[radelman70]

Hi All,

Bought my 2010 SE right at the end of the year and love it! The one thing I don't like is that there is a single exhaust and want to change this. But I need help. I'm kind of a newbie to car stuff as I've always been more practical, but since I got my Challenger I've spent a lot of time online reading and learning all that I can. What I've found is that there is a lot out there and even more opinions. Since I've benefitted from this forum so much I wanted to get you all's (yep, I'm down in Texas) input to help me decide what to do. So here goes...

A few parameters up front. 1) I'm trying to keep the costs down as I don't have $1000 or more to put into this product 2) originally wanted to look of dual exhausts, but finding sound is more important as I get further into it. Don't want rice, but also don't want to wake up the neighborhood when I leave for work in the morning 3) I'm very concerned about drone and want to minimize it as much as possible 4) don't want or like Borla so it is not going to be part of the project 5) I've got a shop that said bring my own mufflers, tips, resonators and he will install for $150.

Based on my limited experience reading, researching, emails, youtube, visiting a few shops and talking to manufacture's tech lines I have come up with 4 possible options. I would appreciate comments/suggestions/info on what you know and think.

Option 1
Keep the Y pipe after the cats and go to either Flowmaster Super 44 or Series 50 single in/dual out. Probably would add some resonators near the tips to reduce the drone. I don't know much about what resonators to use.
Positives: This mimics the aftermarket systems from Flowmaster and Magnaflow that are much more expensive. Probably cheapest way to go.
Negatives: Not as much flow as a dual system

Option 2
Dual system with an X pipe after the cats. Use 2 Dynomax VT mufflers as they are advertised as no drone. No resonators. Use 2.25 inch pipe for all. Do I need the x pipe? Heard a lot of different stuff on x pipes.
Positives: Supposed to be no drone. Quiet at idle and loud with WOT.
Negatives: Not many youtubes out there for V6 with Dynomax VT mufflers. Concerned about valve in muffler - first run had some problems but that supposedly is fixed now. Dynomax did extensive testing on system with over 2 million operations.

Option 3
Dual system (with X pipe?) using either 2 Flowmaster Super 44 or Series 40 mufflers and additional resonators near tips. Again, which resonators?
Positives: Know from youtube what Flowmaster will sound like for the most part.
Negatives: Drone?

Option 4
Dual pipes from cats to Flowmaster 9525454 dual in/dual out system. Add resonators? I put this one in there because on person got the Force II but didn't like the Series 50 single in/dual out. He put this dual in/dual out in and likes it much better sound wise. Don't know if there is any advantage here to this. I should note that the Flowmaster tech on the phone said I shouldn't do this.
Positives: One muffler so cost would be less
Negatives: Drone?

Have at it and let me know what you all think. Look forward to hearing from all you experts.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[radelman70]

Well, I'm a bit surprised no one replied to this.

I did make a decision and just ordered an x pipe and two Flowmaster Super 44 Mufflers. I will do dual from cat to x pipe then to separate mufflers. I will try it with no resonators and see how it goes. I can add the resonators in later if the drone is too much for me. Hopefully, I'll get everything this next week and get them put on next Saturday. Will try to take video of before and after and post here.

 

[ghost24]

radelman70,
I for one am happy you posted these questions/concerns since I too am on the same boat as you. I have read so much here in relation to making this mod to my 2010 Challenger SE, plus checked the many, many videos on this subject but am always left not knowing which one is for me. I am aware that in the end it is all about personal preference, but since you share exactly the same want and needs as I do, I thought I would follow this thread instead.
I almost feel inclined just to get an automatic R/T system but think that I would be missing out on the much desired muscle car sound.
One thing I haven't been able to find info on is in regards to the new dual exhaust that comes standard on the 2011 SE's. Wonder if would be possible to install these on a 2010.

Please do share some videos once you get the work done.
Looking forward to your opinion.
Best of luck.

 

[hubcap]

I am too looking forward to your results!

