DrAtomica

I don't want it to sound too loud, I want it to sound mean and rough, especially in the interior. A bit hard to explain but I'll try, as I'm cruising on the road I want to hear my V8 growl but not scream. Also is there any way to make it louder in the interior (not cutting a hole through the dashboard).

Durvelle27

Easy. Remove the two rear resonators.

DrAtomica

Is that going to affect emissions?

Kris9884

iTrader: (7)

Resonators are solely for sound baffling and not the environment. It'll definitely get louder. A good start is to just delete the mufflers, there are 2 14mm bolts on each side and they can be removed very easily. If that's not mean enough you can take the cat back off with 2 bolts but I promise you, after a day of driving with the noise and vibration you'll hate it. The sound level is ok but when it comes out underneath the car its miserable. Everything shakes and its hard to hold a conversation in the car, let alone hear emergency vehicles or your phone ring etc..

Studiogeek

iTrader: (6)

Resonator delete/Magnaflows. Cheap and mean sounding but not annoying.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

I've done five things that in total have seriously transformed the sound of the car:

1) Intake box modification.
2) Intake tube resonator delete.
3) Hood liner removal.
4) Center and dual rear exhaust resonator removal.
5) Axleback exhaust.

Louder isn't always better -- at times the drone can get annoying -- but it sounds like a V8 should now. And as a bonus, roughly 18 lbs was shed in the process.

Joey-E

iTrader: (1)

I have 2.5 piping from Cat backs with H-Pipe to 2 Flowmasters.... boy does it sound mean and deep!

TXMAG

iTrader: (1)

This is all my opinion, but from a cost to sound perspective this is how I would proceed...

The first thing I would do is remove the two rear resonators (cylindrical parts just after the center section sub-cat) and replacing them with straight pipe. Leave the stock mufflers/cats in place as you might like the sound as is.

If that's not enough the next step would be to replace the factory mufflers with something aftermarket. I'm a big fan of Dynomax Ultra Flo mufflers. Turbo style design so they're tame at idle but really open up under WOT while having no/little drone at cruising speed. If you just want something louder pick up your favorite flavor of chambered muffler (i.e. Flowmaster, MAC, etc.) but be ready to live with some drone at cruising speeds.

If you still want more start looking into high flow catalytic convertors. Being from Houston you probably still have to pass emissions on your vehicle until it's at least 24 years old, although I know some nearby counties are exempt. This was the case when I lived in Dallas anyway.

And if you STILL want more... Start looking into a set of headers to add to the mix.


EDIT - Forgot to mention that air intake mods tend to deepen the sound of the exhaust as well.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

It's actually a third resonator on non-Cali cars. I made the same mistake for awhile, too, as many others have called it that.

TXMAG

iTrader: (1)

Interesting. I saw the exhaust diagrams and it listed, what I assume is the first resonator, as a sub cat for US spec only. Didn't realize that was actually a California/CARB thing.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

That diagram and Lexus' CA/non-CA terminology is super confusing. I misread the diagram quite a few times myself!

SC400slide

iTrader: (11)

This is true. Unfortunately, my SC is a Cali car so it is resonators everywhere...lol. Have my work cut out for me.