Exhaust system upgrades

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

I've finally completed my GS's exhaust modification and it took just one year from last February.

My research on this project had started in November 2011 .... it was a long long way.
So I want to share my experience to the members here and hope this may be some of help to you, and be happy and appreciated if you share your impression on my results.

I had two goals on this project as below.
- To fill the tail pipe space of my bodykit's rear bumper skirt by a larger diameter tail tips replaced with the stock GS tail tips.
- Make the exhaust sound ideal for me, not too loud and not explosive hard core tone, settle the issue that the exhaust sound gets weakened over 5000 rpm and disappeared at last over 6000 rpm.

To start, I tackled with the first goal by replacing tail tips with 100mm x 75mm oval tips without killing valve control capability of the stock muffler.
To do this, I had to ask reconstruction of the outside tail piping to make space between inside pipe to accommodate larger diameter tips to be placed side by side and fit them into a good center position in the exhaust pipe aperture of the bodykit's rear bumper skirt.

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

Then I replaced the front pipe/section which has squashed bent with a custom one with metal cats expecting to achieve the second goal.

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

With this replacement, exhaust sound at start up and during idling, it gets deeper but softer by losing squashed part that may resulted in lessen treble part.
So I felt that the volume got a bit larger but the tone got deeper and gentle than stock system.
I'm not an native English speaker so it's very difficult for me to tell you what I mean but if I try to explain change in the taste of sound, the bitterness of the exhaust tone has gone and got purified.

Also, it gets better and smoother and easier to start the car from standing still and makes me feel its body weight lighter all over the rev range. Maybe the power and torque get better and throttle response also get better.
So after this, it made me more fun when starting up the engine and driving my GS in city area.

But I was expecting clearing the above second goal with the custom front pipe but still I had a problem, in over all exhaust tone and volume drop in high rev range, unresolved.
Too add, I found after several weeks that the oval tail tips I replaced with the stock tips has got its color changed into slightly gold from silver with the exhaust heat, because it is not double-walled just single wall body.

Now I started doing research on the best rear boxes, muffler, for my sound taste and it took me three months making my selection on the system.
I concluded my research to have QuickSilver MT058S Sport muffler which does not make the volume louder a lot nor the tone explosive/hard-cored and fits to my taste.
( They have SuperSport model MT158S which has no-silencer and mine Sport model has silencer )
MASERATI Exhaust
Maserati 4200 - Sport Exhaust (2002-08) - QuickSilver Exhaust Systems

For your information,
the runners-up was SuperSprint muffler with connecting pipes and it is some wilder sound in volume and tone but if I were 10 years young, I would choose it.

Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa with Supersprint Exhaust - YouTube

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

Though I chose QuicklSilver MT058S for my muffler, there remained two problems I needed to solve, both tail pipe related.
The first, it only has 70mm diameter tips which is even smaller diameter than the stock.
The second, its distance between exhaust pipes, 24.5mm, can't accommodate any tips larger than 82mm/3.2" in overall outside diameter.
As you know I was using 100mm x 75mm oval tips, I needed at least 89mm/3.5" tips to be able to fill the bumper skirts exhaust aperture space.

To resolve this issue, Nico who's a member of this forum had helped me out a lot.
He measured his car's QuickSilver muffler in detail and told me those actual figures and negotiated with QuickSilver/UK to make a special version for me after I researched quite a lot of tips to satisfy my technical and visual requirements and figures Nico had provided me to install/replace the stock QS's tips.
I was very lucky that QS stock tips are movable and thus removable to replace theｍ with others.
My requirements on tips were, larger outlet diameter than 89mm/3.5" and double-walled body, if possible oval opening, inlet diameter to slide the tips onto the QS tail pipe was 62mm/2.44" plus/minus 1mm.
There were no oval tips to fit my requirements but tehre were some round type to fit requirements, and I could not decide which will the best looking to my GS.
So I decided to make my tips changeable/detachable to QS muffler and selected four of 89mm/3.5" outlet diameter tips as candidates.
Too realize this idea/need,
Nico helped me again finding ideal pipes to accommodate 63.5mm/2.5" inlet diameter tip on its one end and at the other end to accommodate 61mm/2.4" outlet diameter QS exhaust pipe end, that means 1.25mm/0.05" thick 2.5" outside diameter pipe are needed.
Miraculously, there were some on the Internet.

As my changeable tips has 89mm/3.5" outlet diameter,
the distance between exhaust pipes of stock QS muffler, 25mm/0.98" should become 40mm/1.575" to support my tips.
Regarding this special request, QS had agreed to change outside pipe angle apart, free of charge, to make 40mm gap against inside pipe with Nico's negotiation.
Again, I was very lucky that the Sport model I chose is a built to order model, hand-made!, so they could do it just a bit extra work when making a product.
I really love and appreciate their craftsmanship on producing such a splendid product to the world.

Anyway, it took seven weeks for me to receive my specially made mufflers since my order placement.
Using this period, I gathered up all the tips and applicator pipes to make tips removable to the muffler and it took extra four weeks from reception of QS special mufflers.