 

[Rafiki24]

I'm following your thread as well.. goodluck and let us know what this is all costing ya

 

[radelman70]

I think Ghost24 brings up a sentiment that a lot of us here have. I know that I have had a lot of fun reading and learning as I'm a noob to much of it. But after reading and listening to youtube clips and talking to people I found that I could let it go on for a long time and never get to a decision point. I will say that when I first started, I found my mind changing quite often but as I got further into it, things became a bit more focused on a couple of options. Finally, I just made the decision. If it ends up being the wrong decision, well, I'll just have to save money over the next few months to change it--and hope that I get it right then. I hope, though, that the setup I have picked will work for me.

As for price, here's what I have in the system so far:
$65 OEM tips
$29.95 Flowsound X pipe (ebay)
$125 for 2 Flowmaster Super 44 2.25 inch offset/offset mufflers
$20 Stick-on heat shield (some say you don't need it, but I'm going to order it)
$150 shop installation with 2.25 inch piping
All told $375 roughly. I was hoping to be closer to $300, but I budgeted on $300 to $400 for this.
I should note that I plan on cutting my rear fascia/valence in the next few days. I have a dremel tool and if I measure and mark it right it should be no problem. Just got to remember to measure twice, cut once or it may cost me an extra $65 or so for a new fascia/valence.

I did take both exterior and interior videos today of my SE with the stock system on it so when I get the new system put on, I will have something to measure against.

Will keep you all posted.

Rob

 

[ghost24]

Hey Rob,
now that you've spent a little more time with your exhaust setup... how do you feel about it?
I'm asking because I'm feeling torn between getting an R/T 6 speed system vs. your system.
I can't find anyone locally that has the R/T system so I would have to spend the extra $$ to have it shipped. So with that, why bother if I can get a new system like yours and hopefully get the added sound.
Therefor I am inclined to go your route as well.
Just wanted to see how you felt about your current setup first.
Have you added the resos back in or are they still out?
Any help would be very appreciated.
Best.

 

[arcanesays]

I'm very interested in your results

 

[b1pig]

man... i'd be just giddy to have a stock R/T system....

cant find one in my price range. (free to $100) :fight:

 

[HexiumVII]

Awesome Radelman, I'm ready to do a very similar setup to yours. The super44 are probably going to be best sounding for the price. I got a Charger superbee exhuast, but it sounds almost the same. I was contemplating about the flowmaster FII 409s complete set, but I'm afraid it would be too quiet. Now I just have to figure out what resos I might get. Let us know how your systems sounds and maybe post video!!

 

[dogonmut]

I'm running true duals with Magna Flow mufflers routed through 2.25" tube. It's mellow when cruising but LOUD when you stand on it. Below 3000 RPM's it's a nice rumble. Above that it gets higher in pitch. Not "ricer", just not that caramelly delicious sound a V8 makes...it's a V6 after all.

There is drone in the cabin at any speed and it obviously gets louder the more you push on the go button. I don't mind and actually like it. If you're use to and want a quiet ride inside, you'll hate it.

A good, quality, reputable, custom muffler shop should be able to put on a set of true duals with mandrel bent tube, Flow Masters and nice tips for under $400. If you wanted to add short glass packs to quiet things down and reduce drone, about $500. If you wanted a 2 in/2 out single muffler (not true duals), $350 would be a fair price.

 

[radelman70]

Well, I've had my system on for a several weeks now. When I first got it, I loved the exterior sound and got a lot of great comments about how good it was. But as expected, I had drone. None over 50 mph but mainly in lower speeds based on RPMs. My wife didn't say anything about when she first drove in the car so I thought I'd give myself some time to get used to it as I may have been overly sensitive to the drone because I read so much about it. After about week, I decided to put some resonators on as this is an everyday drive to and from work--and my drive doesn't get over 50 mph. So I ordered some $15 Jones 12 inch resonators from Summit Racing and put them on. It certainly quieted down the system--probably more outside than inside though. Still sounds good outside, but not like it was. Inside did reduce the drone a little bit, but not near as much as I would have liked. Right now, the drone seems to really be in the 2000 to 2500 RPM range so again, the lower speeds get hit when on the throttle. I can live with the drone for now, but I definitely plan on doing more to get rid of it. At this point, my options are:
1. Take the Super 44s out and replace with Series 50s. The 50s are three chamber and should reduce the drone substantially. The drawback is that these about $100 a piece. I could probably sell the Super 44s and recoup some of that, but still it is more money.
2. Probably the safest route, but the one most uncharted is taking the Super 44s out and putting Dynomax VT mufflers in. These are the ones with the valve and are billed as "no drone" mufflers. The problem is that these too are $100 each. Additionally, the unknown part is that there just aren't many videos on youtube to see how they sound. I'm leary of something that I don't have a great idea of what it will sound like outside, but it would certainly be no drone.
3. The last option is still a month away. I called the Flowmaster tech line yesterday and was told that if I can wait a month, they will have a new resonator that would work very well for me. He said I could get a Hushpower, but it would cost more and this new option would "work better" for what I'm dealing with. He didn't know price, but should be relatively inexpensive and cheaper than my other two options. I inclined to wait it out and see what these are. Would be nice to have an all Flowmaster system if I could and even better if it reduced drone and still sounded great on the outside as the Flowmaster sound is top notch in my opinion.

