Exhaust silencers/varex exhausts

[The Bogan]

51 minutes ago, PotatoCake said:

Went down and had a chat with him yesterday, nice guy. Will be getting a full custom hard pipe intakes setup done next week! Exhaust, im still figuring out what path to go down. Some are saying the varex's hang too low because of the valve it has at the top

The Varex is good if you want the ability to quieten down a really loud exhaust, and a fairly simple install if you have the clearance 

In saying this, a well designed exhaust, that doesn't drone, and "close" to not being a "big heat signature" for the constabulary, is a better way to go

Noise does not = power, but a well designed exhaust that isn't "overly" loud will not negatively effect power, it will though keep the constabulary off your back

I had a Varex, and it worked well, super quiet when closed, but sounded like war when open and up it, I did have available "realestate" clearance issues under the old SS though running a 4" exhaust, and the Varex was the best option for me, as the space where the rear box went was available for the valve, so compromises were made to quieten it down

I have seen, and heard, alot of nice RB's with just some resonators and/or muffler/s, which, while sounding "beefy" were not obnoxious cruising around, and not something that draws unwanted attention, but, they did get real rowdy when up it

The trick is to get an exhaust fabricated that doesn't break your brain, or your passengers willingness to be in the car, on a Hwy cruise, i.e. no drone, and also not have your neighbours breaking your balls because their house vibrates and wakes their family when you roll in late at night, or when you head out early in morning, but it also sounds real good to the ear

Post up when your done, whilst I no longer own a RB, I do love their sound with a nice exhaust, especially when there's a lumpy cam lopping away

[Milkmun]

On 20/03/2025 at 6:25 PM, PotatoCake said:

Went down and had a chat with him yesterday, nice guy. Will be getting a full custom hard pipe intakes setup done next week! Exhaust, im still figuring out what path to go down. Some are saying the varex's hang too low because of the valve it has at the top

Nice, glad Jesse will be able to look after you. 

As for exhaust, a couple of good quality mufflers should do the trick without the need for the varex.

[PotatoCake]

On 12/03/2025 at 10:07 PM, Milkmun said:

Have a look at JS Performance Garage, just did a bit of work on a 32 GTR.

Thanks for bringing this workshop to my attention, i didnt know about it before and Jessie did some Fabolous work on my car! Helps that its close to home as well, hate having to drive half way across melbourne for a decent workshop. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIPwaQ1yHMe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Milkmun]

On 12/04/2025 at 2:53 PM, PotatoCake said:

Thanks for bringing this workshop to my attention, i didnt know about it before and Jessie did some Fabolous work on my car! Helps that its close to home as well, hate having to drive half way across melbourne for a decent workshop. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIPwaQ1yHMe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Car looks clean as. You ended up getting quite a bit done 😂 

So what's the plan for the exhaust? 

[PotatoCake]

7 hours ago, Milkmun said:

Car looks clean as. You ended up getting quite a bit done 😂 

 

Yeh... literally every time i jump on a forum, see an instagram post or see an engine bay at a car show, i get an idea and add it to my 'to do' list. So what started off as, hey can u just make a couple of intake hard pipes because my dumbass bought the wrong apexi kit, blew out into a 2 week job including braided brake lines & custom bash kit for the front lip haha. 

Getting Luke from A4E engineering to make a full custom exhaust with a controllable aes dump valve so i can actually switch between quiet and loud, because right now its just loud all day every day. Then after that go and get the tune redone flex e85 & 98 as i get bugger all milage from e85, makes going for longer drivers difficult

[Milkmun]

Curious to why you're not getting Jesse to do the exhaust, seeing that he has just done 2 GTRs with Aes valves.

[PotatoCake]

9 hours ago, Milkmun said:

Curious to why you're not getting Jesse to do the exhaust, seeing that he has just done 2 GTRs with Aes valves.

I only found out about Jesse's shop after meeting with A4E and having a good chat about what direction to go in with the car and exhaust setup. I didnt want to go back on my word as thats a bit of a shitty move, especially since Luke took the time to meet with me and have a really good chat. Theres not many places that do that anymore, most of the larger commercial workshops churn through the process like a production line, quantity over quality etc. 

[Milkmun]

That's a fair call.

Keen to hear it when it's done and retuned. What's the time frame you reckon? 

[PotatoCake]

On 14/04/2025 at 9:46 PM, Milkmun said:

What's the time frame you reckon? 

Exhaust end of this month, and then tune after that whenever there is availability. Still tossing up between a pure 98 tune or a flex 98/e85 combo. 