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

Then I booked a workshop to replace mufflers and some cutting, welding and adjusting work on removable tips sets and brought all items to the workshop, and faced another shocking problem that the mufflers inlet pipe angle does not fit to the stock muffler connecting pipe angle and so the brackets to fix muffler to the GS body as well.

I saw and confirm the facts on site and at my sight and I had to give up replacing mufflers on that day, and come back home with nothing but a huge disappointment.
It was a completely unpredicted extra expense on my logistics plan,

so I had to wait another two months to save and make money to have the workshop fit the muffler barrel position under my car body by modifying the angle of each inlet pipe to fit the stock muffler connecting pipe and brackets but no modification on the muffler outlet pipes to which I've been dealt with for several months to achieve my tail tips requirements.

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

Here're how each of four TIPs option look like.

The seuence of pattern, 1 to 4, is the same with the number of pattern in former pictures.

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

The results were half satisfied and hald disappointed.
Saticefied:
- A look of tips in the aperture on the bodykit's bumper skirt
- Capability to replace four tips at will within 10minutes and any more variations to make if I need
- Around 5%, less than 10%, sound volume increasing especially when starting up and during idling
- Attractive sound tone from 2500rpm up to below 4000rpm
Disappointed:
- Sound volume goes down, tone does not climbing up to treble but getting weaker/husky over 4000rpm and fading out towards rev limit
- Delayed intake noise can be heard explicitly and which makes me feel like choking
( Air-flow balance gets worse and seems stagnated because muffler has less air resistance )

Finally I was getting closer to my second goal but could not get it cleared.
When I compared sound clips regarding QuickSilver MT058S Sport muffler on the Internet, including Nico's, to mine,
I recalled a report and discussions regarding 4200 header difference between EURO and US specs talked and shared on other posts in the forum.

So I decided to go to the next step that I defined it to get more power on my GS, which starts from replacing center pipe/section from the stock and get all the exhaust system updated to get much better air-flow to do ECU tuning to maximize its effect.
I forgot to write about changing air filter with BMC's when replacing front pipe/section earlier.
Therefore the center pipe/section is the last part to update exhaust system except muffler connecting pipes which part can only be able to expect weight reducing effect maybe up to several pounds.

I did some quick research because there are not so many center pipe/section choices like mufflers.
My requirements are ...
- not to get too loud
- not to become hard-cored tone, F-1 like high tone sound
- no explosive, cracking sound when releasing gas pedal beyond mid to high rev range
- no larger drone sound at low rev range, below 2500rpm, as this rev range are mostly used when cruising inside city and on highway

So my technical criteria is to have H type structure, not X type which tends to be explosive and loud, and to have modest silencing/muffling system to control overall volume for day to day use and to keep the sound smooth-mannered when releasing gas pedal beyond mid rev range.
Because QuickSilver does not have H type center pipe, I chose Larini Sports Centre Section product as below.
Maserati 4200 - Larini 'Sports' Exhaust Centre Section
4200 Larini Systems - Sports Centre Section

Below are what Larini says. ( ==>> indicates my opinion )

Enhanced Low/Mid-Range Tone ==>> very ture
Amplified Mid-Range Note ==>> very true
Sharper, Crisper, Sound Across The Rev Range ==>> true (not too hard)
Volume Increases With Revs ==>> very true
Does Not Resonate Or Drone ==>> very true (meaning better than stock)
Practical For Regular Use ==>> maybe true for most people

but a bit louder for me when starting and idling
Stunning Sound > Still In Keeping With The Marque ==>> very true

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

After replacement,
- It gives more torque when starting the car from still and easier to have tires squeal if you wish
- It roars a bit like GranTurismo when Strating up ( a bit dry and high )
>> you can see it's family, relatives
- Sound gets mellow, lesses dullness of sound
- Intake noise synchronizes to exhaust, lesses delay, can be heard alike supercharged "Mad MAX's Interceptor"
- Sound volume gets louder about 15%, in my opinion, no data
- Enough sound volume beyond mid rev range to high end
- Dramatically climbing up vivid pitch of V8 pulse and as well as tone, towards rev limit rpm, in my opinion
- Drone sound around 1500rpm to 2000rpm on stock center pipe gets starting lower, 1000rpm to 1500rpm, and does not get louder so it becomes better to use 2000 to 2500rpm in cruising around

My conclusion is,
I LIKE THIS VERY MUCH COMBINED WITH QS MUFFLERS,
especially for those having 4200 U.S. header which ruins exhaust sound/tone and power/torque of the engine.

I really love the sound of my car now after taking videos inside and
outside the car.

