TRD Exhaust Installed

Pontiac, GM SPO (Service Parts Organization) & TRD (Toyota Racing Development) discussions
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Lorin
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:31 am

TRD Exhaust Installed

Post by Lorin »

I installed my TRD exhaust tonight! I ran the car through the wash first so the underbody wash could knock the road salt off for a cleaner install. Install went easy, after I put some diswashing soap on the rubber mounts so I could remove the old exhaust! Total install time was about 45 minutes, which included time searching for tools and messing with the mounts before I soaped them. I used standard ramps to elevate the rear of the car and had plenty of clearance. The exhaust was polished to a high shine from tip to flange and was shipped with a lot of protective plastic masking. The flange where the spring bolts are attached is much heavier than stock. Total shipping weight, including a huge 4'X4' box was 30 lbs. The fit was excellent and the tip is perfectly centered in the opening. As others have reported, the sound is a nice deep base at idle. For my test drive I used the same route I drive to work every day. Right away when I pulled out of the neighborhood I felt a noticable difference. The difference seems most significant between 2500 - 4000 rpm, which is right where I wanted it. The difference is less at the higher rpm's where I rarely drive although the engine"feels" like it is breathing easier. Noise is only moderately increased. At cruise is is slightly louder, while noise under load or when when slowing down with "engine braking" is much increased, but not offensive. At no time is there any mad-hornet sound, which I personally think sounds cheap. I don't have my own dyno chart, so the performance observations are subjective. However, I found an interesting link on matrixvibe.net to a muffler comparison test done for the Celica. My perception of improved responsiveness (torque) between 2500-4000 rpm seems to be supported by the chart. http://www.turbomagazine.com/tech/0209t ... index.html It looks like the stock muffler is different for the Celica, so the comparison is not direct. I bought the exhaust "on sale" from an offer on matrixvibe.net from Carson Toyota. Next week I'm taking it on a 1,000 mile road trip to Indiana and back, so I'll get very familiar with the the new sound!
Lorin2003 Pontiac Vibe GT, Neptune-mono, moons & tunes, power package, side impact airbags, rear seat covers, bumper protector, cargo mat.Mods installed: TRD exhaust, TRD stb, Mods removed: TRD CAI - annoyed by CEL
QUIKAG
Posts: 352
Joined: Wed Dec 25, 2002 6:11 am

Re: TRD Exhaust Installed (Lorin)

Post by QUIKAG »

Lorin,How do you like the exhaust now that you've had it for a while?
'03 Vibe GT monotone silver/black interior, 17 inch wheels, 6-disc changer, power packageMods: AEM intake, TRD springs, A-spec Strut Bar'01 Corvette Coupe silver/black interior, six-speed, Z51, a few mods, 12.29 at 117.3mph in 1/4 mile on street tires.
Lorin
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2003 11:31 am

Re: TRD Exhaust Installed (QUIKAG)

Post by Lorin »

I LOVE IT! (Sounds like something you'd hear on Trading Spaces doesn't it?) Seriously, it has a great sound and it has really helped out in the low end, torque wise. This is subjective of course, 'cause I don't have a dyno chart to validate it. My only complaint is it gets a little loud at my standard highway cruise of 80 mph. 80 mph happens at 3500 rpm, which is where the volume peaks. +or- 5 mph and it tames down. But for me, 85 is too fast and 75 is too slow! I rarely break 60 in my commute (except during a race) so this isn't an issue on a daily basis, and I usu. only do serious road trips with the Vibe 3-4 times / year. If I had to choose between the exhaust and the CAI, I would choose the exhaust because it seems to provide the most benefit where I drive most.
Lorin2003 Pontiac Vibe GT, Neptune-mono, moons & tunes, power package, side impact airbags, rear seat covers, bumper protector, cargo mat.Mods installed: TRD exhaust, TRD stb, Mods removed: TRD CAI - annoyed by CEL
ebslopp
Posts: 676
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:22 am

Re: TRD Exhaust Installed (Lorin)

Post by ebslopp »

Will the TRD Exhaust work on the Base Vibe also?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------2004 Base - TwoTone Neptune - 5 speed There are 10 types of people in life. There are those who understand binary and those who do not.
AKLGT
Posts: 11694
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2003 2:57 pm

Re: TRD Exhaust Installed (ebslopp)

Post by AKLGT »

TRD makes an exhaust for the base model, XR. you will spend a little more for it because of the name. If i get an exhaust, it will be a TRD one unless someone else comes out w/ a dual exhaust system w/ straight pipes out the back!
AKLGT1998 Subaru 2.5RS
cdFxer
Posts: 245
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:00 am

Post by cdFxer »

How would one find the part number of the TRD exhaust for the base Vibe/XR?Any recomended online dealers in TRD parts?
AKLGT
Posts: 11694
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2003 2:57 pm

Re: (cdFxer)

Post by AKLGT »

well, i have dealt with carson toyota in CA, Romania Toyota in OR, and Conicelli Toyota somewhere on the east coast... i would recommend any of the them, i'm sure you can look them up online. best pricing i found was thru carson or conicelli.
AKLGT1998 Subaru 2.5RS
cdFxer
Posts: 245
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:00 am

Post by cdFxer »

Thank you! I appreciate the info.
Roadpig
Posts: 119
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 11:10 am

Re: (cdFxer)

Post by Roadpig »

How does the TRD exhaust compare to the Magnaflow, as far as noise, power etc? Anyone? I'm seriously thinking about getting an exhaust very soon!Thanks
2004 Vibe GT, Neptune Two ToneGraphite Interior, Moon & TunesPower Package, 17" Rims, Exhaust Tip Mods Tinted (50% front window, 35% back & rear)Cosmo Alpha Omega 3 Child Seat & Booster SeatCustom Cargo Mat, DebadgedMagnaflow Cat-back Exhaust, Injen CAI
Psychobroker
Posts: 2492
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 6:09 am

Re: (Roadpig)

Post by Psychobroker »

It all depends if TRD's is a true cat-back, and I don't think it is.
drummerdude
Posts: 325
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2003 3:04 am

Re: Dyno Charts? (silverawd26)

Post by drummerdude »

question... when changing the exhaust... if you went with only the axle back(borla) while your in the process of changing out the pipe and (removed).. would it hurt the car to start it and drive it around the block just to see what it sounds like running straight pipe? i really want to hear what it sounds like with no (removed)!
2006 MazdaSpeed6 GT which is for sale if anyone is interested...
drummerdude
Posts: 325
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2003 3:04 am

Re: Dyno Charts? (silverawd26)

Post by drummerdude »

I'm assuming the 1000-8300 explosions per minute x4 would be quite loud!
2006 MazdaSpeed6 GT which is for sale if anyone is interested...
savedbyzero
Posts: 1066
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2002 7:15 am

Re: Dyno Charts? (drummerdude)

Post by savedbyzero »

There was a video of a guy either on this board, matrixowners, or matrixvibe doing just that! Loud.
THIS IS WHAT I DO...http://www.studiothisis.com
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