G'day guys,
The other day I visted an exhaust shop to get a sports system priced for my 03 TL. He told me that TLs already have a 2.5" system all the way through so I don't need to bother with a full system, just the rear muffler. He priced me $230 with a sports muffler and a nice looking tip. Although this is good pricing, I wasn't sure if the sports muffler that he would supply was stainless or not as I would prefer this. So I wanted to know is there any other options such as bolt-on rear mufflers available for magnas? And also would removing the back muffler make the performance of my engine that of the VRX (from 155kw and 316nm to 163kw and 317nm)?

Pretty much it will give you a few extra ponies but you won't notice it all that much. $230? Hmmm....what tips? I paid $160 for a semi-straight through muffler and twin rolled 2.5" tips on the diamante....

Correct though in the piping, won't make much of a difference at all really.

They are twin rolled tips. Dunno how big but they looked really nice. I was thinking a cannon or something instead tho but I dunno if the guy at the exhaust shop would fit a muffler that I bought at another shop. It'd be good if there were some sort of bolt-ons available for them.

G'day guys,
The other day I visted an exhaust shop to get a sports system priced for my 03 TL. He told me that TLs already have a 2.5" system all the way through so I don't need to bother with a full system, just the rear muffler.

Yes, close to 2.5" all the way, Magna wiki states:
The stock exhaust (cat back) for 3rd gens (3.5L) is quite good for a standard exhaust system. The standard exhaust piping measures 58mm (2.3") at its smallest diameter on a bend, and 60mm (2.4") along its straight sections.

Lukey make a bolt on for the Magna (muffler + piping), but the LR2779 model is the best one to go for - straight thru performance without too much noise.

Lukey make a bolt on for the Magna (muffler + piping), but the LR2779 model is the best one to go for - straight thru performance without too much noise.

Just for reference, the bolt on version part number is AL4-5597 from memory - this is basicly the LR2779 with the necessary piping to directly replace the OE muffler. There were posts here last year that they could be ordered at SCA for around $220. Not suitable for AWDs though :(

Andy.

I've been researching the lukey AL4-5597 and it sounds like a great system although what is it made of? Because I'm pretty sure the stock system is either stainless or something that is rust proof. I don't really want this system if it will rust quicker than the stock one so does anyone know what it is made of? Thanks in advance.

Stock system is mild steel. I'm fairly sure the Lukey system is too.
Magnaflow stainless mufflers are nice, I certainly like mine :). They make some nice oval mufflers with rolled tips.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/streetmufflers.asp
Can be ordered locally but eBay prices are better ;)

How old is a magna before it's exhaust starts to rust?

Do you plan on keeping it for 10 years after you've installed a new muffler?

Just to help confirm one of your other questions though, yes the muffler seems to be the biggest difference in power between the executive and VRX models.

does any one know if they make the rear bolt on section to suit the th wagon or is ot only for the sedans?

The factory do the bolt on sports mufflerfor wagons (straight through) which will give those gains stated in the owners manual for a Sports.

and were do i locate one of those from?

I am not sure that they are avail new anymore, what I did with my Wagon was use the GTV stainless muffler with new pipe to suit the wagon. I was told is only a small change to make the sedan one fit but this was incorrect as I found out quickly.

As stated above the Magna system is really good for a factory system, removing your rear resinator will not make any difference as it is straight through anyway, removing the front on will make your car sound rubbish and agian make no gain as you need a certain amount of back pressure

I am not sure that they are avail new anymore, what I did with my Wagon was use the GTV stainless muffler with new pipe to suit the wagon. I was told is only a small change to make the sedan one fit but this was incorrect as I found out quickly.

As stated above the Magna system is really good for a factory system, removing your rear resinator will not make any difference as it is straight through anyway, removing the front on will make your car sound rubbish and agian make no gain as you need a certain amount of back pressure

Well, the one Type40 gave me took 15 mins to fit to my wagon. They did use an oxy torch on the pipe to bend it to the correct shape, however.

so basically just look at a new rear muffler, reason i ask as mine is on its way out as its been hit from underneath and needs replacing ne ways so was thinking just looking for a sports box instead of a factory replacement

Thank you all for your great responces. Is there anyway to attach a rear muffler without welding as I don't know anyone who can weld well. If I were to get a new muffler welded onto my system, what brakets could I use? Just the ones on the muffler I got now? Also is there any bolt-on rear mufflers (not the whole system)?

You could call a few Mitsu wreckers and see if you can get the rear muffler from a Sports/VRX/GTV etc.

You could call a few Mitsu wreckers and see if you can get the rear muffler from a Sports/VRX/GTV etc.

Thats a great idea mate, though the sound difference probably wouldn't be much. Do they sound much better(like from the in and outside of the car)? Also would the earlier sports models (TE-TH) mufflers be less restrictive like the VRX(TJ-TW)? Thanks

The free-flowing sports exhaust only came about on the TJ models afaik. They're supposed to be very similar to the Lukey LR2779. They give a nice note inside the cabin without being too loud. It's noticeable from the outside and sounds alright too.

