C55 Header & Exhaust Project?
#27
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G55 & SLK55
So looks like the new tally is:
1 vote for Long Tube Headers (and therefore a full exh)
4-5 votes for Shortys (that bolt to the stock exh or stock replacement)
And a couple votes for a cat back exh.
I talked to the shop & it seems that 5 commitments would be the minimum number that would get them interested in undertaking a custom header project. At this point, they suggested we consider building them from mild steel & do a ceramic coating but I'm not sure how many people would like the thought of a non-stainless header, even though with a good coating they'd last & have improved heat containment. How many of you guys that are interested have a preference in material?
I'm going to have to take another business trip (China this time) so I'll be out another week. I might drop my car off at the fabricator before I go, to finish up some mods to the CAT back. I'll talk to them about the project again.
--
Roger
1 vote for Long Tube Headers (and therefore a full exh)
4-5 votes for Shortys (that bolt to the stock exh or stock replacement)
And a couple votes for a cat back exh.
I talked to the shop & it seems that 5 commitments would be the minimum number that would get them interested in undertaking a custom header project. At this point, they suggested we consider building them from mild steel & do a ceramic coating but I'm not sure how many people would like the thought of a non-stainless header, even though with a good coating they'd last & have improved heat containment. How many of you guys that are interested have a preference in material?
I'm going to have to take another business trip (China this time) so I'll be out another week. I might drop my car off at the fabricator before I go, to finish up some mods to the CAT back. I'll talk to them about the project again.
--
Roger
#28
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Z06, M3, Mini Cooper S. Sold: C55
This project has gotten rather quiet lately... after totalling the votes & having a discussion with the fab shop, they kind of lost motivation to make these headers with barely 4-5 interested parties, as they would like to do at least 5 sets of headers per run. So for now, I'm going to just close this topic. Also, I've heard there is at least 1 other person on these boards with a header in development, so maybe there's hope for others that want them.
On another note, my car is finished with shorty headers & a full custom exhaust (shortys, 4 hi-flow cats, larger tubing, x-pipe, and true duals). We actually retained the stock C55 mufflers & adapted the inlets to the larger pipes so it looks almost factory. It sounds pretty mean, although I'm debating putting on 2 small resonators to mellow it out just a hair. Cruising is fine, but when I step on it she barks really loud! I'll see if I can post a vid & sound clip later on (in another thread) for anyone interested.
--
Roger
On another note, my car is finished with shorty headers & a full custom exhaust (shortys, 4 hi-flow cats, larger tubing, x-pipe, and true duals). We actually retained the stock C55 mufflers & adapted the inlets to the larger pipes so it looks almost factory. It sounds pretty mean, although I'm debating putting on 2 small resonators to mellow it out just a hair. Cruising is fine, but when I step on it she barks really loud! I'll see if I can post a vid & sound clip later on (in another thread) for anyone interested.
--
Roger
#29
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2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
This project has gotten rather quiet lately... after totalling the votes & having a discussion with the fab shop, they kind of lost motivation to make these headers with barely 4-5 interested parties, as they would like to do at least 5 sets of headers per run. So for now, I'm going to just close this topic. Also, I've heard there is at least 1 other person on these boards with a header in development, so maybe there's hope for others that want them.
On another note, my car is finished with shorty headers & a full custom exhaust (shortys, 4 hi-flow cats, larger tubing, x-pipe, and true duals). We actually retained the stock C55 mufflers & adapted the inlets to the larger pipes so it looks almost factory. It sounds pretty mean, although I'm debating putting on 2 small resonators to mellow it out just a hair. Cruising is fine, but when I step on it she barks really loud! I'll see if I can post a vid & sound clip later on (in another thread) for anyone interested.
--
Roger
On another note, my car is finished with shorty headers & a full custom exhaust (shortys, 4 hi-flow cats, larger tubing, x-pipe, and true duals). We actually retained the stock C55 mufflers & adapted the inlets to the larger pipes so it looks almost factory. It sounds pretty mean, although I'm debating putting on 2 small resonators to mellow it out just a hair. Cruising is fine, but when I step on it she barks really loud! I'll see if I can post a vid & sound clip later on (in another thread) for anyone interested.
--
Roger
Last edited by AMGSC; 10-13-2007 at 02:01 PM.
