What does the original "Stage I" sound like?

[Farrar]

It sounds something like this.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njozBUMU2Us

I decided to set up the video camera across the parking lot and just zoom in on the car. Apologies for having to look at me and passing traffic.

Farrar

[1batt4u]

Do they use a magnaflow muffler for the stage I setup??

[Farrar]

Do they use a magnaflow muffler for the stage I setup??

I have no idea. I have read that the current setup differs quite a bit from the first incarnation in at least two ways: first, it is all stainless steel; and second, it includes an ignition upgrade.

Farrar

[DMCMW Dave]

Since yours was made there have been several changes:
1 stainless
2 deleted ignition parts
3 revised muffler (thinner)


Sent from my Droid
Sorry for all the edits..........

[Farrar]

2 deleted ignition parts

Dave -- that's interesting! I thought ignition parts were added, not deleted. Can you be more specific?

Perhaps my car does not count as "Stage I." I just looked up the receipt. It lists part number GT114001 with the description "Performance Exhaust." I assumed that was what "Stage I" was in 2006, but I've been wrong before. :)

Edit: the receipt is from DMC Florida, not Houston. Not sure if that makes a difference.

Farrar

[Ozzie]

Well, apparently then, there is a version 3.0 of Stage 1.

Stage 1
Version 1: What Farrar has.
Version 2: What I have (All stainless + ignition system)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UwOaZVdpdM
Version 3: What Dave wrote above.

[Farrar]

Stage 1
Version 1: What Farrar has.

Well ... that's assuming what I have was actually called "Stage I" five years ago and not simply "Performance Exhaust." I was told my car had "Stage I" but the receipt says "Performance Exhaust," so perhaps what I have is not (and never was), technically, "Stage I," which crosses me off the list. If that's the case, then there have only been two versions.

I will wait for confirmation from Dave or another DMC expert. :)

(Perhaps after a while I will have to ask a moderator to change the title of this thread to "What does the original DMC 'Performance Exhaust' sound like?" ;))

Farrar

[dmc6960]

Waaaaaaaay back when DMC first released their performance engine upgrades, it was the original (upgraded) exhaust, coupled with the head work and camshafts. At that time it was called the "Stage I" upgrade. At some point, I don't remember when, they released their exhaust as a standalone upgrade (Performance Exhaust). Stage II was planned to be fueling upgrades to the engine (EFI). There was an experimental EFI engine in the 2004 show car at Pigeon Forge with that new interior. At another some point, again I don't remember when, the Stage II fueling upgrade was dropped, the exhaust-only upgrade became a Stage I, while the existing full upgrade became the Stage II. Stage III of course having always been forced induction, only now without full EFI.

The evolution of the exhaust itself has gone from a painted mild steel system with an off-the-shelf muffler. Don't remember the brand. Later that got changed to a ceramic coated mild steel exhaust still with an off-the-shelf muffler. Then it was changed to the stainless-steel version, with a custom muffler having the exact same footprint as the original muffler. Finally, the muffler has changed once again, to be a little narrower, have a hard angle at one of the extremes, and I believe this version to be yet the quietest of them all.

[82DMC12]

I bought my Performance Exhaust in December 2005 for the price of $1,495. Wow. Looking back I probably make twice what I earned back then I cringe thinking about that. On the other hand, my stock exhaust had a cracked gasket and I had to do something about it.

My system was was original one as far as I know which came with a Flowmaster muffler, steel exhaust, and coated with Jet Hot ceramic coating. Before I even installed the system I swapped the muffler for a Magnaflow muffler on the recommendation of Dennis and another owner.

The Magnaflow muffler has a great note, deep and throaty. I heard the Flowmaster at Pigeon Forge on another car and it was terrible. Very raspy and just plain terrible sound. Everyone thought my Magnaflow was 100x better.

I guess a lot of people had problems with the Jet Hot wearing away and causing rust problems. I haven't had that problem except in places where the exhaust accidentally scraped the ground on a speed bump (whoops).

Being out in North Dakota I haven't seen or heard many other systems, but I definitely like the exhaust I have and I would be very hesitant to change it out, even for free.

Andy

[Farrar]

Yep, this exhaust came with a price tag of $1,500 in November of 2006. I also find it raspy at higher revs. Interesting about swapping out the mufflers. Which do you think is quieter -- Magnaflow or Flowmaster?

Farrar

[TheDutchTexan]

If I ever end up with a DeLorean down the line the stage I upgrade is the first one that will happen. It sounds real nice!

Ozzie: Do you have any cams in yours? It sounds incredibly lopey (lopy?)

[Ozzie]

If I ever end up with a DeLorean down the line the stage I upgrade is the first one that will happen. It sounds real nice!

Don't forget there are Hervey's and DPI's systems as well. Not saying one is "better" than the other, just saying: There are more options today.


Ozzie: Do you have any cams in yours? It sounds incredibly lopey (lopy?)

Yeah, I get that a lot. May be due to the fact that I had different compression on the different heads at that time, which I was unaware of.

[louielouie2000]

Yep, this exhaust came with a price tag of $1,500 in November of 2006. I also find it raspy at higher revs. Interesting about swapping out the mufflers. Which do you think is quieter -- Magnaflow or Flowmaster?

Farrar

Your car has the Flowmaster setup... I checked with a flashlight when I was in Louisiana last year. The Flowmaster setup is definitely loudest (though I do like the sound at idle). You have the earliest iteration of the performance exhaust, which is also why the Louisiana moisture is taking an exceptionally rough toll on your ceramic coating. Your car definitely didn't have the Nology Ignition, which many DeLorean owners ended up ripping out anyway because it was junk.