Ok, that might be the way to go. Is it very loud? Or because its a factory muffler, its quiet? I was looking at a cheap stainless steel muffler on eBay for $47.99 with free post. However, idk if the exhaust shop will fit this if I buy it separtately. Also, is the inlet size right (2.25")? It looks ok. Here's the eBay item no. : 260588114949. Type that number straight into eBay's search and click search. It should come up straight away.

Depends on how you define 'quiet' lol It's actually got a pretty noticable note for a stock exhaust - I've had a few people comment that they couldn't believe that it came standard. However, in the world of aftermarket exhausts, it's pretty quiet.

I wouldn't buy a $50 exhaust - you get what you pay for, and I reckon it'd sound crap. On the other end of the scale, Magnaflow mufflers are my fave sounding mufflers on Magnas, but they're pretty exxy (around $400 for muffler+tip).

The Sports/VRX mufflers are a straight through design, so from a performance perspective there's nothing to gain over an aftermarket muffler.
I wouldn't touch that eBay cannon you linked, I doubt it would do much muffling at all.
You do need a proper muffler, Magna's suffer from a very annoying cabin resonance/boom if not fitted with a quality muffler.
An exhaust shop should be perfectly happy to fit any muffler that you've brought to them. I had no problems. Expect to be charged about $50 for the service.

Ok, that might be the way to go. Is it very loud? Or because its a factory muffler, its quiet? I was looking at a cheap stainless steel muffler on eBay for $47.99 with free post. However, idk if the exhaust shop will fit this if I buy it separtately. Also, is the inlet size right (2.25")? It looks ok. Here's the eBay item no. : 260588114949. Type that number straight into eBay's search and click search. It should come up straight away.

Cheap cannon from Chinese manufacturer will cost same to fit or more than a decent muffler as it will require pipe and brackets to be fabricated and welded on. It will be very loud and make your parents and neighbours hate you and then very quickly get louder and louder as the cheap and minimal fibreglass filling inside the very thin space between the inner and outer walls collapse and burns /blows away making you a prime target for the police who will defect you and keep you on P's forever as you keep speeding well over the limit to keep the noise behind you. The only good thing is it will not rust and will make a great chimney on your BBQ. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

There is a bloke selling legal bolt on Redline/Redback cat back systems on eBay for about $330 so you could fit yourself and not need to weld

There is a bloke selling legal bolt on Redline/Redback cat back systems on eBay for about $330 so you could fit yourself and not need to weld
Not quite a bolt on fit. Approx 6" needs to be cut out of the front pipe due to the longer cat converter fitted to the TH? onwards.
I've got the Redback system, 2 1/2" straight through, mild steel, well made and very quite. I changed the rear muffler as it was a bit too quite for me.
http://neebs.ezywiz.biz/default.asp?cmd=products&ProductGroup=681&Search=magna

Ok, that might be the way to go. Is it very loud? Or because its a factory muffler, its quiet?

I have the factory Sports/VR muffler fitted to my TL and it's fairly quiet but louder than the stock muffler. I wouldn't say it is intrusive or annoying - under load or heavy throttle you can certainly hear it, but it avoids being noisy, certainly not like most of the aftermarket mufflers you hear fitted to cars these days. I picked mine up second hand from a wreckers - you could get the whole muffler and piping which would make it effectively a bolt on upgrade. I also had a Lukey fitted to a previous Magna and thought it was quite nice... louder than the factory sports muffler, but nice and deep without too much drone.

If you were to keep the factory piping, and replace the front and rear mufflers, what would people suggest for the front muffler? Just a nice, long hotdog style muffler, or something with a bit more oomph to it? And can the rear muffler just be left off, and replaced with straight pipe if the front muffler is sufficient?

I'm a welder so the labour side of things isn't an issue, and from what I've read, the factory pipes seem to do the job well enough, so if it's just good muffler(s) and no more pipe, it'll cut down costs.

And can the rear muffler just be left off, and replaced with straight pipe if the front muffler is sufficient?
You can, I've had that setup. Stock exhaust with the rear can replaced with pipe. Sounds awesome when you get up it, as is the drone at ~2000 rpm.
Seriously the whole cabin resonates and that's with a manual transmission. If you've got an auto it'll be even worse.

My wifes TH manual has the VRX/Sports rear muffler with a walker centre replacement section (direct bolt on).
Sounds awesome with no drone.
Picked up some extra horses on the way too.
Has a slightly deeper note than my TJ with just the VRX/Sports rear whilst being a little louder through the range.
No welding needed and bolted on at home in my garage.
The boss loves it, she delays changing up just so she can hear the note.

Unfortuantly I'm an auto driver, so I know I have to be fairly picky when it comes to changine mufflers to avoid shocking drone. Luckily, I have a spare exhaust system (cat back) that I can switch back in if needed.

Again, any good suggestions for centre and rear mufflers? Thinking decent straight through offset/offset 2.5" mufflers.

Cheers, Greg.

If you want to change both the centre and rear mufflers I think it's hard to go past the Redback Cat back system for $380 delivered. 2 1/2" straight through and won't drone.

But who knows what mufflers they use?

But who knows what mufflers they use?

Its a Redback straight flow through sports muffler. http://www.bestmufflers.com/redback_exhaust_systems/redback_sports_exhaust_systems.htm

So it looks like the STR361 and STR364 are the two mufflers they use. Hmm...wonder how much they'll cost me on their own?!