EL header + stock muffler louder than stock?

**fahr_side** · 10-01-2012 09:51 AM

I've been running the following on my '08 WRX for a while now with no noise problems:

Stock GRF manifolds / COP / UP
TD05-E16G
Invidia catted DP
Custom 76mm midpipe with resonator
Stock axleback

I just added an equal-length header to the mix and now the noise on the highway is pissing me off. I don't mind the tone, don't give a rat's ass about 'teh rumble' or lack of. Seems to me the stock muffler is well-designed for cancelling out the strange off-beat noise with stock manifolds but not good at muffling the higher-pitched noise.

Anyone else had this problem? What's the best solution... different chambered muffler or absorption type? I want better flow than the stock muffler and absolute minimum noise.

Funny thing is that my buddy just went from UEL to EL header and his car (with straight-through, 3" core, 6" tipped puppy-launcher) actually got much quieter.

**Heide264** · 10-01-2012 09:55 AM

I have a catless exhaust system and it got significantly (annoyingly, actually) quieter with an EL manifold. I know it's not what you were looking to hear =/

**fahr_side** · 10-01-2012 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Heide264

I have a catless exhaust system and it got significantly (annoyingly, actually) quieter with an EL manifold. I know it's not what you were looking to hear =/

I'd have to hear what the rest of your system is comprised of for this info to be useful

**Heide264** · 10-01-2012 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by fahr_side

I'd have to hear what the rest of your system is comprised of for this info to be useful

Sorry. Probably would help.

I have an Invidia Race EL Manifold, Grimspeed UP w/ 44mm EWG, stock turbo, invidia catless DP, Nameless 3" midpipe and axle back (magna-flow muffler).

Not a bad system. Was pretty loud until I put the manifold on. I almost want to try some straight through type mufflers just for ****s and giggles sometime. Don't feel like spending the cash on them though =P

**shadowpr** · 10-01-2012 10:46 AM

high pitched noise would make me think leak.

did you change all the gaskets when you did the headers? torqued to specs?

check the welds for cracks?

**fahr_side** · 10-01-2012 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by shadowpr

high pitched noise would make me think leak.

did you change all the gaskets when you did the headers? torqued to specs?

check the welds for cracks?

It's all good. New gaskets, pro install, brand-new quality (Tomei) header, no sign of exhaust leaks, late-spool / failure to hit targets.

It's not really loud, just louder than it was, and in an annoying way. Maybe this what other people mean when they say their exhaust drones. I don't know. I just know I have to turn the stereo up a lot higher than before to cover the exhaust noise while cruising on the freeway.

**fahr_side** · 10-01-2012 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Heide264

Sorry. Probably would help.

I have an Invidia Race EL Manifold, Grimspeed UP w/ 44mm EWG, stock turbo, invidia catless DP, Nameless 3" midpipe and axle back (magna-flow muffler).

Not a bad system. Was pretty loud until I put the manifold on. I almost want to try some straight through type mufflers just for ****s and giggles sometime. Don't feel like spending the cash on them though =P

Thanks. Your Magnaflow is a chambered or straight-through type? Part number?

**Heide264** · 10-01-2012 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by fahr_side

Thanks. Your Magnaflow is a chambered or straight-through type? Part number?

It's a single entry, 4 exit muffler - chambered I believe. I'm not sure of the part number. It's Nameless's original 5-door axle back.

**Donkey** · 10-01-2012 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by fahr_side

I've been running the following on my '08 WRX for a while now with no noise problems:

Stock GRF manifolds / COP / UP
TD05-E16G
Invidia catted DP
Custom 76mm midpipe with resonator
Stock axleback

I just added an equal-length header to the mix and now the noise on the highway is pissing me off. I don't mind the tone, don't give a rat's ass about 'teh rumble' or lack of. Seems to me the stock muffler is well-designed for cancelling out the strange off-beat noise with stock manifolds but not good at muffling the higher-pitched noise.

Anyone else had this problem? What's the best solution... different chambered muffler or absorption type? I want better flow than the stock muffler and absolute minimum noise.

Funny thing is that my buddy just went from UEL to EL header and his car (with straight-through, 3" core, 6" tipped puppy-launcher) actually got much quieter.

And you have which header?

**Rambo** · 10-01-2012 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Donkey

And you have which header?

Originally Posted by fahr_side

brand-new quality (Tomei) header

**fahr_side** · 10-01-2012 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Heide264

It's a single entry, 4 exit muffler - chambered I believe. I'm not sure of the part number. It's Nameless's original 5-door axle back.

This one?

2008-2012 Subaru STi/2011+ WRX Hatch Back Quad Tip Cat-Back Exhaust - Nameless Performance

Would you say the muffler matches this?

http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/s...=main&id=10416

I'm in an '08, so single-outlet... just trying to get an idea of how much muffler I need to shut this thing up...

**fahr_side** · 10-03-2012 10:19 PM

If anyone has good experience with a particular CBE together with an EL header, as in no droning, I'm all ears.

**Heide264** · 10-04-2012 06:41 AM

That looks like mine. Mine was one of their earlier ones though. I also don't have the resonator.

You can ask Bruce/demonWRX and see what he says. Regardless of if you like EL or not, its noticeably quieter with the EL manifold.

I don't notice any 'drone' per say. The UEL manifold was a bit noisy around 3k rpm on the highway I guess. I would love to hear some other muffler designs with the EL manifold though. My friend threatened to punch me in my throat if I change my catback though.

**fahr_side** · 10-04-2012 09:45 AM

Thanks. If anything I actually prefer the EL sound, but what I really want is silence... at least in the cabin. Unless I'm mistaken, that Magnaflow is a straight-through absorption type muffler. My guess is that the chambers in the stock muffler are tuned to cancel certain frequencies and now the dominant frequencies have shifted so much, it no longer works as designed.

A friend has a GDB with the usual N1-style puppy-launcher. His UEL cracked and he replaced it with a Tomei EL like mine. Car is now much quieter... I think an absorption muffler is the way to approach this.

I will probably try fitting the biggest 'turbo-style' muffler I can find (or have made) back there.

**mangostick** · 10-04-2012 09:57 AM

might be time for dynamat. It doesn't need to be applied corner to corner.. just a patch on each panel is enough to dampen vibration. I used two door kits (mostly on floor and rear hatch area) and it has improved my car dramatically regardless of exhaust setup (I've had a couple on it since application).

Going equal length what you've done is raised (just about doubled) the frequency of the exhaust note. It usually gets quieter for most owners because of the lack in low frequency resonance .. odd in your case that it hasn't. I'm curious if it is within the muffler tuning. Sounds like just as you suspect its not filtering the higher pitched noises out as well as the lower ones.