by David Gentleman » Sat Mar 05, 2005 4:36 pm
On the subject of cutting open the old exhaust, I did this on my first GTA, and it did make a difference to the sound, didnt feel any different though, maybe because there was no longer and 'flow' through the box. The only other problem I has was...the original box is aluminumised steel so it doesnt corrode easily, when it was welded back up, it began to rust at the welds being migged, from inside and out due to moisture in the exhaust on cold mornings, so even painting it didnt help.
On the subject of my new exhaust, I can get a device called a divertor valve, but they cost around £100. Its a billet steel 2.5" valve (much like a throttle butterfly) with an actuator much like on a turbo, that goes in the main tubing from the turbo, and is controlled by vacuum off the engine, so at part throttle and idle, it is nearly closed reducing the sound, and at zero vacuum or boost, the valve fully opens derestricting the exhaust.
.but at normal idle, it will sound like a normal exhaust (but also not spool up the turbo as quick), so you ending up spending all that money, and most of the time when you are driving it wont sound much different to the original....horses for courses!