Exhaust Recommendations for Supercharged 4Runner?

[gamefreakgc]

I've been poking around on the web on this one for a while but haven't found a good answer yet.

I'm looking to get a new cat-back system for my supercharged 4Runner. My stock muffler has a hole in it so it's about time to look into it. I will not be buying a pre-made bolt on kit (too expensive and not tailored for supercharged engines) but rather having my local muffler shop weld it on for me.

I'm interested in which brands have performed well for you (forced induction crowd please comment!) as well as what size of piping to use. My three priorities on what I am looking for are:

1. Performance
2. Gas Mileage
3. Sound - Mild to Moderate

1. Performance - I've read up reviews for several brands and I've ruled out Flowmaster and Magnaflow. Flowmaster's performance gains are negligible and Magnaflow has quality issues, my last one started falling apart internally at 6 months. I've heard a lot of good things about Borla and am willing to consider other manufacturers as well. Also wondering what size piping I should upgrade to, I think I we have 2 1/4" stock?

2. Gas Mileage - This is my daily driver so hoping this will bump it up a bit. On the 3.0L 3VZ-E I had a Magnaflow muffler with 1/4" larger piping put on and it bumped up the MPG a whopping 20%. That engine had design inadequacies that starved it for air, so not expecting quite that high on my 4Runner. Currently averaging 18.7 MPG city/highway.

3. Sound - I'm not looking for anything loud. Unfortunately, the loudest mufflers are usually have the highest performance gains (Borla XR-1 for example). I want something that's relatively quiet at highway cruising speed but really wakes up if you stomp on it. Not sure if there is such a thing that also provided a significant performance gain, but I can dream can't I?

 

[MTD]

I am going with a Magnaflow 12255. It is a 18 oval muffler so it is not too loud, which is what I am going for as well. The S/C flows more air than the stock exhaust can handle so this should help at least some.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I am going with a Magnaflow 12255. It is a 18 oval muffler so it is not too loud, which is what I am going for as well. The S/C flows more air than the stock exhaust can handle so this should help at least some.

That's the one that I had quality issues with. It now "puffs" and rattles at idle instead of being a smooth flow.

 

[MTD]

That's the one that I had quality issues with. It now "puffs" and rattles at idle instead of being a smooth flow.

Hmmm. I must have missed that... I may go borla for myself then. Just their welding 20inch muffler

 

[Unner]

I can't help you with specifics, but I did a lot of research before I did the exhaust on my MK3 Supra because I don't like very loud cars unless it's something like a 68 Camaro, or a Lamborghini. It sounds like you are after something similar. The longer the muffler the quieter it is going to be so keep that in mind. So the same muffler in a 14" and 18" version where the only difference is the length the 18" will be quieter.

You may also want to add a resonator to help keep the sound level down if needed. I like the Flowmaster Hushpower II resonators, but I know you said you don't want any Flowmaster or Magnaflow products. I've got both of them and haven't had any issues, but to each his own.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I can't help you with specifics, but I did a lot of research before I did the exhaust on my MK3 Supra because I don't like very loud cars unless it's something like a 68 Camaro, or a Lamborghini. It sounds like you are after something similar. The longer the muffler the quieter it is going to be so keep that in mind. So the same muffler in a 14" and 18" version where the only difference is the length the 18" will be quieter.

You may also want to add a resonator to help keep the sound level down if needed. I like the Flowmaster Hushpower II resonators, but I know you said you don't want any Flowmaster or Magnaflow products. I've got both of them and haven't had any issues, but to each his own.

Thanks for the input! I had looked at resonators but wasn't sure when/if they were needed. I would be ok with a Flowmaster resonator I think, aren't they fairly simple in construction and design?

 

[white_n_slow]

The resonator is basically a tiny perforated core glasspack muffler. Same construction of a big straight-through muffler, just downsized.

I have two magnaflows on my Acura that have been there for many years. No reliability or quality issues at all, but they are not quiet.