Hey guys! After my old trusty 1992 Maxima got stolen from me last month, I became the proud owner of a 2004 Ralliart!

I've been lurking around these boards for a few weeks and have gotten some great tips/info from you guys. The previous owner of my car did a little work to it (removed trunk badges, 16" wheels, new head unit, etc.) but what I'm really interested in is the "fart can" he put on the exhaust. It seemed really cool when I first drove the car, but it's getting a little loud for my girlfriend's parents and I was considering changing it out and replacing the whole exhaust.

I found a local shop here in OK that will custom bend a new cat-back exhaust and put on a Magnaflow muffler for ~$250. Which sound great to me, but when I looked under the car to check out the muffler homeboy put on it looks like there are a couple of large chambers about a foot and a half long welded into the stock exhaust about a foot apart under the car. Is this stock or some other modification he has done like a resonating chamber or something? I can't find a brand name on the muffler and will post pics after I get off work today, but I was wondering if anyone could find a pic of the stock 04 Ralliart exhaust so I can check it out...

Sorry for the long, detailed post, just wanted to give you guys all the info. Thanks for all your help already!

 

Probably not stock. The stock exhaust has a resonator, about 22-24" long, built into the midpipe. Other than that, there's just the cat in the stock downpipe. If you get a pic up we can easily tell you for sure. Welcome to the forums, too

 

I attached pics taken with my cell. I apologize in advance for the less than stellar quality...

The first pic is of the first "chamber" which I now realize is probably a heat shield of some sort. The second pic is the chamber closer to the rear of the car and the third is of the muffler, complete with a little bit of melted bumper from the heat.

Anyhow, any advice on the previously mentioned magnaflow exhaust setup would be greatly appreciated, I plan on eventually getting a downpipe, CAI or SRI, probably a RRM pulley, short shift kit, shifter bushings, and other mods in the future. Right now I just have a drop in K&N filter that I use in the stock air intake...

Thanks again guys!

 

stock cat and resonator

 

Thanks Dan! You guys sure are quick to reply!

One more quick question. Should I decide to go with the custom-bent exhaust Magnaflow combo, what size pipe should I have them use if I want to add the RRM header/downpipe? 2.5"? 3"?

Thanks again!

 

2.25

 

Save your money and stick with the stock midpipe. It's nice and straight, no reason to replace it. Just get an axleback built, and if you still need to quiet the car down a bit, have the resonator replaced with a larger one.

 

Cool. Thanks for the replies guys! I am definitely going to be frequenting these boards quite a bit as my RA obsession grows. My girlfriend is already complaining and I haven't even had the car a month! I'm going to teach her how to drive it so hopefully she can enjoy it as much as I do...

I'll take some pics soon and she you guys what I'm starting off with!

Thanks again!

 

change those tires while your at it

 

Ha! The tires are actually pretty new and have plenty of tread left on them. I just need a new cell with a better quality camera!

I may be a n00b, but I can check tread depth.

 

He's saying that because if they are stock tires or same quality, they suck hard. You said in first post he added 16" rims... that's stock size, are you sure?

Here's the short list of first mods to do:

-rrm axle back (or at least a good quality muffler welded in place)
-sri/cai (rrm, aem, injen, fujita)
-rear sway bar + perches
-rrm underdrive pulley
-tires!

The above mods will really change the way your car feels and responds.

 

Oh, hahahahaha! My mistake...

They are 16" icw Racing wheels with Goodyear Assurance tires... Probably pretty shiatty, but it's what came on it.

This is all pretty new to me, and I'm not the most mechanically inclined person you'll ever meet, but I'm willing to learn. Eventually I will probably do all those mods you listed as I have a good friend who has the tools and knowledge to help me install them as well as a good workshop space, I just have to provide the beer.

 

sorry to steal this but whats the stock piping on the RA and yes i have searched

 

about the magnaflow exhaust go to performancepeddler.com. the part # for the muffler is 14829(please correct that if im wrong) and just have some piping made up. youll have an axelback for 150 bucks. you dont need to replace the stock mid pipe b/c its fine the way it is.

PLEASE get rid of that fart can before it melts your whole rear bumper

 

i believe its 2.25