Exhaust Tuning Question (PSA AVOID StageFP)

[oldman_stew]

Hey folks,

I originally had my car tuned by StageFP for catless headers. It has been a NIGHTMARE trying to get a re-tune done (2 months of little to no communication/inability to get the process formally started). Given this experience Id stay away from them.

I would rather avoid dishing out another 500 USD to get the ecu re tuned for stock manifolds. Im looking at the Magnaflow exhaust manifolds (50290, 50292) and they are 200 CEL catted. Would the 200 CEL flow rate be sufficient enough for a tune with catless headers?

Id like to avoid catless headers if possible. Dont want the car to sound crazy loud but if need be Ill install them and try to re-jig the mid portion of the exhaust (secondary cat/resonator) to try and quiet down the exhaust tone. Is there a cat people would recommend to help quiet the exhaust volume? Further, would you run a second muffler in line or a resonator? Right now I have the Magnaflow cat back (muffler and resonator) and it’s great sound wise.

[AmuroRay]

What's the issue with the tune?

[oldman_stew]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

What's the issue with the tune?

Tuned for catless headers. Im going to stick with the oem catted manifolds (perhaps buy those higher flow Magnaflow ones if I can get away with it). Sound wise the car is at a perfect level.

Its an understatement to say trying to get a re tune set up has been a terrible experience.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by oldman_stew

Tuned for catless headers. Im going to stick with the oem catted manifolds (perhaps buy those higher flow Magnaflow ones if I can get away with it). Sound wise the car is at a perfect level.

Its an understatement to say trying to get a re tune set up has been a terrible experience.

It will drive with the stock headers and tune on there still. But things like Cat overheat protection, and possibly less overlap in the lower rpm range would be less ideal.

[oldman_stew]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

It will drive with the stock headers and tune on there still. But things like Cat overheat protection, and possibly less overlap in the lower rpm range would be less ideal.

That’s good to know. I had the tune done awhile ago but was back and forth on installing the headers though. I dont drive the car hard or for long periods of time so hopefully no issues.

[oldman_stew]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

It will drive with the stock headers and tune on there still. But things like Cat overheat protection, and possibly less overlap in the lower rpm range would be less ideal.

Curious-would these be sufficient to run with the current catless header tune without risk of damage? They come in 100, 200 and 300 CEL cats.

high flow catted headers

[AmuroRay]

They would work.

[carscatscoffee15]

1. You said you'd rather avoid paying 500 bucks for a retune... Unfortunately, that's not how it works with these cars.. do it right or not at all. StageFP did their part by giving you what you wanted the first time. Their time and effort in an updated tune has value. Your decision to revert comes with a cost.

2. Should have kept stock cats, would have avoided the cats issue altogether.

3. Also, do you have your secondary cats/stock res currently on the car? If so, the car isn't terribly loud compared to it fully being straight piped (no primary/secondary cats)

Hopefully you were able to resolve your issue. There's other tuners you could have gone with as well (Kassel Performance in PA for example)

[Olgeezer1]

AFE also makes a catted header / exhaust manifold with sport cats, I believe 300 cell. Might be another option for you.

[2tonik]

Stage FP did my DISA conversion, AA header install, and tune. Their work was excellent and they are very nice guys.

However, I have very sensitive hearing (hypersensitivity and tinnitus) and before purchasing the headers and having the install/tune done they claimed that with an otherwise stock exhaust system, the car would be "only slightly louder than stock". I've done headers before and on other cars and ended removing them due to the significantly louder result, and didn't want the same experience this time. When I got the car back from the header install and tune, the increased power level and delivery was awesome - but the car was waaaay louder, at least ten dB, which is ten-fold increase and perceives as twice as loud. Max interior sound levels were over 80dB, which over time can cause hearing loss. Far more than "slightly louder than stock"

After speaking with Stage FP they offered to take a look at what they could do to quiet down the car without removing the header. I also consulted with an exhaust specialist in the area (RJ's Custom Piping - great guys too, and equally skilled), and ending having RJ's construct a J-pipe quarter-wave resonator (mounted just before the muffler) that is designed/tuned in length to reduce drone in a specific frequency range. The J-pipe helped, but only around 2-3dB and mostly in the 125hz range, which was the loudest part of the spectrum. Car was still way too loud.

With further research I discovered a product called CC Inserts, made by Car Chemistry. This product is an internal baffle that is mounted inside the existing exhaust tubing - and it works very well in quieting down the car without creating too much, if any restriction. I bought two 2 2" diameter 3-baffle inserts and had them installed directly in back of the header inside the mid-pipe sections. As measured in the car with an A-weighted sound meter the reduction was -6dB which combined with the J-pipe quarter wave resonator 2-3dB reduction is massive improvement and gets the car close to stock levels of noise, perhaps only a couple dB louder if even less.

Cost for the J-pipe material, fab, and install was around $500 and CC Inserts cost $167.00 plus around $500 install charge.(I don't know where I put the receipts)

Car Chemistry claims the inserts create little to no loss of flow, and they have dyno tests on other engines that back up that claim. My butt dyno feels like a few HP/TQ may be gone and throttle blips are a hair slower, which would suggest there is some amount of increased restriction in the exhaust.

But, even if there is a very slight loss of additional HP/TQ from the header combined with the inserts that is a win for me - the car is tolerable now and still making way more power than stock.

I highly recommend the CC Inserts.

I emailed Stage FP over a month ago to see about getting the car on the dyno to see exactly what numbers it's making now, and they have not responded to my email. I really like the guys and their work, and want them to be successful, but they really need to improve their customer interaction.


https://www.carchemistry.com
https://www.carchemistry.com/3-disk-insert-2-diameter/

https://www.rjscustompiping.com