Exhaust Woes

[Thug]

Day started off fine, drove a little to a job interview, pushed my 4Runner a little hard coming home on some backroads without problem, pulled up to a buddies house....no problem.

I come out maybe two hours later and all of a sudden my car makes a louder, almost rattling noise from the muff. At first I think something must've rusted through and made a nice whole to make that noise, but about five minutes down the road, I stop at a light and the my little V6 starts pushin' out V8 noises. Imagine my surprise when I got out (at a parking lot) to examine the pipes when I found nothing at all amiss. I can't even accurately tell where this new sound is coming from!

I looked over the Cat converter, pipe after it is fine, pipe before it looks fine, can't see up into where the headers are (I had no urge to scald myself on the hot metal) so I don't have any clue as to what's happened. I can only assume something has rattled off and/or loosened itself to the point of making a big noise. It wouldn't bother me so much except for the fact that A) i DON'T have a V8, and B) I started to feel a slight drop in power when pushed...

Now this may be a hidden blessing because I may be able to snake a new exhaust system out of this, if i play my cards right. However, it still comes to stand that I have suddenly discovered two new cylinders to my car (without the power gain).

Any ideas?

[JScullin]

It's a 4Runner??

Either way, I'd say go to Lou's Custom Exhaust in N. Reading & get yourself one done up. You'll benefit from the sound, HP gains & better mileage.

[Thug]

I was lookin' on www.truckperformance.com and found a bunch of stuff on whole exhaust kits. They've got package deals that look interesting (maybe i'm just a dumb-ass customer that fits perfectly into their demographic, but whatever.)

They've got a deal that gives you a "Fuel Injection Performance Kit Air Intake ", a " 2 1/2 inch Aluminized Steel Cat-Back Exhaust With Stainless Steel 2 1/2 inch Catalytic Converter ", and a "Heavy 14 Gauge Ceramic Coated 6 Cyl Header System " for about $857.37

Does that sound about right? Or does it look like a broke-ass deal?

[Thug]

And what the hell the rollin' eyes for?
You think you've gotta have a coupe to have a fun car?

I think you're just jealous cuz you have an automatic transmission in your "fast" car. What's the matter little atx boy? Can't handle stick?



p.s. My gas mileage is PRIMO...I've got nothing to complain about in that dept.

[JScullin]

Heh, I was trying to sell the car to get a stick but that fell through. Plus, an ATX can be made much faster than an MTX. I'm still looking for a junked Coug to swap tranny's.

That sounds like a good deal & a shady one at the same time:

Intake should run you no more than say $200
Catback Exhaust $2-500 (Aluminum)
Headers $500-1000

The thing I don't get is that they say this "Cat-Back" exhaust has a Catalytic Conv on it. Defying the term Cat-back exhaust. Unless they're throwing in a Y-pipe too (connects from headers to exhaust) which normally has the Cat in it. Least that's how it works for me.

Check to see if the exhaust is Mandrel bent too. That means that there are no creases in the bends of the pipe, it's all one smooth piping. Less loss from that.

Also, do you plan on owning this car for a while? Cause I'd go with a stainless exhaust if you can. Otherwise coat it good with something since we are in N.E after all.

[Thug]

My only problem with going ahead with this is the idea that it's an 11 year old vehicle and although it's never had an engine problem and it's incredibly reliable, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to be throwing money into an aging car...

[JScullin]

Well, try this- Go buy yourself a WantAD ($2.50) and put your car in there for as much as you'd like to get for it (within reason).

You'd be surprised how many cars are in there for $1,500 or less that are in great condition (according to the ad). Look hard enough & you'll find someone just trying to get a car off there lawn. That's where you'll find a car you won't mind investing in.