GTR and FX50 owner here... saying HI!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hey Man,

If you dont mind LOUD, I am happy to do it to your car. I KNOW I can do it right, I have been modding cars since I was 16. BUT in my case, I cannot make it noticeably louder, wife will kill me. But if you want unadulterated flow, and an increase in power thats no problem. Why dont I snap a few photos of the 'problem' areas of the car, and I can explain show how easy it is to fix them.

Jon

---------- Post added at 04:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:01 PM ----------

Uh resale value.... depends heavily on how you look at it. As she is worth a LOT more now then what I paid for her... sadly if I trade her in, on a different model, I will get one hell of a bill instead... called 1/2 my net worth.

No thanks.. I'll keep her.. she's still in her 20s :) Plenty of good years left on those tires ... hahaha

---------- Post added at 04:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------

Ok Just went to the garage and snapped off a bunch of photos. I'll edit them in a very crude MSPAINT, and show the issues, many of which are DIY fixable.

---------- Post added at 04:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ----------

uh ok, let me qualify that.. JON DIY fixable.. depending on your skillset might be easy for you too.

---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------

Exhaust photos: (with captions in them)

DSC_0045.jpg

DSC_0050.jpg

DSC_0049.jpg

DSC_0048.jpg

DSC_0047.jpg

DSC_0042.jpg

DSC_0037.jpg

DSC_0041.jpg

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:22 PM ----------

Using pipes like these, you can modify the stock exhaust to eliminate a number of its restrictions:

http://www.summitracing.com/search/...Individual-Bends/?keyword=mandrel+pipe&RC=100
 
Last edited:
Jon, your pics and explanations are great. I'm still in search of the best setup. I don't think I'd be happy with extremely loud, but loud would be ok. Straight pipes have always in my experience seemed too loud. My previous setup was loud and loved it...my mustang cobra normally has 6 cats -3 on each side and I had catco performance cats on there (but they may have been hollowed out because they did absolutely nothing or got fried right away) and the rest was borla, big pipes and looked and sounded amazing. I'd like a similar setup I think for an ultimate goal....just taking my time to see what develops hoping over the last year someone would come out with something bolt on for FX50 but not so much. The ARK seems the best looking, sounding, and performance thus far but nothing for FX50 yet...I'd be curious your take on it. So below I put together a bunch of threads that I think will be useful for you analysis as well as some of your questions that you may have:

Here is a thread of a FX50 member with borla pics and then modifying the invidia exhaust with pics, sound samples, etc:
https://www.infinitiscene.com/search/1/?q=11423-DIY-installing-Invidia-exhaust

Here is another FX50 with modified invidia exhaust with pics:
https://www.infinitiscene.com/search/1/?q=9606-Invidia-exhaust-for-FX50s

Here is a FX35 member with invidia dyne stats in case you are interested:
http://www.InfinitiScene.com/forum/threads/9725-09-FX35-Invidia-Gemini-Exhaust-Dyno-Pics

Recently ARK has created exhaust for the FX35 (again not FX50) but the sound, looks, and performance gains look great from what I see:
https://www.infinitiscene.com/searc...CE-USA-quot-Sneak-Peak-quot-FX35-Grip-Exhaust!!
https://www.infinitiscene.com/searc...K-GRIP-370Z-EXHAUST-DYNO-D-AT-FSR-MOTORSPORTS
https://www.infinitiscene.com/search/1/?q=15520-ARK-Performance-exhaust-system-for-09-FX35

and look at post 25 and 31 of this thread....I think the exhaust looks great and then shows some details:
http://www.InfinitiScene.com/forum/threads/13734-ARK-Performance-Exhaust-(coming-soon)/page2
 
I'm going to read those threads right now. Please note the 'LOUD' is if we did ALL the modifications I spoke of, but if you did them in PHASES and STOPPED when you felt 'yeah thats loud enough' then you wouldnt get to 'to loud.' Honestly the first increase in sound and probably easiest to do is gutt the 2nd cats. Then put it back together crank it up and go 'hmmm sounds good, lets stop there' OR 'hey I dont even notice a difference, lets do the resonators', after the resonators you might say 'thats it, stop there' or 'hmmm I really wanted it a lot louder then this' and then we'd replace the STOCK Muffler with either bypass pipes (mandrel bends) or add a performance muffler or your liking.

