What a difference a backbox makes......

[hugepiece]

Spent all yesterday afternoon in the pouring rain swapping whole exhaust system for new std backbox, ss intermediate pipes and linked de-cats. First the old system fell apart as I took it off! Then I gave myself a black eye as I conket myself in the head with my socket but thats another story. Today took the car for a drive - cant believe how much more power it has, ok I know its wet but the car spins up in 1st, 2nd and 3rd without even trying, felt as if I couldnt get any traction at all in this weather. I'm assuming one of my old cats was blocked or something, I do know the old backbox had a gaping hole in the top! I've gotta say i actually felt a bit aprehensive due to all the extra power, its like another car - smile on face was actually bigger than normal - it also has the side effect of me laughing like a lunatic every time I hit the loud pedal! man I love this car.......the only downside is it doesn't pop and bang as much as before ;-(

[JensenA]

Glad you got it all fitted Steve. Like you I reckon de-cats and a standard back box is the best set up. My standard back box and de-cats 'pops and bangs' brilliantly, you probably just need the engine set up, or just get the lap-top on and re-set the adaptive maps to start it from scratch. What do you think of the [i]sound[i] compared by the way?

[hugepiece]

its waay waay quieter before but a nice crisper raspy type sound. Didnt really get to give it too many beans so not sure what its like at high revs. Will see when it dries up. I suppose it does sound much classier but not decided if I "prefer" it now or not, as far as power goes I can't argue it seems much pokier now. I really miss those pops and bangs though and hope I can get them back. I'll get onto trevorclevor and order up a data cable - havnt got round to that yet.

Edited by hugepiece on Monday 28th May 19:59

[Ireland]

So I'm not the only one thinking about doing this "downgrade", eh?

[Simond001]

run this combo, sounds the nuts and does seem to go better.

[JensenA]

hugepiece said:

.......... I'll get onto trevorclevor and order up a data cable - havnt got round to that yet.

Edited by hugepiece on Monday 28th May 19:59

A standard PC World (or courtesy of our IT Dept)Serial Cable works on my '99 4.5

[Ireland]

It was mentioned in the equivalent parts thread that the back boxes can be got off the exhaust manufacturers.

Is a part number needed?

If so, does anyone have it?

[hugepiece]

Apparantly Magnex make the standard exhaust but its not listed on any website, I rang around some Magnex dealers and none of them had it on their system. Also emailed the manufacturers direct and they never bothered coming back to me - that was about 4 months ago.......

[InverCerb]

I have a standard exhaust and fitted decat pipes last month. It’s almost a perfect balance of noise, pops n bangs, versus respectability, but there are still occasions when I find the engine mechanicals too loud from the cabin… those are the times I wish the exhaust was really obnoxious