Sports Exhaust & Extractors Upgrade

When the exhaust on my holden commodore started to get a bit rattly, i decided to upgrade to extractors and a sports exhaust. I decided i definantly wanted extractors to try and get more performance, but i didnt particularly want the car to be too noisy, as i think the only car that sounds good with a loud exhaust is a v8. I also didnt really want to pay extra for shinyness and big tips which i dont care about. Loud exhausts and big tips also attract attention from cops, which i try to avoid.

I got a few quotes for a few different setups. In the end i settled on pacemaker extractors going into a 2.5 inch mandrel bent pipe, which joined a lukey performance exhaust. The pacemaker extractors fit vc-vk holden commodores as well as wb utes. I think they are a fairly good brand of extractors, the bloke offered me a cheaper brand but i wanted good ones.

2.5" is probably a bit big for my stocko 202 black motor. But since that was the smallest size they could do me that was mandrel bent, and for some reason my heart was set on mandrel bends, i got that. It was about 30 bucks more than 2.25" non mandrel bent which i was considering. Apparently if your exhaust is too big you lose vital gas back pressure or something, which results in less bottom end torque. Oh well one day i might get some sick as performance mods and it should be ok.

After fitting the new performance exhaust system to my vk commodore, i did notice a difference. The motor would perform better in the higher rev range, accelerating quicker and revving higher. I have noticed this gives me a bit of an advantage when racing someone, the top end power helps a lot in a manual car. I was worried it would sound excessively noisy like a riced excel. I was pleased to discover that it was actually a bit quieter in some of the rev range. The idle is not loud but deeper, it is fairly quiet to about 2800rpm, is loudest around 3000rpm, then quietens off around 3400rpm. I am fairly happy about this variation, as i have learnt to be able to drive quietly when i want be noisy when i feel the urge.

With the 4 speed gearbox in my vk, when cruising on the freeway at around 110 in 4th, the motor is at about its noisiest level. This can be annoying. However one day i might chuck in a 5 speed and then she'll all be good.