This morning a friend and I installed the Fujitsubo Legalis-R stainless system (rear muffler + b-pipe) and JIC y-pipe. When I received and inspected the fujitsubo system I saw that the weld around the B-pipe to Y-pipe flange was lumpy, irregular, and had little holes all the way through it (long story, I bought the system used....that's another situation that is being resolved). So despite the holes we installed the system, and I really like how it sounds. I am planning to get the connection cleaned up and re-welded at a muffler shop on Monday to close up all the holes (because I don't want carbon monoxide leaking out directly under the driver's seat...), but I have a concern that may or may not be legitimate. Should I expect the sound to change when those little holes are sealed up? I would say the biggest one is maybe 1/16 " diameter (they aren't perfectly round, but I'm talking about order of magnitude here), and there are maybe 6 of these holes.

I realize those are tiny holes, but they are allowing some gas to escape before getting to the resonator in the B-pipe and consequently the main rear muffler, so maybe the acoustic quality will be affected..?

I hope not, because this exhaust setup sounds great. I know that my question will inevitably be answered come Monday, but I am just looking for some insight on the topic because I would like to know the answer in general. Thanks!

-steve

 

This thread needs some photographs.

 

hahahahahaha. We have a few of those photographs in our family tree book. I am happy to see that everyone's ancestors were that ugly.

Ok, here are a few I snapped during my receipt inspection:








Ok so there are 3000 words for ya : )

 

looks pretty crappy but the sound is not going to change

 

I can't imagine those small holes would have an impact on the sound quality. Wow, make sure you get a good welder to patch those or redo them altogether.

 

Looks like the handy work of a poor welder or a stray bird after a visit to Taco HeII. Those welds are not from the manufacturer.

 

Agree. The holes are minor and making no noise. After repair, exhaust noise will be the same.

 

well yup... those are definatly cracks...

take it to a muffler shop (on or off the car) and have them re-weld it before it completely cracks into two (which it will do in a little bit)

 

Yeah I am going in first-thing tomorrow morning to have them work on it. I installed the system on saturday and tomorrow is the first time they could get to it. I'm still not sure why this flange was ever re-welded in the first place, but luckily it seems to have been welded in the right position because the system went together pretty nicely.

Here's another thing though. When I rev the engine unloaded, coast down in first or second gear, and sometimes even when I am accelerating I hear a rattle/buzzing coming from underneath the car. It almost sounds like there is something rattling around inside the resonator in the b-pipe. I had a similar sound from an aftermarket cat-back system on my previous car but I never found out what it was. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

Sounds converted to text on a forum are always hard to describe and isolate. Could be something inside but I'm thinking it is more likely to be making contact with your body/chasis/drive line etc. Take a close look from the underside at the areas that have the least amound of clearance to look for evidence of contact. Could be a simple adjustment and you are all set.

 

Is it a rasp sound? I got that when I installed my test pipes with my greddy exhaust. Happens around 3-4K rpm range.

 

Not sure if I would call it rasp. Sounds like an internal rattle. I'm not real familiar with the inner structure of these resonators...is there anything in there that can break off and rattle around?

 

Those welds look like crap! Get the flange cut, the welds ground down and re-welded correctly b4 they end up breaking. Don't look like that is a manufacturer weld.

 

a small hole or crack is definately noticable...believe it or not. my hf crawfords had a small crack but i could tell immediately that there was a change in the sound and a problem. i had this corrected by taking it to a muffler shop where they have experienced welders and had them recheck the system for leaks. a muffler shop will know what to do and give you the best advice...just my .02