I guess I should also explain I had a 400 Small Block Chevy that I PERSONALLY put into a Porsche 944s (per my name on here Jon V8 944s), and that required a completly custom exhaust, which was dual 2.5 inch pipes into flow masters using H pipe design at first, then X pipe (back in the 90s I was way ahead of time with this). So yeah, this is really nothing new for me. But again I'm a DIY'er and so this will end up costing me very little, but I'd much rather just have someone say 'here is a tried and true solution.' I'd like DYNO proven data of course.. but with the small amount of fx50 modders, thats probably not going to happen.

Again my thought is, mod the stocker just enough to eliminate those horrible restrictions, but keeping it as much stock as possible, so sound levels stay relatively reasonable, and power is gained from better flow.

---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------

nvidia exhaust looks much better, they are using an X pipe which is a bette design then the borla. But I wonder what the pipe size is for both? I am afraid if the nvidia was made for 3.5 liters, its probably not sized correctly for 5.0 liters. I am guessing, and its only a guess, that the borla is larger pipe diameter?

The nvidia tip alignment looks like shit in that russian guys car, not sure if thats do to the modding of the exhaust or just shitty JIGs at nvidia.

The 2nd thread definitely added some value, I am a little dissapointed by the lack of 'torque' improvement, which means its not going to feel any harder off the line, but it will feel livlier when your already moving, but even the 18hp isnt that big of a gain. What this tells me, is that as horrible as those restrictions are in the piping, the CATs are just as much of a restriction. OR THE nvidia piping is STILL to small for our application and thats why the gains are not as great on the fx50.

3rd thread is cool, because it shows that HP AND TQ is increased on the 3.5 using the nvidia system, because the pipe size for that setup is much better for the fx35. This really makes me think the nvidia setup should be left on the fx35 unless an increase in diameter is done to support the additional exhaust volume coming from the increased displacement. After all a 5.0 liter 8 cyclinder is displacing about 40% more exhaust then a 3.5 liter 6 cylinder. So why would people think it would be an appopriate option on a much larger displacement motor? Odd. I wouldnt do it.

I'd like to see Dyno data on the borla setup. I wish it had an X pipe towards the front. Tips are easy enough to change, that wouldnt stop me if the data proved its value.

The ark stuff is cool, and I love science as much as the next guy, but I really wonder if in practice if those 'resonator chambers' really do much of anything. I'm sure they change the sound, but would I have dissliked the sound it would have made without the chambers? Sound is so subjective, its in the 'ear of the beholder' I dont know if its just hype or creates real value.

So far, as much as I love the look of the nvidia, I am NOT interested in their 3.5 modified to 5.0 setup. I hope they come up with a 5.0 version, they'd get my money.

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 PM ----------

on the unichip thing. I am not an environmentalist by any means, but there is NO way in hell I am running CATless. Not because I care about the environment (I mean I do, but I kinda like performance more.. lol) BUT because cars stink to high hell when they dont have them. Proven many times on my own vechicles. Its why I made a rule starting with my GTR, no more catless cars!

I wonder if any of the guys who did one of these exhausts would be willing to let me hack their stocker up, and see if I can make something happen at a cheap DIY price.
 
Last edited:
"cars stick to high hell"? What do you mean

Just curious why you wouldn't start on your wife's FX50 one at a time just like how you explained making it louder each time but not too loud. I'm sure the SRT8 is louder than the FX50 right now and worst case couldn't you weld it back to it's original setup worse case scenario she really hated it because it's too loud?

I'd be willing to volunteer, but one of my worries is I'm not local anymore. I lived in Chicago all my life, but not anymore and I don't want to stop by one weekend and risk there being issues in Michigan the next day or something without us testing every now and then. Seems silly for not just me but also you as you wouldn't get as much feedback that way either.

There is another FX50 member in Chicago Phil that was at the last meet we had, but I don't think he was thinking of exhaust, but maybe who knows.

