360 Exhaust - Agency Power Electronic Valve Control Exhaust from Vivid Racing

2000 year 360 Modena - 44k miles now. Exhaust system to date has been standard save only I've wired an "interruption switch" to the solenoids that control the exhaust valves so I can open and close them at will.

Anyway, the silencer box has been on the way out for a while now (literally coming apart at the seams!) and blowing white dust all over the engine bay so I've been contemplating various aftermarket systems for quite a while.

I don't want anything too noisy, my relationship with my neighbours needs to be maintained, so a system which retains the standard exhaust valves or uses an alternative system was a must. Cost was also a factor, I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg and some of the popular systems are extremely expensive.

Enter the Agency Power system with electronically (remote fob) controlled valves supplied by Rob (thanks Rob!) of Vivid Racing ........http://www.agency-power.com/catalog/agency-power-electronic-valve-controlled-exhaust-ferrari-360-modena-9905-p-113310.html

It arrived today ..........
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Initial impressions on inspection are that this is a quality bit of kit. It's heavier than I anticipated, I don't know the gauge of the stainless steel but it's certainly not skimpy. Impressions are of quality and longevity. I'll weigh both the new system and the original and post in due course. I imagine the Agency Power is lighter.

The exhaust cans are pretty small and my guess is that even with valves in the closed position it's going to be somewhat louder than standard (which is no harm). Sorry my photos above don't the system justice but I'll be taking more as I do the install and you can follow the web link above to see some high quality images on the website.

I intend to carry out the installation myself (with the help of all those who have posted threads) and will photograph as I go and post here in due course.

 

An "essential" part of all this is of course the NOISE! Certainly a Ferrari sounds pretty good as standard but I'm hoping for a considerably more aggressive tone from this little beauty once valves are open and revs are up.

I'm going to shoot a before and after video on the same camera in the same location so that we have a direct record and comparative. In the meantime here's a little clip of the car on a recent track day at Mondello Park, Co. Kildare (Ireland) to whet the appetite.........

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGooI7RLehw&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/ame]

 

Reckon I might beat you yo it! I'll be having a go this weekend!

It's stainless steel.

 

Ok, I carried out the installation this weekend. Unfortunately roads have been icy so II had to record the "before" video in the driveway. I'll record a similar "after" video soon.

Here's the before........

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GN2t6r2Mao[/ame]

 

Installation was actually quite easy and didn't take too long at all. I guess that if one started it, didn't take a break or get distracted by other service chores that the whole lot could have been completed in about four hours or so. I did the job without assistance but if you have someone to help that would be advisable as its difficult enough to put the bumper back on single handedly.

I'd like to thank the authors and contributors to the following two threads which were invaluable to me.......

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57983&highlight=exhaust+removal

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18805&highlight=remove+exhaust+360

Some great tips in these threads, one that comes to mind is not to forget to disconnect and reconnect the wiring for the licence plate lights before actually lifting off the bumper and putting it back on. A real gem there - thanks!

 

Here's a couple of pics of the standard and the Agency Power side by side....
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For those intetested in weight a picture tells a thousand words.........

Standard 29 Kg / 64 lbs

Agency Power 18 Kg / 40 lbs
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As mentioned before, I had previously wired an interruption switch to the standard exhaust valve solenoids so I decided not to use the (supplied) remote control unit provided by Vivid Racing and to stick with the system already in place. This actually simplified my installation quite considerably as all I had to do was route the vacuum hoses from their original location to the new valves using the supplied tubing.
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The cost of the system supplied is US$3,000. I'm not sure what the price is for the remote control valve switching device is but if you were to install as I have done, using the original valve controls, the system might come somewhat cheaper.

Contact Rob at Vivid Racing for further details he's a member and sponsor here on F-Chat......

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/member.php?u=23274

 

Unfortunately I haven't been able to drive the car since the installation was completed so I don't have any feedback on the completed article just yet.

Will post when time and weather permits...........

 

Hi Russell,

I'l post a close-up photo but the one-to-two merge is well ported out and finished and I don't feel it likely causes any restriction.

 

Hi Steve,

That video clip was shot using a mobile phone and perhaps doesn't do the stock system full justice. It will be interesting to see (hear) how the Agency Power sounds in direct comparison shot on the same device.

I to feel that Ferrari did a pretty good job with their standard exhaust setup bearing in mind the emissions and noise regulations they would have been required to meet for a production vehicle.

 

I shot this with the same phone camera and went through the same sequence as previously (or as close as possible) so it should be a pretty good comparative to the original stock system......

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYAEFMC4Xuc[/ame]

 

Here's a quick video showing the valves in operaion......

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fQgrp9TPPk[/ame]

 

So, thoughts.........

First of all neither of the two video shots do the aural experience any justice. We are talking about a mobile phone here and I don't think they can capture the noise properly at all. I think the sound just overcomes the device and it really can't deal with it.

The Agency Power system is definitely louder than my ten year old standard system but is not excessively loud. With valves closed you'll have no trouble with the neighbours and early morning starts. There is a bit of a "droning" noise circa 2000 rpm ~ 2300 rpm on a light throttle but it's bearable and easy to just stay out of that rev zone anyway. Tone, I feel, is deeper than standard in the low rpm range and more shrill and louder at the higher end. At 3500 rpm with valves open it makes a lovely tuneful noise and there's the odd pop and bang on the overrun which brings a grin to the face every time!

My arse-dyno tells me that the car is performing more or less as it was with the standard box which is no more or less than I would have expected because the standard box is a pretty free-flowing affair once the revs are up and the valves are open.

Overall I'm quite pleased with this system. It's reasonably priced, lighter, looks pretty cool, has the valve options I was looking for, fits to the car without any modifications and is therefore completely reversible to stock. I like the sound and I'm well pleased.

Here's a drive-by clip that can be compared to the first video clip ........

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVCHKP6BaY[/ame]