Exhaust System Newbie | How to make exhaust quiet?

[Kamatari+]

Hello Cb7 community,
I got pulled over last night by an undercover cop for my muffler being too loud. Second time I got pulled over for this issue. Thankfully the cop let me off the hook. Now I'm ready to finally get this thing quieted down. The entire exhaust pretty much has rust and holes in it, which I want to believe is the main contributor of the loud sound. I have wrapped the leaks before with muffler bandage, but they came off.

My current set up has no Catalytic converter , just a bolted on straight pipe. The loudness noise comes from this area. There is also a rusted hold big enough for a small bird to fit in. I don't know the specifics of the set up, such as sizes, or muffler brand. I do have a video I took some time ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTLnG555300

So, for the question. Where do I start on making my exhaust quieter? I read Cats can make a big difference in sound quality (as well as pollution reduction!) After that, choosing your exhaust parts seems like an exact science. A scary science. Loss of power, arguments about back pressure, diameter of pipping. I don't know which direction to take my first step in. Help !

[Jarrett]

You really have about 3 options. All of them involve buying an OEM replacement catalytic converter. It's better for the environment, it sounds much better and it doesn't cause the performance hit that people seem to think. At least not on our sub-200hp engines.

Option 1 would be to simply have a muffler shop rebuild you an exhaust. This would cost around $300 from start to finish. You'd be restricted to whatever muffler offerings they carry but you can usually come out okay. The key here is resonators. You want to have them install the longest possible resonator that they can to quiet the sound. If you want, you can muffler shop on your own and then bring that to them. Depending on what they're charging you for their offerings it will affect the price somewhat.

The second would be to just buy a quality exhaust system like a WS-2 and install it with a catalytic converter and call it a day. You'll need new crush gaskets but then you'll be sitting pretty and not running too loud.

Or, what I did, since the stainless exhaust was already on my car when I bought it was purchase an OEM catalytic converter to replace the test pipe and purchase the muffler of my choice to replace the fart can, use better gaskets and call it a day. Your expenses here besides the cat would be the cheap exhaust on eBay, the muffler of your choice(match pipe size), better gaskets and the cost of welding the new muffler on.

[oyajicool]

Sorry to hear that you've been pulled over for loud exhaust noise. I, too, live in FL and my LX has generic 4-2-1 and generic cat-back fart-can. But never been pulled over for my exhaust noise.

Having the cat converter must be the key for quieter sound,,,,,

[jhoff]

Apexi WS2, if you want performance and quite, there you go.
That exhaust set up is perfect, so if you can rep it, itll keep you quite.
I had a Tsduo or whatever, N1 set up, and I even added a 22" glass pack and still got pulled over.

[Fleetw00d]

Having the cat converter must be the key for quieter sound,,,,,

The key to having a quieter sound is to not have a Swiss cheese exhaust system.

I have salvaged used OEM converters by replacing the studs (had to cut them to remove it). If the matrix is intact, it is a lot cheaper to go this way than new OEM.

I have OEM mufflers on 3 of my Accords, Majestic will ship them (not oversize) and they have a lifetime warranty if you keep your cars forever like I do.

[SOHC-FTW]

Option four.....

Get a stock exhaust or replacement for OE cruising sound. When performance comes into mind use a cutout flip of the switch you go from grandma status......to wth is that!

Best sleeper and power setup, more folks should use such.

[H311RA151N]

You have a few options.

1). Spend $700 on an Apexi Ws2 and then buy a catalytic converter, around $800-$900 for this option. The exhaust tubing is mild steel so it will last a while but not like stainless will.

2).Go to an exhaust shop and have them make you a new exhaust. $300-$400.

3). Buy a muffler you like (the fart can style will always be louder), buy a resonator you like and buy a universal catalytic converter like Magnaflow. Take it to an exhaust shop and have them install it all. This will run about $275-$450 depending on what you want.

4). Buy a stainless ebay catback, a muffler you want, a resonator you want, then a catalytic converter, take it to an exhaust shop and have it all installed. Thats what I did. Cost me about $325 and the whole system is stainless steel. If you piece your syetem together make sure everything is 2.5" tubing.

[oyajicool]

The key to having a quieter sound is to not have a Swiss cheese exhaust system.

That goes without saying.

[Mike1357]

I've noticed that the largest contributor to a loud exhaust is running a test pipe. You'd be surprised how much just a catalytic converter will quiet the car down. When I went H, I put in a test pipe and I've regretted it ever since.

[wed3k]

i was surprised how quiet a borla pro xs muffler was considering its straight through design

[Stoner51]

You have a few options.

1). Spend $700 on an Apexi Ws2 and then buy a catalytic converter, around $800-$900 for this option. The exhaust tubing is mild steel so it will last a while but not like stainless will.

2).Go to an exhaust shop and have them make you a new exhaust. $300-$400.

3). Buy a muffler you like (the fart can style will always be louder), buy a resonator you like and buy a universal catalytic converter like Magnaflow. Take it to an exhaust shop and have them install it all. This will run about $275-$450 depending on what you want.

4). Buy a stainless ebay catback, a muffler you want, a resonator you want, then a catalytic converter, take it to an exhaust shop and have it all installed. Thats what I did. Cost me about $325 and the whole system is stainless steel. If you piece your syetem together make sure everything is 2.5" tubing.

5. buy a rsr exhaust used from the forums. help out a fellow member and get the best stainless exhaust made for our cars $400
Or pay $670 for new shipped to you.


steve

[H311RA151N]

5. buy a rsr exhaust used from the forums. help out a fellow member and get the best stainless exhaust made for our cars $400
Or pay $670 for new shipped to you.


steve

Yeah thats not a bad option.

[Losiracer2]

buy a WS2 and a Cat.

[H311RA151N]

Thats like saying you needed money so you sold a testical instead of getting a job.

"I want a quiet exhaust so Im going to blow a grand."

I just dont see it. But thats just me.

[TAMPA]

Thats like saying you needed money so you sold a testical instead of getting a job.

"I want a quiet exhaust so Im going to blow a grand."

I just dont see it. But thats just me.

If you make big bucks i can see it, but i havent seen any cb7s on here that would be worth it to the owner or the owners would see it worth a thousand dollar exhaust nice. Some people only paid $500 for the whole car. To some people almost a thousand bucks is alot for pipe.