I'm trying to peice together different things I've read from the boards in an attempt to learn what the heck I'm talking about. Please correct me if any of this is way off or I'm not using the right terminology.

The Lancer’s stock exhaust system is pretty restrictive and there is a definite benefit to upgrading it. Inside the stock exhaust manifold there is a catalytic converter and an o2 sensor. Your only option as far as an upgrade goes it replacing the exhaust manifold with a set of headers (RRM, RMR, RPW, and Kamikaze). There is also a second catalytic converter just in front of the catback piping. This can be replaced with either a highflow cat or a testpipe. Keep in mind that these are two totally different things. A testpipe is straight piping where a highflow cat has some filtering material in it still. Next any catback exhaust can be installed or a custom piping job done. It’s recommended to get 2.5" system (Buschurs) for best performance. Check to make sure if you replace anything exhaust related that the o2 sensor is guaranteed to still function correctly so your check engine light will not come on.


Is this correct? Should i add more to it? Should i word something differently?

Thanks,
mechtn

 

that is completely correct. u have it down to a tee. and also THANK YOU for searching and reading everything first.

 

If anyone has any info they can add about passing emissions or visual inspections, such as putting the stock headshield over the headers or testpipe with a detailed explination, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
mechtn

 

Also if anyone has any information about what a downpipe is and where it goes in this loop. I've found information about them but nothing concrete about where they go or what they do.

Thanks,
mechtn

 

changing any thing on your exhaust will make u fail inspection, therefore go to someone that can do it under the table ...wink...wink... other than that there shouldnt be any problems.

 

the downpipe is connected at the end of the headers to the second catalytic convertor, or CAT. the kamikaze header comes with a downpipe already.

 

Just a few more questions from all the reading i've done. Can you add a muffler to a catback system to control how loud it is? What is an axeback exhaust? What is a resonator and what is a silencer?

Thanks,
mechtn

 

an axel back is basically just a muffler...cat-back means that its form the cat and everything after that...a silencer is something that goes into the muffler so that the muffler isnt as loud...
as for inspection...you will pass with just a cat back...you will not pass with a header...cat backs are smog legal in most staes

 

1. a catback system comes with a muffler.
2. axle back exhaust is basically a new system from your rear axle back (and a catback is a new system from your catalytic all the way back)
3. resonator is a small "mini muffler" basically in the middle of your exhaust system. its there to quiet down the system.
4. silencer is basically the piece that fits into the actual muffler to quiet down the system (usually is best for custom cat backs that your local shop does).

hope that helps

 

first of all, ahem...hehe

Its header, not headers lots of people do this. On 6 cyl and above there header(S) i know thats not much but just thought id let ya know.

Unless your getting a turbo 2.25 is the best way to go for now. Once u get a turbo, u can go 2.5 but 2.25 works just fine with turbo too.

ok ill do my best with ur other q's

Yeah u can add any muffler to any piping to change the noise. axelback is just the muffler i beileve. resonator is in the middle of the sys., and a silencer is put onto the muffler to lower the sound. anyone is welcome to add or correct me if i was wrong.

to pass emisions u will need to keep your 2nd cat i beileve, i dunno how it will do with a high flow cat, but if u put a testpipe on i beileve it will fail. In my state they dont do visual, they just plug into the car, but people can put the stock heatshield back on to cover the aftermarket header.

 

Inspection depends upon where you live. Since you have nothing in your profile it's hard to say. If you only have visual to worry about then the heat shield and a high-flow will pass you, but your CO/NOX may be high enough to fail you w/ the sniffer.

 

Most of what you posted is right on. However, I disagree about the exhaust being too restrictive. It depends on what you have on your engine. The small exhaust is perfect for preserving torque on an engine that only makes 120 hp. However, if you start getting more air to the engine and adjusting its timingm etc. you want to free up the other end as well, but only enough to balance the equasion. In my opinion, 2.5 is too big for any Lancer still running a naturaly aspirated 4G94. Now, if you are planning on going turbo or supercharger, 2.5 would probably be the best choice.

And as mentioned above, swapping the exhaust manifold for a header deletes one of the cats and makes it fail smog in some states.

 

oh yeah, you can definitely change the noise level of a catback system by changing the muffler, but keep in mind that the muffler does play a role in the performance of the exhaust, and more often than not, the muffler included with the catback is carefully selected for that application.

 

Thanks for writing that 2.5" is a no-no so I didn't have to, Brian

 

Again, I never had problems with a 2.5" cat-back with no mods other than intake and throttle body. I don't think TB is necessay either, and the 2.5" exhaust is dyno proven to have gains across the power band.