Pitts Pilot
Active Member
Having owned my R230 SL350 for a couple of years I have always enjoyed the sound the V6 makes, although it’s not particularly audible unless the top is down.
So I would like to increase the exhaust sound slightly. Not so much as to sound like an AC Cobra or a Harley Davidson, but enough to give a little extra thrill of satisfaction as I race along country roads.
I've shopped around for “Custom” exhausts and “sports” exhausts, and those available are simply too loud.
For example, I listened to a CSK ‘sports’ exhaust on YouTube and it sounded like a BTCC car at Silverstone. Fine if you are 24 years old and don’t care if you look like a boy racer, but I'm 54 not 24, so I can’t go round shaking peoples windows, I’d look like a sad git with a mid-life crisis!
So after some web research and looking at past posts, I can’t find anyone that will help me achieve the subtle change to the exhaust note I'm after, so I'm thinking of making the changes to my existing exhaust system myself:
1. Cut open and remove the innards of the rearward cats, weld up. Thus there will be a cat visible for MOT's, but actually empty. Apparently this will not have much effect on emissions and they don’t have O2 sensors to contend with either – apparently it’s the front cats you must leave well alone.
More YouTube on “Gutting cats” and the difference in sound is barely detectable, although the car is said to rev more easily and be smoother. Fine. If the exhausts are off the car and I have my angle grinder and arc welder to hand – do it.
2. Cut open the rear muffler and cut some slots in strategically chosen solid tubes to release a bit of gas and thus sound. Repack and weld up.
All work and cutting done to the top side of the boxes so its invisible when back on the car.
I remember seeing a post, with photos, of a guy who did cut open his mufflers and ‘de-restrict’ the internal pipes just a little. It seemed quite ‘do-able’, and the result was apparently very pleasing and didn't sound like a tractor.
So what do you think?
Have I taken leave of my senses?
Will the car throw up endless fault codes?
Should I act my age and leave the exhausts alone and live with the muted sound?
Has anyone got experience of doing either of the mods?
Do you know of a garage that would be prepared to do the work for me?
Go ahead, tell me I must be mad, it’s OK, really!
Cheers
Robert
So I would like to increase the exhaust sound slightly. Not so much as to sound like an AC Cobra or a Harley Davidson, but enough to give a little extra thrill of satisfaction as I race along country roads.
I've shopped around for “Custom” exhausts and “sports” exhausts, and those available are simply too loud.
For example, I listened to a CSK ‘sports’ exhaust on YouTube and it sounded like a BTCC car at Silverstone. Fine if you are 24 years old and don’t care if you look like a boy racer, but I'm 54 not 24, so I can’t go round shaking peoples windows, I’d look like a sad git with a mid-life crisis!
So after some web research and looking at past posts, I can’t find anyone that will help me achieve the subtle change to the exhaust note I'm after, so I'm thinking of making the changes to my existing exhaust system myself:
1. Cut open and remove the innards of the rearward cats, weld up. Thus there will be a cat visible for MOT's, but actually empty. Apparently this will not have much effect on emissions and they don’t have O2 sensors to contend with either – apparently it’s the front cats you must leave well alone.
More YouTube on “Gutting cats” and the difference in sound is barely detectable, although the car is said to rev more easily and be smoother. Fine. If the exhausts are off the car and I have my angle grinder and arc welder to hand – do it.
2. Cut open the rear muffler and cut some slots in strategically chosen solid tubes to release a bit of gas and thus sound. Repack and weld up.
All work and cutting done to the top side of the boxes so its invisible when back on the car.
I remember seeing a post, with photos, of a guy who did cut open his mufflers and ‘de-restrict’ the internal pipes just a little. It seemed quite ‘do-able’, and the result was apparently very pleasing and didn't sound like a tractor.
So what do you think?
Have I taken leave of my senses?
Will the car throw up endless fault codes?
Should I act my age and leave the exhausts alone and live with the muted sound?
Has anyone got experience of doing either of the mods?
Do you know of a garage that would be prepared to do the work for me?
Go ahead, tell me I must be mad, it’s OK, really!
Cheers
Robert
I doubt it