I am very much interested, but would be interested more so when something more was finalized on your part so the ins and outs are more so worked out since I'm about 4.5 hours away.

---------- Post added at 10:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 PM ----------

When I was in IL, yes there were emissions. And that is all I'm going to say about that.
In Michigan, there are no emissions....another reason to love Michigan - motor city! No emissions no front license plates, no stupid stickers required on cars, cops more relaxed with tint, illegal drag racing bikes and cars galore that I have partaken in as well many locations, lots of nice old antiques and fast cars around here too. I actually used to love having a Mustang Cobra because it was rare in chicago, here I see cobras, SRT8s, etc about 1 a week minimum of each. Infinitis I see in chicago all the time but around here hardly any, which is why I wouldn't want a mustang anymore. I like having a car that I don't see every week.
 
Last edited:
tchuck said:
I think he meant "STINK to high hell.."
Click to expand...

LOL I actually loved the smell...I know that's bad.....I would walk behind my mustang and you couldn't stand there for more than 10 seconds without having to leave.

Emissions are supposed to be under something like 0.06 or something for carbon monoxide...i can't remember....mine at it's emissions test ran > 2.5. When I asked the emissions guy if I passed, he laughed at me and just gave me the paperwork and that was running just 1 catco cat....mustangs are very very dirty engines though that dense cats so when it opens up it's AMAZING the difference in performance and sound...just amazing difference. literally felt like it wasn't choking anymore and the car lost 500 lbs off the bat or something.
 
3" pipes on an NA is a bit much. FI setups can always go wider, but at some point the lack of back pressure with a large diameter pipe for an NA application is detrimental to power gains; likely lose hp.

.
.


Galaxy S2 on
 
Hey JD, the problem is, I dont want to go through the hassle/expense of reversing anything. By doing yours, I could show the wife and say 'hey is this ok honey?'

Gutting the Cats is easy enough, but that is ONE step you cannot undue. I know it will NOT get noticeably louder, because the primary CAT is still in there, but if the stink increases at all, she will kill me. I was CATless in the viper for years, and anytime I came home after driving it, she would say 'get in the shower right now, you smell like exhaust'

Sure enough I would and hours later you could smell the cloths I wore and it would make your eyes tear up from the Fuel smell.. lol. So yeah, I know CATLESS smell and I am not doing it again.

Oh and yes we have emissions testing, and its no joke, you get connected with a computer, and it asks your car if all is cool... and on most cars, if its got no cats, it 'rats' you out, and they say SORRY.. no passing for you.... BUT my Viper lied like a mofo, and always reported back 'all good' Yet you could smell the fuel coming from the exhaust.. lol.

---------- Post added at 09:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 PM ----------
PMG 705 said:
3" pipes on an NA is a bit much. FI setups can always go wider, but at some point the lack of back pressure with a large diameter pipe for an NA application is detrimental to power gains; likely lose hp.
Click to expand...

I certainly agree there is a balance, but 3.0 is not the point it becomes a detriment. Notice the mustang 5.0 guys, they are quite content with the 3.0 size and it shows great gains for them. But I agree, I wouldnt want to go over 3.0... matter of fact thats why I put 2.75 to 3.0 because I think the 2.75 is the minimum I'd like to see, but 3.0 is def the max.

I've got tons of experience in NA motors, from 5.0 to 6.0 to 6.6 liters (all Chevy V8s), so I am not just guessing here, I know it works. The absolute minimum I would like to see is 2.5 in an exhaust for this car. I dont think I could buy these other two exhausts, given their marginal gain in diameter over stock (their only huge value is the elimination of that y pipe choker.)

---------- Post added at 10:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 PM ----------
PMG 705 said:
3" pipes on an NA is a bit much. FI setups can always go wider, but at some point the lack of back pressure with a large diameter pipe for an NA application is detrimental to power gains; likely lose hp.
Click to expand...