I think the bottom line in all this is that it has been a learning experience. And this has been the biggest thing I learned--drone is very important if it is an everyday car. Outside sound is nice and what got me, but how much of the time do you spend outside your car listening to it? Very little compared to actually driving it! So getting a system with the least amount of drone should be high the list for those considering a dual/new exhaust for their SE. I will report back later and hopefully other folks can learn from my experiences.

 

[ghost24]

Hey Rob,
thank you so much for your detailed response. Very useful information.
Also, I'm sorry you're still not happy with your setup. You did a ton of research and still ended up with an issue.
As I said before, I think I'm on the same boat as you as far as what I hope to achieve with a new exhaust.
I am also glad I read your response yesterday, especially since I was just about to pull the trigger and order 2 Flowmaster Super 44's.
So now I'm back to the beginning as far as my "ultimate exhaust search" goes.
I did order the SRT tips from takeoffautoparts.com but still need to make a decision on the actual exhaust. This has become more difficult than I had expected.
My drive usually doesn't get over 50 mph as well but there has got to be a good system that can produce the desired exterior tone minus the dreaded interior drone.
A nuance doesn't bother me but too much and I know I'll get tired of it pretty quick.
With all that said, I wish you good luck on your search.
I will post anything I find on my end as well.

 

[ghost24]

Just wanted to check on what you ended up doing with your exhaust. Have you heard back from Flowmaster with the "new solution" to eliminating the drone, they told you about.

 

[toupare17]

If you have one, would you post a video? I would love to hear how it sounds from the outside!

 

[radelman70]

I have not heard back from Flowmaster...the Flowfan member on this forum said he would check into it and get back to me. When I hear back I will be sure to post here.

 

[ghost24]

Hey Rob,
It's been a while since I checked this thread and believe it or not, I still haven't replaced my single exhaust for a dual.
Just wanted to check on what you ended up doing with yours. Did you ever hear back from Flowmaster or decided to keep the Super 44's?
Thanks in advance.

 

[radelman70]

So far I have kept the Super 44's. I did hear back from Flowmaster and this new "solution" of a resonator of sorts won't be out until the fall. I'm not in a hurry as I put some $15 resonators on right before the tips. They helped quite a bit, but I'd still like to reduce the drone. In reality, other people riding in the car don't notice it unless I mention it so maybe it is just me. I plan on keeping everything the way it is for now. If the new Flowmaster solution is good and at an affordable price, I will give some serious thought to getting them. We will see.

 

[ghost24]

Hey Rob, just came here to chek if there was any update to your drone issue.
I ended up installing a single in/dual out Jones Full Boar muffler with pipes to the tips.
Love the sound, however am also getting the drone inside.
I have it at exactly 1500rpm's while driving in between 40 and 50mph.
Also looking for a solution and one of them was to add glasspacks near the tips.
Did you go with the Jones glasspacks for any specific reason? I know they helped you a little but not 100%.
I want to start out by imstalling se glasspacks as well to see if it fixes the issue but not sure on which is the best for this situation.
I'm also assuming you jave still yet to hear from Flowmaster with there resomator solution.
Any help would be appreciated as always.
Thanks.

 

[jedwards986]

Option 4 with resonators. Good sound without roar.