hey all, car in question is a manual TJ sports.

I'm looking at getting some extractors soon (RPW or pacies? still unsure), and a new muffler. I know the stock sports/vrx already flows quite well, but I want a nice muffler. if only for noise. I'm not getting a cannon, but I do want it to scream when i boot it.

My impression is a redback muffler is only marginally louder than stock, and the lukey one is horribly tiney? What would suit me? I seem to good hear good things about magnaflows. I don't mind spending extra on a nice muffler, if it makes a nice sound.

I'm thinking the stock system (2.4") already flows well enough, so I just need extractors and a new muffler (if only for sound)? Would I be right in assuming upgrading to 2.5" piping isn't going to give any real gain? later I may get a new intake plenum, and maybe a piggyback ECU.

let the sugestions flow!

In your position I would get pace maker extractors, magna flow rear muffler and leave out the rest. This should set you back about $1000 ($600-650 pacies fitted, $300-350 for the muffer fitted, magnaflows arent cheap).

If you have another $500 or so, Id' do the the piping inbetween + cat, especially if you plan more mods. Your correct (and well done for using the search button!!!!) that its 2.4" and flows pretty damn well for stock, but thats 2.4" at the widest straightest bits, it does get a bit smaller in other areas.

If you do the piping, be very choosey about the resonator. I had a straight thru 'hot dog' and it was raspy and V8 burbly....above 4000RPM it sounded like troop of dwarfs hammering on the piping....had to put a stock type resonator back in there. My hi flo muffler thats half the length of the stock muffler no doubt contributed to this as well. Also make sure the cat is a 'metal cat', not ceramic.

Now..

Mandrel bent vs Press bent
Stainless vs Mild steel

The above really depends on how easy you let yourself get fleeced :)

I own a Manual TJ Sports I have a set of paccies and a 2.5" Catback exhaust system with an ASX Muffler and it has one of the best notes I've heard on a Magna (not being biased).
It cost me between $800 to $900 fitted.

Thanks for the responses so far! Seems pacies are the way to go, I guess the extra cost of the RPW "race-spec" extractors aren't worth it? Anyone had the oppertunity to compare them directly? I know the rpw have longer primaries, which is supposed to give a bit more midrange punch?

Still unsure whether to go 2.5", or leave the stock piping, in leaning towards keeping the stock piping atm. Also it seems a hi-flow cat is unecessary and pricy? Obviously I can always get 2.5" piping later, but I think I would save on labour costs to get it all done in one go?

I know my questions have been asked before, and I searched thru the forums extensively..problem is there's a hell of alot of contradictory info out there, hoping to get some good clear answers.

RPW race spec and pacies both have long primaries. RPW have slightly wider primaries (1 5/8" compared to 1 1/2"). Your right again, longer primaries are better for useable mid range, and you only should consider those types.

I'm not going to say RPW aren't worth it, other members would consider nothing less. But it comes down to how much your willing to spend. As with everything like this, its exponential, you always have to spend a lot more to get that last bit of power.

hmm so the only difference between the pacies and RPW primaries is 1/8 of an inch in the diameter of the primary? What about length? Sounds like pacies are the way to go...

Hi there. Magnaflow mufflers are well built but they do drone alot i would strongly recomend a HOOKER aero chamber muffler you will get a better quality deeper sound they are strong as. They are half the price of the magnaflow's and i have also had good result's with mercury mufflers

hmm so the only difference between the pacies and RPW primaries is 1/8 of an inch in the diameter of the primary? What about length? Sounds like pacies are the way to go...

Don't under-rate 1/8th of an inch. That equates to nearly 18% more area on a cross-section.

I've had lukey rear on my first magna --horrible sound

Then a the full cat-bak Redback system on my last magna --good note not loud enough

Now a rear Magnaflow on this one -- Exteremly happy with note and loudness, very highly recommended.. Cost me twice the price of a redback or similar but in my opinion money very well spent .. :D

I've got a stainless "Powerflow" muffler and find the sound nice. If you just want a nice sound and don't care so much about outright power, go with the extractors and a good muffler. If you plan to do some extensive mods you should think about a full exhaust system and replacement cat too.

Thanks for the info guys..I'm still tossing up what to do, but im leaning towards pacies + full 2.5" cat-back with something like a magnaflow muffler.

another thing that has occured to me, would I get better gains from leaving the exhaust alone for now, and getting a set of cams? Roughly how much would that cost, including fitment? Would I see good gains with a more agressive cam, but stock ECU and exhaust? Would I need new valve springs to go with the cam as well?

Gains from a cam change can be good. How good depends on the cam profile and in the end you will be limited by the standard ECU. Usually when you upgrade a camshaft, valve springs should be replaced for springs suitable for the cam although if only very mild you may get away with standard springs.
Realistically when youre spending around $1000 for a set of cams youre probably better off spending that money to get a piggy back ECU to make the most of it.
Exhaust is probably an easier mod as you dont have to go inside the engine. So depending on whether you do the work yourself or not will depend on a labour charge and how expensive any particular change works out.

thanks for the info, seems a cam change should be done later, if I end up doing it.

searching around here, I also heard good things about the xforce, I particularly like the look of the one with twin tips. How do they compare with the magnaflows? Are there any other good brands to look out for that havn't been mentioned? Seems like the popular redback isn't really an option for me, I'm after a decent amount of noise (as long as it doesnt sound too farty/tiney).