Fixed the Magnaflow exhaust with cutouts! Freedom from drone! (video)

[fitzydude]

I finally decided to hack up my Magnaflow exhaust to improve the sound. After installing the Magnaflow it was a bit quiet while managing to have high levels of drone. Its only saving grace was that the exhaust note it did have was very good, but muted. Here is the original thread:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...naflow+exhaust

I had planned on replacing the central muffler with a resonated x-pipe, but when I installed my rear swaybar I left the rear mufflers off for a week. It sounded so damn good with just the central muffler I knew I had to keep that incredible sound! So I planned on installing exhaust cutouts right before the rear mufflers. Heres what I ended up with:




I decided to go with magnaflow 2.25" clamp-on cutouts (10783) because the hardware and piping matches what I already have. I ended up removing about 6-7 inches of pipe with the hacksaw to fit the 9 inch cutouts. Fitment is not too bad and I like the extra adjustability that the extra clamping points give! Maybe I'll eventually have them welded but probably not. I also like fact the cutouts nicely dump right out into the wheel wells.



I was quite surprised with the result.. running the car with the cutouts open sounds fantastic. Its slightly more mellow than running right off the central muffler, but here is the kicker. The drone is gone with the cutouts. When I ran the exhaust off the central muffler the exhaust was very loud and drone was increased! With the cutouts the exhaust is loud under load and the bassy drone is eliminated! 55, 60, 65, 70 mph its goneeeeee

I originally planned on running electric cutout valves to close the cutouts when normal driving and I still may do this. But the fact is my exhaust is just about perfect right now, with less drone while being louder under load.

I think it would be really cool if someone did this to the AWE touring exhaust. Essentially with the cutouts closed you would have the nice touring exhaust and with the cutouts open you would have the amazing, sexy sound of the AWE track exhaust.

Let me know how you think its sounds, I love it :) Its a very cheap way to make you magnaflow sound like a beast.



-Alex

[doug97gxe]

very nice mature sound

[Dudemans4]

fixed mine with test pipes non res down pipes and center res replaced for x pipe

[Hofahome]

Great sound! Nice work trying something new. I hope others try this too. We'll call it the Fitzy mod.

[fitzydude]

fixed mine with test pipes non res down pipes and center res replaced for x pipe

I like it but thats a dirty-nasty sound! I'm a smooth jazz kind of guy!

[Dudemans4]

I like it but thats a diry-nasty sound! I'm a smooth jazz kind of guy!

I agree its aggressive but its my style

[jran76]

Any chance you'll be at the track on Friday? I'm thinking about heading down there....

[fitzydude]

Any chance you'll be at the track on Friday? I'm thinking about heading down there....

Yeah I think I'm free, I'll double check tomorrow

[pdqgp]

Definitely one of the best sounding set ups I've heard on the B8 series. Nice job!

[fitzydude]

Definitely one of the best sounding set ups I've heard on the B8 series. Nice job!

Thanks so much!! I think Magnaflow could have one killer exhaust if they had a track version of their current setup without the rear mufflers

[jran76]

Yeah I think I'm free, I'll double check tomorrow

Ok. Tom (andthen) and I should be there. I'm working on a few others.

The Magnaflow uses the stock downpipes, right? Sounds good in the video....

[fitzydude]

Yeah running on stock downpipes currently. Was contemplating removing the baby resonators, but thinking I'll be happy with the current setup for sometime.

[jran76]

Yeah running on stock downpipes currently. Was contemplating removing the baby resonators, but thinking I'll be happy with the current setup for sometime.

I think they help kill a little drone. I think some type of resonators in the downpipes, and a central muffler makes for a decent sounding system. I guess you have a little more flexibility on the 6MT....

Tom is running without the central and rear mufflers, and it's pretty damn loud.