Actually, back pressure helps to make Torque (right before to much back pressure starts to kill it) , so if you make it too 'open' you will start to lose torque. Hp likely wont show much negative impact if you go to big (within reason). Please note on the nvidia threads provided to me above, the nvidia exhaust put on the fx50 gained no torque, that actually tells me there is STILL plenty of restriction in the fx35 nvidia exhaust on an FX50, because not only did you not gain any torque which you will get from producing more power over all, but it didnt lose any from reduced back pressure (because the 2.36 inch nvidia pipe is still a restriction). I think of it as a bell curve. And I think we are at the bottom of the bell curve and it will produce more hp and tq with a larger diameter size, but if you go to big (top of the bell curve) you'll start to see a loss of torque. Sorry if I am not explaining this one well.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------

Lastly... I think the real value of both of those exhausts (borla and nvidia) is that they eliminate the FACTORY shitty bottlenecks I pointed out above. But if someone was to just fix those on their stock exhaust I would think you'd be pretty damn close to the same power 'gains' as the borla or nvidia, because both of them are missing the rest of the equation, the need for lager pipes over all.
 
Last edited:
jonv8944s said:
...

Actually, back pressure helps to make Torque (right before to much back pressure starts to kill it) , so if you make it too 'open' you will start to lose torque. Hp likely wont show much negative impact if you go to big (within reason). Please note on the nvidia threads provided to me above, the nvidia exhaust put on the fx50 gained no torque, that actually tells me there is STILL plenty of restriction in the fx35 nvidia exhaust on an FX50, because not only did you not gain any torque which you will get from producing more power over all, but it didnt lose any from reduced back pressure (because the 2.36 inch nvidia pipe is still a restriction). I think of it as a bell curve. And I think we are at the bottom of the bell curve and it will produce more hp and tq with a larger diameter size, but if you go to big (top of the bell curve) you'll start to see a loss of torque. Sorry if I am not explaining this one well
...
Click to expand...

Actually, back pressure contributing to power is a myth. :bomb:

In for dyno results.
 
Last edited:
Where do you go for inspection the police station?


jonv8944s said:
I'm going to read those threads right now. Please note the 'LOUD' is if we did ALL the modifications I spoke of, but if you did them in PHASES and STOPPED when you felt 'yeah thats loud enough' then you wouldnt get to 'to loud.' Honestly the first increase in sound and probably easiest to do is gutt the 2nd cats. Then put it back together crank it up and go 'hmmm sounds good, lets stop there' OR 'hey I dont even notice a difference, lets do the resonators', after the resonators you might say 'thats it, stop there' or 'hmmm I really wanted it a lot louder then this' and then we'd replace the STOCK Muffler with either bypass pipes (mandrel bends) or add a performance muffler or your liking.

I guess I should also explain I had a 400 Small Block Chevy that I PERSONALLY put into a Porsche 944s (per my name on here Jon V8 944s), and that required a completly custom exhaust, which was dual 2.5 inch pipes into flow masters using H pipe design at first, then X pipe (back in the 90s I was way ahead of time with this). So yeah, this is really nothing new for me. But again I'm a DIY'er and so this will end up costing me very little, but I'd much rather just have someone say 'here is a tried and true solution.' I'd like DYNO proven data of course.. but with the small amount of fx50 modders, thats probably not going to happen.

Again my thought is, mod the stocker just enough to eliminate those horrible restrictions, but keeping it as much stock as possible, so sound levels stay relatively reasonable, and power is gained from better flow.

---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 PM ----------

nvidia exhaust looks much better, they are using an X pipe which is a bette design then the borla. But I wonder what the pipe size is for both? I am afraid if the nvidia was made for 3.5 liters, its probably not sized correctly for 5.0 liters. I am guessing, and its only a guess, that the borla is larger pipe diameter?

The nvidia tip alignment looks like shit in that russian guys car, not sure if thats do to the modding of the exhaust or just shitty JIGs at nvidia.

The 2nd thread definitely added some value, I am a little dissapointed by the lack of 'torque' improvement, which means its not going to feel any harder off the line, but it will feel livlier when your already moving, but even the 18hp isnt that big of a gain. What this tells me, is that as horrible as those restrictions are in the piping, the CATs are just as much of a restriction. OR THE nvidia piping is STILL to small for our application and thats why the gains are not as great on the fx50.

