headache drone sound, and the performance is BETTER than the aftermarket units I tested. I am getting 9HP and 4lbs of TQ more than the best aftermarket unit of the 4 above - which was the Borla.
This stem, as mentioned is sound tunable as well. You can easily swap out the glass pack for shorter or longer ones to tune, as well as use other standard resonators until you get what you want, though you have to run a particular setup for at least 2 weeks before changing. I like the performance of the glass-pack, straight through and no real chambers to affect flow, rather than the others. By keeping the factory muffler, you also keep much of that G35 sound as well, but it gets deeper and stronger sounding. Be sure to keep the flanges where you can easily take the exhaust down when needed for mods/repairs.
As you do Intake mods - the sound will change as well. The only other rec I have is for headers. I have yet to do them...but will soon. I don't like many of the aftermarket units - mostly because of their pricing, but I may have a custom set made at 1/2 the price.
If you notice in my sig - I have significant mods - internals as well, and the true duals were too much for the car...it breathed too well...and that is something to worry about!
Good luck and take it from someone with the money to do it over and over again - just for the fun and science of it - you MUST listen to other cars with systems to make your best choice. Brand names mean nothing - exhaust is a very personal choice, and taking apart a $1,500 systems to make it sound better/worse - is rally not doable - the muffler is the key to enjoyment.
On another note - and this is the Infiniti muffler I have on my car - try the FX 45 muffler - it flows great, as it's designed for the V8, and still filters out the drone (flow was about 25% better than the G35 muffler) - it is great when all of the exhaust sound come from the pipes, without resonating bass waves throughout the car as they bounce from the ground into the cabin while you drive.
Last edited by ISMSOLUTIONS; Oct 16, 2005 at 10:41 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Escalon, California
Originally Posted by stpdevil
i have an hks hi-power ti on my 5at and i love it. Always sounds great... if you really want the full effect drive in manumatic liek durhamnc said.
theres a little pic for ya... looks and sounds great imo
i personally dislike the sound of the borla exhuast... but thats just me
theres a little pic for ya... looks and sounds great imo
i personally dislike the sound of the borla exhuast... but thats just me
I was wondering, isn't the Borla exhaust louder than the HKS exhaust? I'm looking for an exhaust to buy but I want something quite, however, I don't want an exhaust that doesn't go all the way to the CAT's. Maybe I should go with the Fuji exhaust and the Fuji y-pipe. What do you guys think?
Registered User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 6
From: on the beach
i think fuji is quieter than the hks, however the hks really isnt very loud till you get on it; form 3000-4000 it starts getin loud, 4000-5500 its loud, and 5500- redline its screaming
but ya, i hear fuji is great... it was my second choice if i was not able to get the hks
but ya, i hear fuji is great... it was my second choice if i was not able to get the hks
Last edited by stpdevil; Oct 21, 2005 at 06:22 PM.
Originally Posted by DaVeeD
some people say its odd to have an exhaust on an auto for the simple fact that when that car shifts that the exhaust dosent get the full "NOTE" and makes the car sound funny.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
install the exhaust yourself its simple all u need is a jack and 1 wrench there like a total of 6 bolts to put it on yourself saves u over 100 bucks and u did it yourself so think about it 
i just put on the injen exhaust and it sounds amazing as well (good luck)
i just put on the injen exhaust and it sounds amazing as well (good luck)
Fastest G35 In Rockwall
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 829
Likes: 0
From: Rockwall, Texas (Near Dallas)
My Borla exhaust (with the Z-tube, Pop Charger, 1/2" Motordyne spacer and Crawford cats) sounds mean. Mine's a 5AT.
Just the other day, a guy in a Mustang gave me a thumbs up on the exhaust note.
Don't let the transmission keep you from upgrading the exhaust. Just make sure you get the right exhaust. No fart cans, and you'll be fine.
Just the other day, a guy in a Mustang gave me a thumbs up on the exhaust note.
Don't let the transmission keep you from upgrading the exhaust. Just make sure you get the right exhaust. No fart cans, and you'll be fine.