[eurotic]

I finally decided to hack up my Magnaflow exhaust to improve the sound. After installing the Magnaflow it was a bit quiet while managing to have high levels of drove. Its only saving grace was that the exhaust note it did have was very good, but muted. Here is the original thread:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...naflow+exhaust

I had planned on replacing the central muffler with a resonated x-pipe, but when I installed my rear swaybar I left the rear mufflers off for a week. It sounded so damn good with just the central muffler I knew I had to keep that incredible sound! So I planned on installing exhaust cutouts right before the rear mufflers. Heres what I ended up with:

I decided to go with magnaflow 2.25" clamp-on cutouts (10783) because the hardware and piping matches what I already have. I ended up removing about 6-7 inches of pipe with the hacksaw to fit the 9 inch cutouts. Fitment is not too bad and I like the extra adjustability that the extra clamping points give! Maybe I'll eventually have them welded but probably not. I also like fact the cutouts nicely dump right out into the wheel wells.

I was quite surprised with the result.. running the car with the cutouts open sounds fantastic. Its slightly more mellow than running right off the central muffler, but here is the kicker. The drone is gone with the cutouts. When I ran the exhaust off the central muffler the exhaust was very loud and drone was increased! With the cutouts the exhaust is loud under load and the bassy drone is eliminated! 55, 60, 65, 70 mph its goneeeeee

I originally planned on running electric cutout valves to close the cutouts when normal driving and I still may do this. But the fact is my exhaust is just about perfect right now, with less drone while being louder under load.

I think it would be really cool if someone did this to the AWE touring exhaust. Essentially with the cutouts closed you would have the nice touring exhaust and with the cutouts open you would have the amazing, sexy sound of the AWE track exhaust.

Let me know how you think its sounds, I love it :) Its a very cheap way to make you magnaflow sound like a beast.

-Alex

So the drone is gone with the cutouts open and closed? If so that doesn't make a lot of sense unless the sound is somehow reflecting in the cutout maybe? I don't mean that to sound jerky or anything, I really just wonder what would cause the drone to go away.

At the end of the day you have stock downpipes, the standard Magnaflow exhaust and the cutouts? What's the final cost in parts for your exhaust. Sounds quite nice by the way.

[fitzydude]

So the drone is gone with the cutouts open and closed? If so that doesn't make a lot of sense unless the sound is somehow reflecting in the cutout maybe? I don't mean that to sound jerky or anything, I really just wonder what would cause the drone to go away.

At the end of the day you have stock downpipes, the standard Magnaflow exhaust and the cutouts? What's the final cost in parts for your exhaust. Sounds quite nice by the way.

I'm sorry I don't have an explanation for this one. I'm a scientist not an engineer! With the cutouts open the drone is gone or highly reduced. If I give it too much throttle at low rpm's and high load I can make it drone. But at highway speeds at normal throttle inputs the bassy drone is gone. And thanks!

In the original thread I think I said I paid 880 shipped for the exhaust and then tack on another 150 for the two cutouts. Eventually I'll likely pickup the electric valve kit for another 275.

[MrFunk]

Sounds great! Any clips of cruise vs WOT?

[eurotic]

I'm sorry I don't have an explanation for this one. I'm a scientist not an engineer!

LOL and I'm neither. I'm a computer guy, hence the "does not compute" post.

[fitzydude]

Sounds great! Any clips of cruise vs WOT?

Let me get a video inside the cabin with the cutouts open and closed.

[esc]

Any issues with the exhaust dumping under the car? I'm considering trying this out. Have AWE mid muffler connected to OEM axle back.

[fitzydude]

I've been running with cutouts open for two weeks now and no ill effects. I've been under there several times and its still holding up, might consider putting turn-downs on the cutouts later.

[Loe]

The cutout is more than likely acting in a similar fashion to a helmholtz chamber, probably why the drone is gone.

[fitzydude]

The cutout is more than likely acting in a similar fashion to a helmholtz chamber, probably why the drone is gone.

Interesting, after daily driving awhile I'd say it shifted the tone of the exhaust note. It dropped the bass and now it has a more exotic exhaust note that doesn't scramble your brain. I used to set off this car's alarm in my parking garage everyday, but after the cutouts I haven't been setting it off. I even tried revving it one day and it wouldn't set it off

[cjw]

I did this mod today. Definitely worth it, but the passenger side, I couldn't get the cut out on properly. When I tightened the clamp, the tube would back itself out. Did the drivers side in twenty minutes with a tailpipe cutting tool ($13 on Amazon). Spent two hours on the passenger side and it's not lined up. I'm going to have to hit an exhaust shop.