3rd thread is cool, because it shows that HP AND TQ is increased on the 3.5 using the nvidia system, because the pipe size for that setup is much better for the fx35. This really makes me think the nvidia setup should be left on the fx35 unless an increase in diameter is done to support the additional exhaust volume coming from the increased displacement. After all a 5.0 liter 8 cyclinder is displacing about 40% more exhaust then a 3.5 liter 6 cylinder. So why would people think it would be an appopriate option on a much larger displacement motor? Odd. I wouldnt do it.

I'd like to see Dyno data on the borla setup. I wish it had an X pipe towards the front. Tips are easy enough to change, that wouldnt stop me if the data proved its value.

The ark stuff is cool, and I love science as much as the next guy, but I really wonder if in practice if those 'resonator chambers' really do much of anything. I'm sure they change the sound, but would I have dissliked the sound it would have made without the chambers? Sound is so subjective, its in the 'ear of the beholder' I dont know if its just hype or creates real value.

So far, as much as I love the look of the nvidia, I am NOT interested in their 3.5 modified to 5.0 setup. I hope they come up with a 5.0 version, they'd get my money.

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 PM ----------

on the unichip thing. I am not an environmentalist by any means, but there is NO way in hell I am running CATless. Not because I care about the environment (I mean I do, but I kinda like performance more.. lol) BUT because cars stink to high hell when they dont have them. Proven many times on my own vechicles. Its why I made a rule starting with my GTR, no more catless cars!

I wonder if any of the guys who did one of these exhausts would be willing to let me hack their stocker up, and see if I can make something happen at a cheap DIY price.
Click to expand...

Fire0nic3FX said:
Don't know about other states, but here in NY you fail emmisions test running cat-less. How do you guys pass it??? lol
Click to expand...
 
tchuck said:
Actually, back pressure contributing to power is a myth. :bomb:

In for dyno results.
Click to expand...

A quick google search confirmed this... good to know. Also means based on the google readings, getting rid of backpressure can only help :), So holding true to my belief in needing larger pipes. (Interestingly enough google never agreed with your prior claim in the 'other' thread).

dwaynedadon said:
Where do you go for inspection the police station?
Click to expand...
I was used to North Carolina where any indepenently owned inspection station/gas station could do it. But in IL or at least Chicago, they have hard core State owned Inspection centers, where they dont F around. They try not to even talk to you, test your car, print out the results and send you on your way. And they know if you dont pass, and will give you a very hefty ticket if you dont get it resolved in a certain amount of time. :(

I just had my computer 'tuned' in the viper to eliminate 1/2 the required checks, and so when they connected to the PCM by way of ODB2 connector, the pcm did what it was told to, lie and say all was good :)
 
Yea IL sucks for emissions tests. Its a small hassle although i must say there system is efficient, in the sense you get there, they test, print it out and on your way as mentioned before.

Sent from my DROIDX
 
jonv8944s said:
A quick google search confirmed this... good to know. Also means based on the google readings, getting rid of backpressure can only help :), So holding true to my belief in needing larger pipes. (Interestingly enough google never agreed with your prior claim in the 'other' thread).
...
Click to expand...

Google "unicorn pictures". (Hint: they don't really exist) There is a lot more to exhaust theory (and mechanical engineering) than a quick Google search... No offense, but I'd suggest some real research before you make important related decisions. A 6" diameter exhaust pipe will not help your NA V8.
 
Tchuck,

I am not sure what your fascination is with me, but you seem to comment on EVERY thread of mine. It’s kind of ire. I can imagine Oregon doesn’t have a ton going on, so living on this forum is a hot item for you, but do me a favor, and place that attention somewhere else.

I don’t know if you have noticed but your opinion means absolutely nothing to me, if there was a 'block feature' I'd use it on you, but I cannot find that.

Please get off my nuts, and if you don’t approve of how I approach things, go start your own threads.

Your strawman fallacy, shows me once again your ignorance. I said nothing about doing a 6 inch exhaust pipe on my v8.

But hey with your FX35, you shouldnt have to worry at all what the V8 guys are doing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top