mufflers?

[makpilot]

hello im a new member. I have an 05 pilot.

has anyone installed an aftermarket muffler? also how did it sound? notice any performance gain?

[rocky]

If you do a search for say Borla, you'll discover that nothing much has ever happened in that department. Honda seems to have done a decent job of getting the performance out of the Pilot with no noise impact.

[makpilot]

Well im sure honda did an ok job on the exhaust, but it is to restricted. I just want to get the exhaust freed up a little. I was thinking maybe dynomax muffler with dual outlets. Also i probably would get a drop in after market air filter too. Has any one done both or either on?

[rocky]

Try the dual exhaust from the MDX. At least it fits well.

You might like this thread. As you might notice tere is precious little out there for Pilot owners.

Performance upgrades lacking?

[makpilot]

thanks for the info.

[BoilermakerFan]

I've had a 2006 4wd for a week now and I'll be installing a MagnaFlow single inlet and single outlet muffler with a double wall 3" tip and resonator once they come in to the shop. I'll post pics as soon as it's on.

On Ridgeline 4wd that have the Magnaflow muffler and resonator with K&N filter, it's good for about 2mpg on the highway. My buddy's 2003 FWD jumped 3-4mpg on the highway with his MagnaFlow and K&N filter. He gets 28-30 on the highway now with lightly loaded suit cases for a young family of 4.

ROI for the parts is about than 2 years at 12,000 highway miles a year at $2.70 a gallon using 20mpg to 22mpg of the 4wd model. I figure it will pay for itself in 3 to 3-1/2 years for me, but I'm also doing it for the throatier growl.

If Tim can get me the MDX Y-pipe, I'll go dual MagnaFlows just for the look, but I don't expect any additional power or fuel economy improvements until I install the under-drive pulley and RV6 J-pipe.

Under-drive pulley requires a new custom alternator though I was planning to upgrade to a 180 amp unit anyways, so it's just nice that I can get a DC Power unit that is corrected for the under-drive.

[humanoid]

Hey, Fan, what model MagnaFlow did you get and how much was it including installation?

[BoilermakerFan]

It's going on tomorrow or Thursday. I'll post pics as soon as it's on, no worries.

I'm not sure of the exact model. It's the side entrance, but a single rear center exit. Having a double wall angled tip welded on directly to the muffler so it's recessed under the bumper like the stock tips, but it will be a single 3-1/2" SS tip. It's the same muffler this shop has used on 3 Ridgelines with 2 from the same owner he loved the first setup so much.

Tip is $50, muffler is $160, hardware was $18, total is $227.90 plus tax installed.

To get the full benefit of the MagnaFlow, I need to get the MagnFlow resonator too, but he's out of the 22" unit and it's been on back-order for 2 months. The 22" resonator gives the J35 an much deeper tone with the MagnaFlow muffler, the 18" in between, and the 14" resonator is a littler higher pitched than stock, but close enough for most people. 22" is $140, 18" is $130, and 14" is $120. All need $18 in hardware and combined cost is installed, plus tax.

I'm waiting for Tim to get back to me about the MDX dual exhaust parts. If I can get the stock Y-splitter pipe and all mounting hardware, we're going to use that, other wise the shop will do a custom Y-splitter for dual exhaust and reuse most of the stock 2-1/4" tubing, which is just fine for the Pilot and is MagnaFlow's size on their Ridgeline kit. My muffler shop just wants to use the MDX hardware and tubing so we keep the tow hitch and full size spare clearance with proper routing.

I'll probably wait on the dual exhaust conversion until I get the new RV6 4wd J-Pipe, Unorthodox Racing under-drive pulley, and custom DC Power 180A alternator.

[BoilermakerFan]

The MF is on!

While still on the lift before I had them paint it black:




Before leaving the shop:




A wider view from the back:




And a side rear view for comparison of the tip:





I suppose you guys want sound impressions? Tone is definitely deeper and lower. Under 2200rpm it's much quieter than stock. Above 2500rpm and you definitely know it's there. Not obnoxious, just louder, much like the level of a stock Cadillac Escalade if you've ever ridden one. The president of my company has one and it's the closest sound level I can think of. Not the classic SBC V-8 rumble by any means, but about that loud inside the cabin.

This is with the stock resonator for now. As soon as the 22" MF comes in, it's going on to drop the tone down lower yet.

Oh, the Pilot probably lost 3-4 pounds in the swap. The resonator will drop another 8-9 pounds. The stock resonators are heavy!

So, my Pilot was only stock for 12 days from when I took possession. :-)

[humanoid]

Man, that looks sweet! If you can find out for me the MF part number that would be great!

[BoilermakerFan]

MagnaFlow 12255:

- 5x8 Oval Satin Stainless Steel Mufflers

My tip is the 3-1/2" version of this one, but I don't see on the site:

- Magnaflow Tip Round Angle Cut Double Wall

I came so close to having this tip put on instead:
http://www.planetmagnaflow.com/shop/...35170-471.html

I had them paint the muffler and visible piping black to stealth it more. Only the tip is bright. Much less obvious it's aftermarket until it's over 3K rpm, which I try to avoid in town most of the time anyway for fuel economy reasons.

[humanoid]

Hey, thanks for the specifics!

[BoilermakerFan]

No problem. Post pics of yours after you get it installed.

[UK78ALUM]

Originally Posted by BoilermakerFan

The MF is on!

LMAO!

I had to come back to this thread because I just realized that "MF" is short for MagnaFlow!

But before anyone says "Well, duh!" just let me say that I went away from this thread originally thinking that the installation must have been particularly difficult or frustrating, and that when complete, someone surely said ""Finally! The MF is on!"

And in return, I was thinking, "OK, well whatever it took, that is still one baaaaddd MF!"

Sorry! Must be the people I associate with that sends my mind in that direction.

[BoilermakerFan]

Originally Posted by UK78ALUM

LMAO!

I had to come back to this thread because I just realized that "MF" is short for MagnaFlow!

But before anyone says "Well, duh!" just let me say that I went away from this thread originally thinking that the installation must have been particularly difficult or frustrating, and that when complete, someone surely said ""Finally! The MF is on!"

And in return, I was thinking, "OK, well whatever it took, that is still one baaaaddd MF!"

Sorry! Must be the people I associate with that sends my mind in that direction.

It was actually an incredibly easy install. I drove to the shop, handed them my key, and opened my laptop to do some editing work on my company's web site pages. About 45 minutes later, she was done. I didn't even break a sweat!

I stopped by my Honda dealer to order the $2 screw for the key fob and they had a 2007 MDX up on the lift. They let me take pics of the dual exhaust routing for my exhaust shop to replicate it when I do all the other mods next year. Tim hooked me up with the service drawing on the MDX so I can order the factory heat shield and hardware for the driver's side piping. I'll post the pics under a separate thread.