Sound is definitely better, a touch louder at WOT, but quieter under normal driving.

[fitzydude]

Nice!!! Today I closed my cutouts to get an inspection this month. I went for a drive tonight forgot how terrible the drone was I'm going to open them back up asap...

[yjypm]

Thanks for your inspiration, I'm interested in adding a pair of cutouts and a pair of exhaust cutout valves to my awe exhaust.
Anyone knows if a muffler shop can do the valves?
If I choose to do a DIY where does the power cord of the valves go?

[cjw]

These are manual cutouts - three wingnuts.

I had a muffler shop touch mine up as it just wasn't quite fitting right and he welded a portion of them as the clamps were pushing the pipe out a bit as you tightened them.

[stereojorge]

Can you post a link to the cutouts you used for this? Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fitzydude]

MagnaFlow 10783 Exhaust Cut-Out https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MEQ8CQ..._mt2wxbTANZZ08

It's funny you, you could literally just cut two 2.25" holes right before the rear mufflers and get the same results 😂

[stereojorge]

MagnaFlow 10783 Exhaust Cut-Out https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MEQ8CQ..._mt2wxbTANZZ08

It's funny you, you could literally just cut two 2.25" holes right before the rear mufflers and get the same results

Hmmmmm now you got me wondering!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fitzydude]

Do it..

[cjw]

I tried leaving one cutout closed. I'll need more time, but it's a good middle ground. Quieter and less drone.

[maverickvii]

Love that exhaust note, good job.

[omegis83]

Any updates on this removing the bassy drone in the car around 2000-2500 RPMs? Replaced front baby resonators with magnaflow x-pipe and straight piped the center resonator. Sounds fantastic in sport mode but too bassy inside the cabin in non-sport mode under half throttle, heavy load around 2000-2500 RPMs.

[fitzydude]

In my opinion a lot of the drone is generated in the rear mufflers. Some the best setups consist of a big central muffler with resonators in the system and no rear mufflers.

[cjw]

I took the system off. In warm weather it was fine, but it was much louder when cold and I just didn't like it.

It's tough because I loved the sharp crackle of the DSG farts, but with the DSG liking to be under 1500 too often, it was a bit annoying even if wasn't droning that bad.

[omegis83]

Swapping rear straight pipes with resonators. Can't find anyone comfortable with building a j-pipe. I don't mind toning the exhaust note a bit if it kills the 2k bass. As long as it's not back to stock levels.

[ntsantos]

Swapping rear straight pipes with resonators. Can't find anyone comfortable with building a j-pipe. I don't mind toning the exhaust note a bit if it kills the 2k bass. As long as it's not back to stock levels.

You just get the Synapse no drone resonators if you can't find anyone to build them. Any muffler shop should be able to install them. I used them with good results on my previous setup.

[omegis83]

You just get the Synapse no drone resonators if you can't find anyone to build them. Any muffler shop should be able to install them. I used them with good results on my previous setup.

That looks like a nice option.

Ended up with 12in glasspacks. Cut drone in half but still have a nice exhaust tone.

[ntsantos]

That looks like a nice option.

Ended up with 12in glasspacks. Cut drone in half but still have a nice exhaust tone.

The good thing about the Jpipes is that it doesn't change the overall sound, it just cancels out the drone. You kinda have to guess the correct length, unless you do some crazy math to calculate the length. I think the general rule of thumb is to use the longest length possible and install them as close to the exhaust manifold as possible.

[omegis83]

The good thing about the Jpipes is that it doesn't change the overall sound, it just cancels out the drone. You kinda have to guess the correct length, unless you do some crazy math to calculate the length. I think the general rule of thumb is to use the longest length possible and install them as close to the exhaust manifold as possible.

I'm going to give it another 500 miles and see how I like it. Right now, I'm overall happy with the results. If something changes, I'll definitely go with the Synapse.