If I ever end up with a DeLorean down the line the stage I upgrade is the first one that will happen. It sounds real nice!

Ozzie: Do you have any cams in yours? It sounds incredibly lopey (lopy?)

Farrar's car sounds identical to Ozzie's in person. He just didn't put his camera close enough to the exhaust tips for you to hear full sound the car makes. :)

[82DMC12]

Yep, this exhaust came with a price tag of $1,500 in November of 2006. I also find it raspy at higher revs. Interesting about swapping out the mufflers. Which do you think is quieter -- Magnaflow or Flowmaster?

Farrar

I never actually sat in a car with a Flowmaster (I don't think) but I think my idle is pretty quiet and doesn't open up until you get on it, which is the way I think it should be. It's got a lot lower note but is NOT boomy or annoying. I have a huge stereo system in my car but a lot of the time I don't have it turned because I just like listening to the sound of the engine.

It's a Magnaflow 14468: http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/displayapplications.asp?partnumber=14468

I took my Flowmaster and the magnaflow to an exhaust shop and had them weld hangers onto it exactly like the Flowmaster so it would use the stock hanger bushings. The Magnaflow is also a little thicker so you can't use a heatshield. I had it sent out to JetHot to get coated after the hangers were put on and now 5 years later it's still working perfectly with no adverse affects to the front main seal or belts (I was a little afraid since no heatshield).

So yeah... it's awesome

[opethmike]

I love the exhaust systems Corsa makes. I would love it if I could have one for my DeLorean.

[DMCMW Dave]

Well ... that's assuming what I have was actually called "Stage I" five years ago and not simply "Performance Exhaust." I was told my car had "Stage I" but the receipt says "Performance Exhaust," so perhaps what I have is not (and never was), technically, "Stage I," which crosses me off the list. If that's the case, then there have only been two versions.

I will wait for confirmation from Dave or another DMC expert. :)

Farrar

I wasn't completely aware of what was sold by DMCH or what they called it before we started, but I suspect you are correct. The first system was the exhaust only first painted with high-temp black paint and then jet-hot. Both used the Flowmaster muffler. By the time I got going, it was named Stage 1 and included the Nology ignition, K&N filter, and CAI. (I think we installed one of those before they converted to the stainless construction. )

It was then changed to the stainless system with a custom oval SS muffler. I don't recall what the pricing did vs the steel system. Later the Nology igntion was dropped (actually made optional) and price was to reflect that. Stage 1 still comes with the K&N and CAI.

Last year the muffler was changed to the current more squared off unit, still custom i.e. not an off-the-shelf muffler.

[dmc6960]

Last year the muffler was changed to the current more squared off unit, still custom i.e. not an off-the-shelf muffler.

If this muffler quieter than the original stainless one?
If so can it be purchased individually?

While I like that the muffler with my system (all stainless, 1st gen custom muffler) is quieter than the mild steel setups, it still has a bad drone at 65mph. I'd certainly pay for a new muffler to get rid of that.

[Ikeaboy1]

I drove 6683, which I believe had this version of exhaust. It was loud, but it all the right ways. I didn't do any sustained highway driving, though.

Car is looking great in the vid! Love it.

[GS450-Junkie]

I have a stage 1 flowmaster muffler if anyone is interested.

[DMC5180]

The Original Performance Exhaust had a mild steel FLOWMASTER muffler. When Cold the Exhaust note was brash and crackly almost tinny sounding. I did notice that when the system was hot it would be less tinny sounding. But still brash if you tromped on it. Alot of that had to do with the fact there is no packing in a flowmaster muffler just a couple baffle plates.

STAGE I (Mild steel) was an Exhaust, Ignition, Air Filter upgrade package.

STAGE I (Stainless) Has a custom Muffler (with packing) to reduce the harshness.

STAGE I (Stainless) GEN 2 Has a New (Narrower) Custom Muffler that will allow the addition of the stage III upgrade if it is ever released.

The Magnaflow muffler is Perforated X-pipe wrapped in Stainless Wool. It reduces the brashness of the Flowmaster quite a bit. I would also Compare the Magnaflow to the STAGE I (Customer muffler) as being a similar note.

I also believe you get a different sounding exhaust note if you have Performance cams vs. stock.

[Ozzie]

BUMPin' an older thread...



The Original Performance Exhaust had a mild steel FLOWMASTER muffler. When Cold the Exhaust note was brash and crackly almost tinny sounding. I did notice that when the system was hot it would be less tinny sounding. But still brash if you tromped on it. Alot of that had to do with the fact there is no packing in a flowmaster muffler just a couple baffle plates.

STAGE I (Mild steel) was an Exhaust, Ignition, Air Filter upgrade package.

STAGE I (Stainless) Has a custom Muffler (with packing) to reduce the harshness.

STAGE I (Stainless) GEN 2 Has a New (Narrower) Custom Muffler that will allow the addition of the stage III upgrade if it is ever released.

The Magnaflow muffler is Perforated X-pipe wrapped in Stainless Wool. It reduces the brashness of the Flowmaster quite a bit. I would also Compare the Magnaflow to the STAGE I (Customer muffler) as being a similar note.

I also believe you get a different sounding exhaust note if you have Performance cams vs. stock.


I can't believe it's been 4(!) years, that I've had the "STAGE I (Stainless) ... custom Muffler (with packing) to reduce the harshness" system on my 2109. Today there are more options than 4 years ago, but overall I am happy that I made that mod.

So anyway, this weekend I dug up my GoPro Hero camera and suction stuck it on the center of the bottom of the windshield. Below is a compilation clip where you can hear this exhaust system, at three different engine conditions. Here ya go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_VQevO0X_g&