Rear Catalytic Converter/Resonator/sound

[6pack]

When I replaced my mid-pipe, I had this converter removed to see what it would be like. Well, it's loud as hell. I have the stock one and am going to weld it back in, but I didn't mark which sides were in and out. The converter isn't marked one way or the other either. Does it matter?
Thanks,
Paul

[Hunner]

Are you talking about the resonator not a CAT?

[6pack]

Hmm, not sure. The exhaust manifold has one cat in it. Then along the mid-pipe, before you get to where a cat-back would tie-in is this kind of flat oval thing. Looking inside it, it has what looks like the guts of a cat, so I thought it was, but maybe it's a resonator?

[Hunner]

I think there might be two cats and then that piece.
On my I-5 I left that and whacked off the muff planning to install something else but never did. Just ran the pipe straight out the back. Saved $800 on a "performance" exhaust with what could have been just as good results. Bought tires instead.
Can't find my original post just now but here is a follow up and other info.
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5114

[6pack]

I was pretty sure mine only had the one cat that is integral to the exhaust manifold and whatever this rear thing is. It makes sense that it is not a cat because there are no O2 sensors around it.

Thanks for that link! This guys exhaust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSPLBrvEx4c&mode=related&search= sounds good for the rpm's he's using. I wonder what it sounds like between 2-3k. Someone in that thread said he put the muffler where the resonator is and dumped it. My truck has no room for a muffler at the resonator, so I'm not so sure how accurate that is.

Right now, mine sounds like a super ricer. Which is not exactly the sound I was going for. No offense to those that like that. I would like throaty, but I understand this isn't a V8.

Right now it has the header (no cat), no resonator, Flowmaster 50 Series and dual tails that exit each side, which equals super ricer. So I thought I'd put the resonator back in, with the hopes it either quiets it, or lowers the tone. Lowers the tone would be the goal, I really don't mind the sound level if it wasn't so ricy. And I use the term 'rice' with all due respect to my rice loving friends.

So the original question stands: can the resonator go back in either way, or is it directional? And now I've kind of added the question behind the question: how to get the sound I want?
Thanks,
Paul

[Hunner]

I know in the old days those Cherry Bomb mufflers were straight thru, cause you could look thru to the other end, had fiberglass insulation in the outer tube. The tube down the middle had punctures that looked like someone had use a church key, ( pointed can opener) from inside to outside to direct part of the exhaust into the insulation.
The fad back then was to turn it around backwards so that did not happen and thus more sound.
Look in that res and see if there is something like that.
Looks like somewhere on there, would be a stamped arrow?
It's a mystery.
I like my Alpha quite but with that slight subdued V8 rumble.

[6pack]

Before I put the flowmaster on last weekend, I had a Gibson, which was a flow-thru. That sounded ricey. That's why I went with a flowmaster, I thought it would make it deeper. That was a no.

I just went to find the resonator and couldn't find it. I might have tossed it. Now I'm not sure what to do. But when you looked into it, you saw a flat surface of small squares, just like a cat's honeycomb look. That's why I thought it was a cat. And you couldn't see through it.

[Lyn-X]

I have a '06 H3 I5 3.5. I have modified the Airbox Intake for more Air to get more Exhaust out or less restriction(also PCM). GM designed the 1st Cat basically as it leaves the exhaust manifold. # 2 is the next ( little round deal) then the Resonatotor (huge hunk of round long crap) then Finally the Muffler.

The 1st thing we did was remove the Factory Muffler and Install a FlowMaster(single entry/dual exit) Then I drove it around. I liked the Power/Response Increase. Next we Hacked the Resonator and Installed a Inline Pipe. The Drone was Horrible But the Power/Response seemed as much or more as the 1st Increase. So. . . i Drove it around for several months. Well the Drone was Finally on my Nerves(wife wouldn't ride with me, LoL). Didn't want to go back with a Resonator or anything that would make me Loose any Power. Last week we Installed a Glass Pack where the Resonator was and left the FlowMaster intact. I am Pleased with the Outcome. The Resonation is only at the 2000rpm level at low speed(28-32or so). at 68-70mph highway speed(2000rpm) it is Alot Better. My H3 will work like this. Lynn

[6pack]

Thanks for the info Lyn! I might give that glass pack idea a try. I'm going beach wheeling the end of May, which is about a 5-6 hour trip down there. The thought of that drone as it is now is not making me happy.

[6pack]

Success to some degree! I put a Cherry Bomb, small glass pack in about where the resonator was. This one looks like what you were describing, Hunner, with the pushed out pieces inside. The result was the elimination of the loud noise around 2000 rpm. She is still on the ricey side but it is more above 3000 rpm. I can live with that for now.

Here is a partial picture of it in. I'm laying under the truck shooting up. I used stainless steel clamp connectors for this so I didn't have to worry about welding it. The clamp bolts heads are pointing almost strainght down to the ground. The front of the truck is to the right. The curve you can see on the left is where the exhuast goes up over the T-bar. You can just see the red T-bar at the bottom of the pic.

[federicoiz]

Hi all, I need an help. I bought a Billy Boat exhaust system ( http://www.bbexhaust.com/truck/h3t/ ).The product is good but I would love to add powerful tone to my exhaust system. My mechanic said that if I would like to add powerful tone then he needs to take off the factory central item that you can see in the att. photos (I do not know the name of the part) . My mechanic said he needs a "replacement" pipe long about 48 inches to replace that muffer). Can you help me with this thing? Thanks

If you do not find the pic att. see these 2 links

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater

[6pack]

I think that's the resonator you're talking about. There is no stock replacement for that pipe. I had a local muffler shop create a replacement for it. It didn't cost much (as far as Hummers go), about a hundred bucks.

Also, I don't think you'll get a powerful tone. The smaller engines just don't seem to make that. But you can make it better.

[federicoiz]

When I replaced my mid-pipe, I had this converter removed to see what it would be like. Well, it's loud as hell.
Thanks,
Paul

Sorry I do not understand. Di you remove the resonator? Kind of flat oval thing (see my pic att., 1). After removed it any difference in sound (deep tone)? You said it is loud as hell.

[federicoiz]

Success to some degree! I put a Cherry Bomb, small glass pack in about where the resonator was. This one looks like what you were describing, Hunner, with the pushed out pieces inside. The result was the elimination of the loud noise around 2000 rpm. She is still on the ricey side but it is more above 3000 rpm. I can live with that for now.

Here is a partial picture of it in. I'm laying under the truck shooting up. I used stainless steel clamp connectors for this so I didn't have to worry about welding it. The clamp bolts heads are pointing almost strainght down to the ground. The front of the truck is to the right. The curve you can see on the left is where the exhuast goes up over the T-bar. You can just see the red T-bar at the bottom of the pic.

Where did you buy the cherry bomb? Thanks

[6pack]

When I replaced my mid-pipe, I had this converter removed to see what it would be like. Well, it's loud as hell.
Thanks,
Paul

Sorry I do not understand. Di you remove the resonator? Kind of flat oval thing (see my pic att., 1). After removed it any difference in sound (deep tone)? You said it is loud as hell.

Yes, the part labeled as #1. It's part of that mid-pipe. I originally thought it was a second converter, but now know it's just a resonator. I cut it out and saved it (I found it after I thought I lost it), just in case, but the new pipe I had made was just pipe. It was very loud and higher pitched, almost like a dirt bike. I went back and added the cherry bomb, which helped bring the tone deeper, but it is still pretty loud. I've also noticed I get a backfire at start-up every once in a while since I removed that. I think it helped eliminate that sound getting out. I'm still searching for a different muffler at this point that will bring the sound level down.