#30
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I was thinking about a custom exhaust solution as well. I took my car to Fast Intentions in Northridge (Custom Exhaust Specialists). Dan/Randy advised against X pipes. Any drawbacks of doing this? Did you lose significant backpressure? He also suggested getting upgraded mufflers otherwise it would still choke the flow when it gets to the stock mufflers. Is he making any sense?
#31
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2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
If that's the case, then I'm going through with my plans and will X-pipe my car as well. Did you upgrade your mufflers?
#32
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I have the factory exhuast (amg) to tone it down a bite. Imop the mufflers don't do very much compared to the cats. Btw i have kleemann headers. They delete the primaries and i had done the rear cats and resonator delete,so i had to install the cats after the x-pipe because i was not sure where to put them. Also i tried no cats and just xpipe but to loud so installed the highflow cats.(magnaflow) if you have any concern pm me i will help!!love to hear about your setup
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Z06, M3, Mini Cooper S. Sold: C55
I was thinking about a custom exhaust solution as well. I took my car to Fast Intentions in Northridge (Custom Exhaust Specialists). Dan/Randy advised against X pipes. Any drawbacks of doing this? Did you lose significant backpressure? He also suggested getting upgraded mufflers otherwise it would still choke the flow when it gets to the stock mufflers. Is he making any sense?
Also, remember that your car is Supercharged, which makes a slight difference... you have less need for tuning the exh for specific scavenging and more need to just get it out of the engine! Backpressure is a myth and isn't needed...
Last edited by rbaker; 10-15-2007 at 02:56 PM.
#34
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2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
Thanks for your logical explanation. I will approach Randy again and pass this information to him and see what he says.
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My car has headers (did not make it louder), larger pipe (did make it louder), 4hi-flow cats (louder), x-pipe (quieter & changes tone), no resonator (louder) and stock mufflers. Overall, it's a LOT louder now. If I drove it everyday it might be a bit much. But for a weekend car it's probably OK. With a SC, you might want to use some extra "bullet" resonators to help keep it quieter.
Last edited by rbaker; 10-16-2007 at 07:13 PM.
#36
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2006 Weistec 3.0L SC'd C55, 2006 MaxPsi PT6466 Turbo'd M3, 2019 Maserati GTS , 2020Alfa Quadrifoglio
BTW, run cats, there's no good reason not to... there are plenty of high flow one's out there. I don't think the factory primaries are too bad. Also, if you run aftermarket cats, you WILL get a check engine light, as most of the aftermarket cats are NOT clean enough. They may pass a sniff test, but the computer will not see them cleaning the exhast properly. This can be solved many ways however, simple as moving the rear O2's out of the pipe a little bit, or software change, etc.
My car has headers (did not make it louder), larger pipe (did make it louder), 4hi-flow cats (louder), x-pipe (quieter & changes tone), no resonator (louder) and stock mufflers. Overall, it's a LOT louder now. If I drove it everyday it might be a bit much. But for a weekend car it's probably OK. With a SC, you want want to use some extra "bullet" resonators to help keep it quieter.
My car has headers (did not make it louder), larger pipe (did make it louder), 4hi-flow cats (louder), x-pipe (quieter & changes tone), no resonator (louder) and stock mufflers. Overall, it's a LOT louder now. If I drove it everyday it might be a bit much. But for a weekend car it's probably OK. With a SC, you want want to use some extra "bullet" resonators to help keep it quieter.
#37
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Z06, M3, Mini Cooper S. Sold: C55
Thanks. I am having the Kleemann Cats (combined with Downpipes, Headers and Cams)being installed and resonators removed but did not purchase the Kleemann Cat-Back Exhaust because Vadim thinks they are not worth it cost/benefit wise. I am leaning towards the X-pipes. What diameter exhaust did you go with? I forgot the stock diameter of the C55 exhaust also.
-From exh man to cat inlet: 1.75" (yes, they're that ridiculously small)
-Cat inlet, 2 steps from 1.75" to 3"
-Cat outlet, 1 step from 3" to 2.38"
-Pipes from primary to seconday cats, 2.38"
-Sec cat outlets Y into a single 3" that goes into resonator (chambered, but with stright flow path)
-Resonator out, 2.75"
-Y from resonator single out back to dual muffs has a single joint as small as 2.25"
-Dual 2.25" pipes to mufflers
Remember this is from memory, and the real pipe sizes are metric equivalent. If you want exact #'s I'll have to check my measurements at home. But those small pipe dia's are the primary reason we decided to change all the pipes when I put headers on. I couldn't see putting headers on & having them connect to 1.75" pipes per side, then go through a single Y as small as 2.25".
