jimrankin Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (Part of trying to get my car from 100+ DB down to 92DB for Monterey)Stupid me, I didn't get around to ordering some mandrel bent exhaust/header tube pieces "on line" and was forced to buy last minute Saturday morning at a muffler shop. When I had him bend off a couple of 90 and 180 bends the pipe was crushed and misshaped so badly I had to abandon my first idea of just routing the pipe back under the car to a small muffler I was going to hang in the back. I picked up a few feet of extra 3" and some 2" straight pipe and went home. After a few minutes of not very clear or careful thought and planning I decided to abandon routing the exhaust through a few tricky turns back under the car and thought "I'll build a muffler". Using "thought" in this instance now seems like an oxymoron. Anyway, I've learned a valuable lesson about not following the process of "critical path management" I use at work. On the plus side, I do think I'm now below 92DB (and probably down about one HP for each DB) On the minus side I spent a good part of the weekend on this and I'll probably get laughed out of the paddock. This is just for one single use as I procrastinated for months about a whole new muffler and an ECU that didn't require my "cat" and still plan on doing that "eventually". As usual, I'm having a hard time getting more than one picture to load but this give you an idea of "The Monterey Box from hell". LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Heres hoping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 This is what happens when you procrastinate and are devious. :cheers: How much does the backbox weigh? m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 If you aren't a redneck I will certainly deputize you based on your design effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 It weighs about as much as a really small Danforth Anchor (maybe 10 lbs)and helps the performance about as much. As for being an honorary "redneck", I already qualify. I lived in Virginia for a while, back in my early MGA days and still have family on the islands outside Charleston S.C. Do my best work under a shade tree. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Hanks comment is a 10, the muffler mod (something I'd do IF I had the time, talent, tools) is more like a 1:). Why not go with a Suppertrapp wh/allows adjustments to sound via discs used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 I'm going to do a change out of my stock Honda ECU, or at least trick the O2 sensors with the aftermarket "dummy" plugs and do a whole new mufflet set up. I'll gain some room when the "Cat" is gone.Just haven't taken the time to research all the options yet. I'm just about retired, finish a few more projects at work and I'm out of here and into serious time for my own projects (boats, cars and drinking) instead of everyone elses emergencies. I do have to say that the test ride I did with the new "monterey box" was suprisingly pleasant. Even with the exhaust pointed under the car the real blast of sound was really deminished on my side and I'm sure any passenger I might have ride with me will be crying with relief. I've only ridden in the passenger seat a few times and it can be a bit like standing in front of the speaker tower at an old Dead show, not that I remember much of those times now. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I doubt if you will need to apply for a Patent on it, even though I have never seen one like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 After thinking about it for a while I could market it as "a condom for 7's" since it slips over your pipe when needed and prevents the dreaded "black flag" disease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Around here they don't test race cars for sound regulations. If they did, we would probably buy the tester a case of beer and be passed over. Is there a chance you could do that and keep the car like it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 Track has been around for many years but the big money people moved in and a county sound ordenance got passed. Everywhere else in CA. is pretty much "SCCA" limits and most cars make it OK. It's 103 (I think) at ThunderHill, Infineon and probably at Buttonwillow also, Just Monterey that has the tight sphincter problem. Oh yeah, got to cool it after/before certain hours most everywhere but it's usually not a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 You can run the factory Ecu with no cat. You only need one O2 sensor the primary one in front of the cat. The second can be taken off with no issues. I wouldn't remove both until you change to AEM Ecu which your stuck with fuel maps which are fine as long as you don't change altitude much. You need to add UEGO for closed loop operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Is that muffler attachment held on with just the clamp? I could see that thing vibrating off if it's not bolted on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 The two tabs on the bottom go through the muffler clamp bolt that is part of the mount I made to hold the muffler with a flex instead of the solid mount that broke the muffler apart at the ends. The muffler and the add on move together. There is a "slide over pipe" welded to the add on box that isn't really attached to the muffler, just kind of a slip fit. Made it tight enough that not much exhaust slips out. If you look close the clamp is over the original muffler but not over the "slip over pipe". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Got any pics of your intake project? Hopefully you didn't have to break out the welder for it;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnr Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Got any pics of your intake project? Hopefully you didn't have to break out the welder for it;) Since Jim cant live without his welder we did actually use it to create a mount to hold the airbox. Re-used the airbox from my Elise (same part as an 05 Matrix) along with a 90 degree silicone elbow. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6840181421_49b1e40eba.jpg Untitled by rnair, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted February 8, 2012 Author Share Posted February 8, 2012 RNR's car had a nice open space for the box, slam dunk. I had the horn and overflow right where the "box" was going so had to make up the bracket in the attached photo. Shot of it all installed and unless we get rained out we should be good to go for Laguna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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