The (lack of) milage in e85 isnt great. Start to get anxiety if i go for a long drive and there arent any united servo's nearby

[Murray_Calavera]

1 hour ago, PotatoCake said:

The (lack of) milage in e85 isnt great. Start to get anxiety if i go for a long drive and there arent any united servo's nearby

But if you've got the flex sensor whats the issue? You just run what you can get your hands on. 

I can't see any reason not to run e85 if it's relatively local to where you live. 

[PotatoCake]

5 hours ago, Murray_Calavera said:

But if you've got the flex sensor whats the issue? You just run what you can get your hands on. 

I can't see any reason not to run e85 if it's relatively local to where you live. 

Had a good chat with Ben from Danellos tonight about which direction to go with the tune, we'll do a flex setup initially, ill see what my thoughts are on 98 and then take it from there. I mainly one want or the other, i dont want to be mixing both e85 and 98 for a weird hybrid fuel combo. 

[Murray_Calavera]

5 minutes ago, PotatoCake said:

Had a good chat with Ben from Danellos tonight about which direction to go with the tune, we'll do a flex setup initially, ill see what my thoughts are on 98 and then take it from there. I mainly one want or the other, i dont want to be mixing both e85 and 98 for a weird hybrid fuel combo. 

This is very confusing. "flex setup" = being able to run 98, e85 or any % of ethanol. 

If your tune only supports 98, that is not a "flex setup". 

I don't understand your hesitancy for running ethanol. It's just better. It makes more power and is safer. What's not to love? Also it smell amazing lol. 

[Milkmun]

I also vote flex. Best of both worlds.

[PotatoCake]

28 minutes ago, Murray_Calavera said:

I don't understand your hesitancy for running ethanol. It's just better. It makes more power and is safer. What's not to love? Also it smell amazing lol. 

Currently on an e85 only tune, but I barely get 200km from a full tank. Makes going for longer drives difficult, especially when u leave Melbourne metro as there aren’t many united servos, hence why I’m thinking of going more of a 98 setup. 
 

And yes the smell lol. Any drive afterwards I need to have a shower and wash all the clothes I was wearing, it’s like someone made a Calvin clown e85 perfume and sprayed it all over me haha

[Murray_Calavera]

2 minutes ago, PotatoCake said:

Currently on an e85 only tune, but I barely get 200km from a full tank. Makes going for longer drives difficult, especially when u leave Melbourne metro as there aren’t many united servos, hence why I’m thinking of going more of a 98 setup. 

The suspense is killing me lol. 

Are you going to buy a flex sensor, then add the 98 tune to your current tune? 

It sounds like your just going to delete the current tune and re-tune the car on 98 =/

If you've only known your car on e85, I don't think it will be long before you install the flex sensor and go back to running e85 when its available lol.

[PotatoCake]

23 minutes ago, Murray_Calavera said:

Are you going to buy a flex sensor, then add the 98 tune to your current tune? 

Ah, should have been clearer. Currently has a flex sensor installed all good to go. 
 

like u mentioned, I’ve only ever known the car on e85, I might hate 98, but I have to try it out first. Everyone says the -5 turbos get pretty laggy on 98 octane tho…

[Murray_Calavera]

9 hours ago, PotatoCake said:

Ah, should have been clearer. Currently has a flex sensor installed all good to go. 
 

like u mentioned, I’ve only ever known the car on e85, I might hate 98, but I have to try it out first. Everyone says the -5 turbos get pretty laggy on 98 octane tho…

Nice, let me know how you find the 98 tune

[PotatoCake]

I’m also conscious that e85 is slowly being phased out. Not all United’s have them anymore. Can’t take the risk of being low on petrol and assuming the servo will have it. 

[Milkmun]

The availability of e85 won't matter with a flex tune. Can mix and match and never have range anxiety again. Only thing will change is your ethanol %.

[Duncan]

9 hours ago, Milkmun said:

The availability of e85 won't matter with a flex tune. Can mix and match and never have range anxiety again. Only thing will change is your ethanol %.

This.

I'm confused by the whole discussion.

The only reason you would have a car with e85 only if it was track use and you only ever used e85. All other use cases you add a flex fuel sensor, do the flex tune (you only need to do a couple of % and then interpolate the rest) and then you put whatever the hell you feel like including a mix in the tank and it just works.

Want a long drive? fill with 98

Want max zoom? fill with e85

Got a half tank of 98 then find e85 somewhere? Throw it in.