I went with 2.5" dual pipes all the way back.
I wonder if AMG will ever bother with a real exhaust (esp manifolds)? From what I've seen, even the 63's have crap manifolds.
#38
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The stock pipe diameters change all over the place. I have them written down at home, but if I remember correctly they are approximately:
-From exh man to cat inlet: 1.75" (yes, they're that ridiculously small)
-Cat inlet, 2 steps from 1.75" to 3"
-Cat outlet, 1 step from 3" to 2.38"
-Pipes from primary to seconday cats, 2.38"
-Sec cat outlets Y into a single 3" that goes into resonator (chambered, but with stright flow path)
-Resonator out, 2.75"
-Y from resonator single out back to dual muffs has a single joint as small as 2.25"
-Dual 2.25" pipes to mufflers
Remember this is from memory, and the real pipe sizes are metric equivalent. If you want exact #'s I'll have to check my measurements at home. But those small pipe dia's are the primary reason we decided to change all the pipes when I put headers on. I couldn't see putting headers on & having them connect to 1.75" pipes per side, then go through a single Y as small as 2.25".
I went with 2.5" dual pipes all the way back.
I wonder if AMG will ever bother with a real exhaust (esp manifolds)? From what I've seen, even the 63's have crap manifolds.
-From exh man to cat inlet: 1.75" (yes, they're that ridiculously small)
-Cat inlet, 2 steps from 1.75" to 3"
-Cat outlet, 1 step from 3" to 2.38"
-Pipes from primary to seconday cats, 2.38"
-Sec cat outlets Y into a single 3" that goes into resonator (chambered, but with stright flow path)
-Resonator out, 2.75"
-Y from resonator single out back to dual muffs has a single joint as small as 2.25"
-Dual 2.25" pipes to mufflers
Remember this is from memory, and the real pipe sizes are metric equivalent. If you want exact #'s I'll have to check my measurements at home. But those small pipe dia's are the primary reason we decided to change all the pipes when I put headers on. I couldn't see putting headers on & having them connect to 1.75" pipes per side, then go through a single Y as small as 2.25".
I went with 2.5" dual pipes all the way back.
I wonder if AMG will ever bother with a real exhaust (esp manifolds)? From what I've seen, even the 63's have crap manifolds.
#39
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Haven't noticed any torque loss driving around the street, but I still need to log some power curves to see for sure. But really, who cares? AMG's problem is not a lack of torque, it's a lack of high RPM power. That's where they need help. So long as the exhaust adds more up top than it loses down low it's a win.
#40
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Hmm, that doesn't sound logical to me... I've never seen an X-pipe hurt the overall HP output. Also, the factory AMG mufflers are STRAIGHT THROUGH! It seems unlikely that they would hurt power either. Basically if you've seen the inside of a Borla straight though muffler, the stock AMG's are the same, except these go from a single inlet to dual outlets so there's a Y inside. Also, the AMG's have one little trick inside to help reduce resonance/drone... they have a resonant stub pipe inside to help quiet it a bit more by using reflected sounds waves to cancel out some noise. When I did my exhaust, the shop and I didn't see a reason to change them. Only thing, is if you use larger pipe, the shop will have to grind out the inlet somewhat to open it up. AMG pushes the stock exhaust pipe up inside the muffler a bit, and this is smaller diameter than you want. If the shop grinds out the weld, the stock AMG pipe can be slipped out slightly & you'll have a larger diameter inlet. That's what we did...
Also, remember that your car is Supercharged, which makes a slight difference... you have less need for tuning the exh for specific scavenging and more need to just get it out of the engine! Backpressure is a myth and isn't needed...
Also, remember that your car is Supercharged, which makes a slight difference... you have less need for tuning the exh for specific scavenging and more need to just get it out of the engine! Backpressure is a myth and isn't needed...
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Cobra/E55
For all who are looking for headers feel free to email me and I will hook you up and answer any questions you may have. ![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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Sincerely,
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