Custom exhaust shops in MA/NH?

JayBay · 10-26-2005, 12:04 PM

Any places you can recommend other than Lou's? I'm looking to have a 2.25" cat-back made up for my '92 XE. It looks like Lou's uses crush bends. Is there any place around I can get a mandrel-bent system made? Is it worth the aggravation, or should I just have Lou's do it? Will mandrel-bends give that much extra performance? Has anybody here used Lou's before?

Also, I'm looking for feedback on noise levels for a 2.25" catback, should I run this with or without a resonator? Only other engine mods are Pacesetter header and warm-air intake. This is for my track-whore, so I don't mind loud, but I have to pass Lime Rock sound limits, and I don't want to get pulled over on the way there (the car is still registered and driven to the track).

Thanks all,
Jay

boriquaracer · 10-26-2005, 01:10 PM

--dracut exhaust
978-957-8344
tell danny Roberto sent you. he'll give you a better price. he can do what ever you want. i had him do a 2.5" header back for my se-r. he does extremely high quality work.
Roberto

JayBay · 10-26-2005, 01:17 PM

Thanks Roberto. I'll give him a call. Did you do a resonator on yours? What muffler?

StYLez Se-R · 10-26-2005, 02:48 PM

are you talking about lous in worcester ??? if so they suck 2 of my boys got exhausts made by them and they sound like sh*t

sr20boston · 10-26-2005, 06:28 PM

I'd avoid Lou's as well. I've known a couple people that went to them and overpaid for "ok" jobs. I'd make some phone calls. You could always call Dent Sport Garage in Newton, but that is not close to you and would be expensive (but top notch quality).

boriquaracer · 10-26-2005, 07:29 PM

i bought a comptech resonator off of ebay for $25 and an ebay n1 style muffler for $65. with the silencer in it it sounded awesome. i also had a pacesetter header (ported and rewelded) and a 2.5"catco cat. without the silencer it was pretty loud.
my boy scott roland went up there to have his done and he had a cherry bomb for a resonator and a regular stainless muffler put on. it sounded good as well. his was 2.25".

ssnh · 10-26-2005, 10:19 PM

i mildly mod'd ga16 with just a resonator is not over the 89 db limit at lrp.

focus · 10-27-2005, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boriquaracer

--dracut exhaust
978-957-8344
tell danny Roberto sent you. he'll give you a better price. he can do what ever you want. i had him do a 2.5" header back for my se-r. he does extremely high quality work.
Roberto

Does he have a mandrel bender?

JayBay · 10-27-2005, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSNH

i mildly mod'd ga16 with just a resonator is not over the 89 db limit at lrp.

I was thinking of going with 2.25" cat-back, no resonator and just a Magnaflow oval muffler. Think that would fly?

I wasn't going to throw any more money at this car, but now that my times are getting close to the other ST4 Miatas.... maybe with the header and exhaust I'll actually be in the hunt at LRP.

What's the deal with pit space at LRP? Are there garages like NHIS, or should I bring a popup tent?

boriquaracer · 10-27-2005, 10:35 AM

no he doesn't. a crush bender. but they came out nice.

ssnh · 10-27-2005, 11:22 AM

no garages at all. pavement is scarce. be prepared to work on the dirt.

a 1.6 with any sort of muffling device will be fine. a 1.6 spec miata, with straight exhaust is just over the limit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBay

I was thinking of going with 2.25" cat-back, no resonator and just a Magnaflow oval muffler. Think that would fly?
I wasn't going to throw any more money at this car, but now that my times are getting close to the other ST4 Miatas.... maybe with the header and exhaust I'll actually be in the hunt at LRP.
What's the deal with pit space at LRP? Are there garages like NHIS, or should I bring a popup tent?

JayBay · 10-27-2005, 11:28 AM

Sweet, I love mud. I'll definitely bring the tent, and some boards for the jackstands then.

Cool - thanks, I thought that a muffler w/o resonator would be ok. I'd hate to get tossed out for noise. Are you gonna be driving at LRP?

ssnh · 10-27-2005, 11:38 AM

most likely

JayBay · 10-27-2005, 11:42 AM

Great. I'll see you there.

pitos_sr20 · 10-27-2005, 08:05 PM

Kustom Performance chicopee mass.

Boston SE-R · 11-02-2005, 11:05 AM

I dont know about you guys but if you go to the original Lou's in North Reading they do awseome work. Ive gotten two cars done there and been extremely satisfied. 2 of the other Lous are shoot-offs, basically guys that were working there and he didnt really like them so he said here you can use my name for your shop, get out of here. thats the real deal

JayBay · 11-14-2005, 10:08 AM

Thanks for everybody's suggestions, I wanted to let you all know I found a great shop in Lowell, MA...

BSM Exhaust Works
34 Rock St.
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 454-0311

Talk to Jason, the owner. They do hot rod builds and restorations, and custom exhaust work. Great shop, very clean, nice guys down there. They don't do mandrel bends on site, but they were able to order the mandrel bends in a couple days and Jason welded together a beautiful 2.25" cat-back system for me.

As for the sound... with a Pacesetter header, Magnaflow high-flow cat, no resonator, and a Magnaflow straight-through muffler - the car sounds sweet at idle and cruising around, up to about 1/3 throttle. Very throaty and powerful, no reverb or drone on the highway (and that's in a car with no interior). One you open it up, it definitely gets raspy. It was just what I was looking for, quiet enough to pass MA state inspection and not get pulled over on the way to the track, but open enough to add some grunt to pull away from those 1.6L Miatas!