Exhaust?

I feel the same as you. There is a recent thread on this very subject. Keeping the stock manifolds seemed to be the best option. I'm installing the Capristo exhaust brackets now. (Thread on that one as well)

My car has 22000 miles and has had 5 broken exhaust brackets!!

 

I wanted to replace the stock units bc of potential for failure but it seems replacing them causes too much of an increase in volume.

 

Change the headers but keep the stock cats and muffler.


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^^This and if it's too loud for you when the valves open, wire them shut.

 

Even better, Steve Bisel (an Fchat Member) created a very well engineered exhaust controller which lets you control the valves:
Exhaust Controller Main

 

IIRC from the other thread, it was unbearable with the valves open. Wiring them shut is not an option for me.

 

Not possible. I'm not aware of any after-market headers that have pre cats built into them like the stock headers.

 

I meant keep the secondary cats stock as opposed to sport cats (the ones under the silencer).

The noise level should not be that bad if the only thing you are upgrading are the headers.


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I'm all stock except for the AP headers as are most of the folks in the other thread. It is the loss of the pre-cats that is causing the huge increase in sound volume.

I'm trying to figure out how to keep the valves closed at all revs to see if that helps. If so, I'll probably install the Forza kit so that I can have the best of both worlds.

 

I used the Forza kit and it really does help with suppressing the sound volume. The Forza kit remote has four buttons, A (ECU control, the valves open/class based on RPM), B (valves always open), and C & D (valves always closed). I would only keep the valves closed if I am trying to make a stealthy entrance home...or if I go out for a very early drive I would have the valves closed until I am out of my block.... then open them right up.

This vid should give you an idea as to how the volume gets muffled when the valves get closed (in the vid below pressing button A on the Forza remote while the car is idling gives the ECU control of the valves and at idle they are closed):

https://youtu.be/x6AQRDe5Cg8?t=639

 

I have noticed that with the valves active gasses flow out of all 4 pipes when idling and is fairly quiet. This would suggest the valves are only half closed?
Also I have challenge headers with no pre-cats and the increase in volume is marginal. Maybe 10-15%. Nothing like what others have experienced. Maybe the 4-1 design of AP type headers does something to seriously up the volume.

 

That's very interesting to hear. The common wisdom has always said that removing the pre-cats is what increased the loudness so much.

 

I think the major volume increase is coming from the muffler changes... I have a 360, and swapped both headers and exhaust (I had a euro, so it already didn't have the precats). On initial startup it's loud, it does quiet down, but you have to raise your voice to talk to someone if you're standing near the car while running. I don't recall it being that loud prior. Once in the car and moving it's not significantly different in the cockpit. I did end up driving by a parked police officer with his window down and he didn't give it a second thought, so I don't think it's unbearable.
I think the headers alone will be fine, louder and frankly most of the "loud" is lower in the sound range, so boomier. If you swap the muffler, look at options that maintain the valves like Capristo or Tubi, I think it's probably much more bearable than my "race" exhaust from capristo (the level 3)

 

I have the stock muffler, so that can't be the case.

 

Hey CAW,
Our 430 headers make the car sound slightly more aggressive however they are not obnoxiously loud where you would find yourself annoying your neighbors.

Best regards,
Joe Fabiani Jr.

 

On my 360 I have gone thru various configurations of exhaust components and thought I might share some of my impressions.

1. Completely stock system. Fairly quiet with valves closed, aggressively loud when valves open When valves are open the only sound attenuation is from the catalytic converters and the headers.
2. F430 silencer with stock headers and stock cats. Louder than stock with valves closed, same with valves open.
   
3. Ferrari racing exhaust with stock headers and stock cats. The 360 racing exhaust is basically same as F430 exhaust. But looks nicer.
4. Ferrari racing exhaust, Fabspeed headers and cat delete pipes. Quite loud with valves closed. OMG brutally loud with valves open. Blue flames spit out exhaust tips on throttle lift off.
   
5. Ferrari racing exhaust, Fabspeed headers, cat delete pipes, in-line resonators in the cat delete pipes. Still brutally very loud with valves open but a bit smoother sound. Too loud for my tastes.
6. Ferrari racing exhaust, Fabspeed headers and stock catalytic converters. Aggressive sound when valves closed, quite loud when open. The Fabspeed headers have more aggressive sound than stock due to elimination of the pre-cat material. IMO a perfect combination with nice aggressive sound with valves closed and just right amount raucousness with valves open.

Some people have replaced stock cats with after market cats and these after market cats generally are more free flowing with less sound attenuation. This would increase the level of sound with either the valves closed or open, but overall should not be obnoxiously loud.

In summary, I recommend after market headers ... Fabspeed makes good product. Keep the stock cats or replace with after market ones, but I would not go less than 200-cell to 300-cell. The Fabspeed replacement cats are 200-cell, but the come at a hefty price. On 360, replace the stock silencer. I really like the Ferrari racing silencer system, but that system is hard to get now.

With respect to new cats ... an option instead of catalog after market cats for $3000 or so, you could get a set of cat delete pipes with the bungs already installed for less than $1000 and then have a shop weld in a set of free flow cats for an additional $500 or so. But that is lot of trouble and there are several options for replacement cats.

Steve

 

Steve,
Thank you for sharing your insight into the products, We always appreciate customer feedback! A great alternative to the Stock Silencers is our Valvetronic system. It saves you over 27 lbs vs the stock system, as well as improving the horsepower and torque. All while giving you the option to silence or open up the pipes by the simple click of a button.
Please don't hesitate to Private Message us if we can help you with any future additions!

Best wishes, John S.

 

FWIW, I have Fabspeed headers and the Ferrari Sport Exhaust. Also installed the Forza valve controller (routed it to a switch utilizing one of the dummy switches on the left control panel).

With the valves closed (ECU controlled) initial startup is "a little loud" but certainly not unbearable and quiets down quite a bit after a few minutes when the car comes out of high idle. As Ideloera stated, I keep the valves closed until out of my neighborhood, then switch to always open. I also have the always closed option if I want to prevent the valves from opening during hard acceleration under ECU control.

Valves closed it's still pretty easy to have a conversation even with the top down.

Bottom line: I'd image the OEM exhaust even with Fabspeed headers wouldn't be "too loud".

 

Totally, Our headers and the OEM exhaust allow you to gain some volume as well as a few of the enhancements that come with our Performance parts. As far as the concern with with the systems being too loud, that is why i had suggested our Valvetronic system which allows you to have the choice. If you're interested in more information about any of our products, please feel free to send a PM.

 

I have no personal experience with Fabspeed's valvetronic system, but have heard it on a 360 and agree it sounds very good. As the Ferrari Racing Exhaust (aka, challenge exhaust system) is an unobtainium object these days, the Fabspeed system seems a good alternative. IMO, probably the best alternative available as an aftermarket product. Capristo, Tubi and others are more costly. In the case of Tubi, they do not have valved system for the 360. And, I have heard good reviews about Fabspeed's customer service. BTW, I do not have an affiliation with Fabspeed.

 

Thank you for the support, Always appreciated. We strive to be the best we can be for our customers. If you are ever in the market for a new addition to your build don't hesitate to reach out. I would love to give you the best price i can.
Sincerely, John Sutor

 

I have catless challenge headers and it's a bit louder. About right I'd say. Cold start is loud though. If I could change 1 thing it would be that the valves are closed on startup. Gas comes out all 4 pipes indicating the valves are 1/2 open.
Oh yeah, nice 4 year old thread dig from Fabspeed!