I have a 2005 xB

Correct me if Im wrong but after reading a lot of muffler posts on this site Ive come to the conclusion that buying a magnaflow muffler oval street series type and having a muffler shop do custom piping for it is probably one of the easiest and most $ conservative ways to go....while having the quality of a good muffler setup.

part numbers 14832, 14814, or 14829 have been what Ive been lookin at for magnaflow muffler

- would this be a good way to go is first question?
-what should be my piping strategy? just do it from resonator back(is this same thing as the term axelback?) or should I redo all my piping?
-what sizes should I use for my piping...if I do just from resonator back is 2.25" the way to go?

my aim is to get a good tone...not really too loud(hence why I want oval style muffler), and not to sound ricey.

Eventually I want to get the megan headers also...Ive read good things about those on these forums, and to me for the price and what Ive read...well they seem pretty good...how will that change my exhaust sound?

Thanks

You would normaly have it done from cat back. If you dont want the real fart vibrate sound, then have the shop weld in a new resonator. Depending on how you drive & what all you are going to do to your car, is what will let me know what to tell you as far as size. As it stands, a 2.25" pipe is 1/2" bigger then stock. So you would normaly lose a good deal of low end for a gain in top end. The 2.25 is really only good for FI cars or NA build ups that have a good deal done to them. So I would really just look into something like a 2" exhaust set up. It would give you a good amount of gains accross the board.

well if I get one of the above mufflers and use 2" piping, do they have a way of making that fit with the 2.25" inlet on the muffler?
also...what would be the pros and cons of doing an axelback in this situation?
cuz Im tryin to save money and I know doin a whole catback system with new resonator is gonna add up =(
can ya point me towards some good model#'s for resonators?
Thanks

yes they make it they use reducers or they can bend it 1/4 inch bigger dont worry ur ok ;)

why should I go full catback? does a flowmaster on just axelback sound ricey?

I just read that another forum member has a setup with a header resonator and new muffler but he said it was ricey as hell, also had a recording of it. I didnt like it, but I dont think it was a flowmaster I think it was a canister type muffler.

Im gonna put a header in also...taking that into consideration, if I dont change out my resonator...what will that do to my sound vs changing it out?

I just dont really want to have to do a full catback if I dont have too, meaning if I can get a nice sound with just header and axleback setup then thats what I want to do...

Thanks

I went axle back at first using a Magnaflow 14829. Sounded GOOD!

Then, I decided to change out the stock resonator adn go 2" piping all the way back. Sunded like a fart can honda on Taco Bell beans... We put on a 18" resonator and it helped 90%. That muffler still has the fart can sound at times.

The problem with the Magnaflow street series mufflers on our cars is the tuned internals. It reduces inside creating that fart can sound.

If you want to use Magnaflow and are going to do a cat back setup, use 2" piping a 22" Magnaflow resonator and a Magnaflow 14851. The 14851 is the same externally as the 14829, but has the straight through design. Atleast that would be my setup suggestions.

thanks, for that information eggie =) I think I read a post like that before, not sure if it was u or not...but that did worry me. I want to ask...where are resonators listed on magnaflows site or on performancepeddler...I dont see them anywhere? do they go by a diff name then a resonator?


so a race series muffler is more open inside then street series and longer resonator does what? allows more sound through?

Im still debating on whether saving money and just doing axelback, cuz I really want nice sound over the performance it offers cuz Im not a crazy driver lol.
so, if I do axelback...get a 14829 street series muffler and custom 2" piping.
if I go catback then do a 22" magnaflow resonator with 14851 race muffler.

this I gather would be good setup both ways right?

do you have a header eggie? how will that change my sound on either setup.

Thanks

Magnaflow:
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplaycategories.asp?zone=main&id=302

This is where I shop:
http://www.hottexhaust.com/detail.asp?product_id=14851
http://www.hottexhaust.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=10434

Nope no header. Didn't want to mess with that on this car.

As far as which to get, I can only throw out my 2 cents like I previously did. All I can say is, people are very happy with an axle back 14851 and I have been happy with the axleback 14829. Until I decided to go cat-back...

The longer resonator helps cut sound. It's basically a muffler.

Gen

I have the MagnaFlow Cat_Back system Part #15822. Installed my self no problem..Sounds Awesome. They have sound clips on their website which are close to the real deal. Any questions let me know.

I have been reading the posts a when I began I was set on the following setup: Injen short Intake; Header Strup/DC; Magnaflow full exhaust.. But after reading the posted replies I have a new set idea: Injen Intake; T-Pros Stainless Steel 4-1 header; TRD scion factory rear exhaust.

How the power gain may not be the top of the hopup list but the sound qaulity will the suffer. I'm in a gated community, and leaving for work at 5 am I don't what to ____ out the foke in the community.

Thanks for the valuable info in this thread. I just got a Magnaflow 14832 from a fellow SL member and am going custom 2" axleback, with a Injen SRI front end and stock header... don't want anything loud, just a good round tone and a bit of performance gain.

Anyone know if there's a difference in the 14832 vs. the 14829, other than the tip (and the price)?