Exhaust Parts

[David R]

So several years ago I had to replace the flex-pipe and 2nd cat section. Now its time for another piece of the puzzle.

The first muffler as its called in the EU, maybe resonator over here has rotted through at the output end, the wall around the exit pipe. The exit pipe seems ok and the final muffler seems good as well.

I've had no luck finding a direct replacement. I'm thinking generic resonator or maybe just straight pipe to connect the two remaining sections together. Can't seem to identifiy the pipe diameter, 2" or 2.25"? Anyone have any thoughts on sizes or options?

The car has 260K km on it, with rust poping up here and there. Not thinking on going much further with it, but not ready to scrape itn yet either.

[AstraFasta]

I don't know the diameter of that pipe. Replacement resonators are available from Europe at reasonable prices and the thread below might help.

Another option is to have a local shop just weld in some pipe (you could add a generic resonator. The Chevy Cruze 1.8 resonator appears to be a similar size so might be worth considering).

BTW - Our muffler fell off so behind the resonator we have a straight pipe until we get that fixed in warmer weather; it is a bit noisy and irritating on the highway.

Also, some European exhaust kits are sold without resonators; I suppose the drone would be different.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=273295

[David R]

AstraFasta thanks for the response.

I think I have you beat for noise under the car, see photo. Everything I do is on the highway with hills. On flats or downhill I can feather the gas to quieten things down. Acceleration and hills are brutal.

I had hoped when I posted that some North American reseller had stepped up with some exhaust parts. Great list of part numbers in the thread you provided. I can say that I have the SS front section from Mufflerexpress and it was perfect. Well except for the provided bolts. Wrong length, bolts come up from the bottom. As I recall there isn't enough room between the Cat and Flange for bolts to load from the top. I still have one stud left.

I'm still on the fence regarding bring parts over from EU (1 can = .68) or UK (.60). Straight pipe or generic glass-pack muffler is where I think I'm going. I have a list of things I should do on the car, but it seems the rate of aging is accelerating.

I measured the length of the first muffler at 29" not including pipes, by line of sight. Mounted a 39" ruler on a broom and reached under. Don't know the diameter yet.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by David R

AstraFasta thanks for the response.

I think I have you beat for noise under the car, see photo. Everything I do is on the highway with hills. On flats or downhill I can feather the gas to quieten things down. Acceleration and hills are brutal.

I had hoped when I posted that some North American reseller had stepped up with some exhaust parts. Great list of part numbers in the thread you provided. I can say that I have the SS front section from Mufflerexpress and it was perfect. Well except for the provided bolts. Wrong length, bolts come up from the bottom. As I recall there isn't enough room between the Cat and Flange for bolts to load from the top. I still have one stud left.

I'm still on the fence regarding bring parts over from EU (1 can = .68) or UK (.60). Straight pipe or generic glass-pack muffler is where I think I'm going. I have a list of things I should do on the car, but it seems the rate of aging is accelerating.

I measured the length of the first muffler at 29" not including pipes, by line of sight. Mounted a 39" ruler on a broom and reached under. Don't know the diameter yet.

Get this from eBay. I wouldn't trust the local muffler monkeys with any custom work. Yup, it's a shame that Canadian outfit doesn't come through with a piece like this. They have the front part.

[David R]

Well in the end I got a local auto repair garage to weld in a piece of straight pipe. I couldn't drive the car and keep my sanity. Just to loud, basically a straight pipe exhaust venting under the rear seat.

Its much quieter now. Mostly burble near idle, not to annoying. Notice a bit of a raspy note at highway speeds. In my Astra, rolling tire noise and sympathetic engine drone are the main noise now. From day one for me engine vibration has coupled straight into the cabin. Sounds like the exhaust is gone (@2500 rpm) if I have the back seat down. Tried changing out the mounts, actually got worse.

My only other comment is regarding the shop I used. They got in there cutting so quickly without asking for any details they cut a good chunk out of the front section pipe. Now if I do bring the first muffler over it will come up short of fitting. I was still on the fence about that as it was looking like $200+ cda, not SS and I'd still have to install it.

Oh well the beast drives on...