1) Starting up, blipping and taking off
QuickSilver MT058S Sports muffler on Maserati GranSport - YouTube

2) Start-up and revving/blipping comparison
Maserati GranSport exhaust modoification comparison on StartUp (Inside the car) - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust modoification comparison on StartUp (Outside the car) - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust modoification comparison on Revving (in a parking cage) - YouTube
Larini Sports Centre Section with QuickSilver mufflres on Maserati GranSport (Before/After) - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust modoification comparison on Revving (in a parking entrance) - YouTube

3) Exhaust sound taken outside the car
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 3 [ Over Pass, Under Pass ] - YouTube
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 4 [ Start on signal ] - YouTube
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 5 [ City driving ] - YouTube
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 6 [ City Driving ] - YouTube

4) Exhaust sound taken inside the car
Maserati GranSport exhaust modoification comparison in a tunnel - YouTube
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 1 - YouTube
QuickSilver MT058S Sport Mufflers on Maserati GranSport 2 [ Tunnel ] - YouTube

Anyway, I'm addicted to the sound now and can't stop driving around just
wanting to hear the sound at least once on weekdays, plus every Saturday
and Sunday.

Thank you for reading through my report with patience.

adam01 · Jan 21, 2013

hi there

Txs for writing up the comprehensive report.

I have followed a similar path and also confirm that relacement for the 2nd cat & center sections improves power, saves in weight and emits a slight increase in noise.

The secondary cat (2 flange US style manifold feed) is a Larini sports cat - this alone provided improvement in power and felt immmediatly. Noise over mid rev. range was a tad quiter than the OEM system - no real noticable change but reduced droneing at 80km or 2000 rpm

The centre section is Larinin club sport x pipe, will be installed this weekend - anticipate increase in noise but not sure yet to what extent, back boxes remain OEM GS but I am also installing the FD valve control kit to open/close valves remotely/ independently of the sport button.

Outcome expected:

-power increase 15 bhp+ (will dyno when complete)
-weight saving of 50+ lbs
-improved noise quality - unknown at this stage
-retain good ground clearance as FD springs are to be fitted
-noise management with remote valve control kit

vqsassa · Jan 21, 2013

adam01 said:
hi there

The centre section is Larinin club sport x pipe, will be installed this weekend - anticipate increase in noise but not sure yet to what extent, back boxes remain OEM GS but I am also installing the FD valve control kit to open/close valves remotely/ independently of the sport button.

Outcome expected:

-power increase 15 bhp+ (will dyno when complete)
-weight saving of 50+ lbs
-improved noise quality - unknown at this stage
-retain good ground clearance as FD springs are to be fitted
-noise management with remote valve control kit

Mine was also installed remote valve controller to open/clse independently of the SPORT button when I was using stock rea boxes and custom front pipe.
Now I'm using QS muffler that does not have valves to control.

TravisJ · Jan 21, 2013

Thanks for the detailed thread! :cheers:

B R · Jan 21, 2013

Very interesting & nice photos. On a completely unrelated note, why does your car have what looks like a Pininfarina badge on the back?

vqsassa · Jan 22, 2013

It is a decoration to fill the space.

ahvlanico · Jan 23, 2013

Hello VQsassa, very nice tech tips, lot of pictures, lot of technical informations, all welcome to make a choice.
I would add that it is always very hard and not 100% sure it will fitt when we make a hand made exhaust on measurement for a special order. It would have been easier to have the car in our hands to make it for you.But you are so far..
After the 177 mails between you and me or maybe more ? to talk about our passion for maserati and technical solutions to studdy, , Im very please to finaly read :

I LIKE THIS VERY MUCH COMBINED WITH QS MUFFLERS,

I really love the sound of my car now after taking videos inside and
outside the car.

It was hard, it was long but we managed ! thanks my friend you have been patient and now you have a wonderfull result.:cheers:
Bye
Nico

Dr. Gransport · Jan 23, 2013

Great write up! I generally do not like body kits but your rear end body kit looks really good! :cheers:

vqsassa · Jan 23, 2013

ahvlanico,
thanks for your patient support on my maniac requests!

Without your help, I counld not come so far and would not get the exhaust sound that I enjoy every moment day to day.

Dr. Gransport, great name!,

I'm so glad to hear you liked my body modification on GS even if you're purist.
I could not help making the rear look to be completed with the best TIP choices that I could find out.

ahvlanico · Jan 26, 2013

vqsassa said:
ahvlanico,
thanks for your patient support on my maniac requests!

Without your help, I counld not come so far and would not get the exhaust sound that I enjoy every moment day to day.

.

Thats my job ! but Im firts a car lover before to be an exhaust dealer..I always say that we do better the job when we love it.

Would you have a link or reference of your camera you used to do your video ?
Looking your videos I feel like in a playstation game "Granturismo"

vqsassa · Jan 25, 2013

Added four more videos, shifting-ups shifting downs.

Maserati GranSport exhaust sound [shifting up; Front camera ] BMC, Larini, QuickSilver - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust sound [shifting down; Back camera ] BMC, Larini, QuickSilver - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust sound [shifting down; Front camera ] BMC, Larini, QuickSilver - YouTube
Maserati GranSport exhaust sound [shifting up] BMC, Larini, QuickSilver - YouTube

Exhaust system upgrades

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