QX70 5.0 Intake & Exhaust Party!!!

[PEEJ]

I dropped the QX off at a local tuning shop to start the custom intake/exhaust modding process. I love my ride, but the QX70, even at the level of the 5.0, is just much too quiet for my tastes. I'd argue that the OEM exhausts compared between the 3.7 and 5.0 are nearly identical in the type of sound generated. It's time to do something about it.

The plan:

1. K&N drop in filters
2. Create a custom intake that gets rid of the OEM intake baffling in favor a less sound restrictive aluminum tube complete with mounts for the MAF sensor in favor of an aluminum mandrel.
3. Install ARK GRiP Exhaust System
4. Install custom stainless steel test pipes
5. Osirus Uprev Tune because it'll really tie the room together

Here are a few questions that I see coming my way with regards to #2:

• Will this net you any increase in horsepower? No.
• Even with a tune? Doubtful, as I am reusing the OEM airbox which already acts as a functioning CAI and the aluminum tubing is the same diameter as the OEM intake tubing. If there is any power to be gained, it will be probably be so negligible that it will never be noticed.
• Then why do it? Done solely out of the curiosity of discovering what kind of exhaust note is hidden within the VK50. At 390 hp, the 5.0 is significantly quicker off the line than the 3.7, and with 369 lb-ft of torque compared to the 3.7's 267 lb-ft, it's not even fair to compare the two together. But what's up with the exhaust? It sounds like I'm driving a Buick! Not for much longer.

​

Completed aluminum intakes:






Completed ARK GRiP exhaust and GTSPEC rear lateral brace install:



Next up, stainless steel test pipes complete with start up, rev, and launch videos. Stay tuned...

 

[RIPnFX]

Awesome work bro, what all did you have to do to make the 3.7 exhaust work on the 5.0?

 

[PEEJ]

Just nipped about two inches off the resonator tubes closest to the x-pipe flanges. Reused the original stainless flanges. Extremely professional job, too. The welds are perfect. Can't even tell they were ever cut!

 

[RIPnFX]

Nice man glad everything worked out perfectly

 

[Themechanic]

Sickkkkkk work so far patrick!

 

[GEE50FX]

Nice work Patrick, just love it.

You are doing what everyone else wishes they could do to their FX.
Also, The bottom of your ride is cleaner than the topside of most guys rides.

 

[la_fx35]

Love the ARK. :good:

 

[PEEJ]

For a more accurate depiction of how it really sounds, slap some headphones on and listen in HD (seriously go grab some headphones):

[video=youtube;z0BFQEMUCt8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0BFQEMUCt8[/video]

Sounds amazing and the test pipes aren't even on yet!

 

[GEE50FX]

Sounds fantastic.

 

[la_fx35]

That iS awesome note. :good:

 

[PEEJ]

Nice work Patrick, just love it.

You are doing what everyone else wishes they could do to their FX.
Also, The bottom of your ride is cleaner than the topside of most guys rides.

Thanks Wayne. They don't salt the roads down here in Huntsville, but I do try to keep'er clean!

 

[meme405]

That sounds great.

 

[jbaker1121]

yay and love that you included the little disclaimer because of people like me that are annoying about it Glad you understand what (little) some things do unlike some who think changing things instantly add horsepower as if these are detuned racing engines of the 90's.

excited to hear what it sounds like once broken in. Sounds super quiet right now. Should sound similar to mine because of design of exhaust/mufflers/ etc

"

• Will this net you any increase in horsepower? No.
• Even with a tune? Doubtful, as I am reusing the OEM airbox which already acts as a functioning CAI and the aluminum tubing is the same diameter as the OEM intake tubing. If there is any power to be gained, it will be probably be so negligible that it will never be noticed.
• Then why do it? Done solely out of the curiosity of discovering what kind of exhaust note is hidden within the VK50. At 390 hp, the 5.0 is significantly quicker off the line than the 3.7, and with 369 lb-ft of torque compared to the 3.7's 267 lb-ft, it's not even fair to compare the two together. But what's up with the exhaust? It sounds like I'm driving a Buick! Not for much longer."b

 

[matrixx860]

Sounds really nice!

 

[PEEJ]

Picking the load up on Monday (BCs installed - woohoo!). I'm thinking that the test pipes won't be ready until Thursday, although the mechanic thinks that he can have them in sooner. Osirus tune following shortly thereafter.

 

[gto]

Nice sound. Sounds on the tame side. Maybe I should try headphones

 

[StuLax18]

Test pipes should open it up a lot. Need a vid under load to hopefully bring out that V8 rumble.

 

[RIPnFX]

Sounds good but I agree with gto, I thought it would be way louder. It's weird but I like how it sounds on the v6 better.

 

[GEE50FX]

Sounds good but I agree with gto, I thought it would be way louder. It's weird but I like how it sounds on the v6 better.

LOL, I love how it looks and it sounds awesome, but for me it is a bit too loud, at least it would be for my FX

 

[PEEJ]

Here's a closer approximation of the end state that I'm expecting to achieve. The difference being that he's running a Varex exhaust with a custom HFC conversion.

http://youtu.be/R-95tz8ii-0

The ARK sounds great in person. Yeah, the current result was a bit more subdued than I had anticipated, but once those test pipes have been installed, the note is really going to open up.