Got an itch and wanted to scratch it. Got the center muffler swapped out for an x pipe (kept the muffler, though, just in case). The before and after axle boxes are factory.

I wasn’t looking to get that much louder. And it didn’t. Massachusetts bans any exhaust mod designed to make your car louder, so I didn’t want to attract attention. I just wanted the car to sound a little more like it feels when I mash the throttle. It will definitely sound still too tame for many, but this is probably the sweet spot for my preferences and environment. No drone, also.

Of course, actual sound clips are most helpful for the curious. Let’s see if this works. First rev is to about 2k, second is to 3k.

 

Sounds like what I am looking for.

Did you have an X pipe or buy one pre made? If so where did you get it?

Thanks

 

It looks like they used a premade x-pipe identical to one you might find from magnaflow (link here) and then welded on some new pipe to make up for the length lost by the center muffler. Took them less than an hour. Out in florida you will probably be able to get this done more cheaply than I did.

 

Cool thanks. Got an underside pic I can show my muffler shop?

 

I will try to get an underside pic later, but it's pretty much identical to this: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x.../#&gid=1&pid=2

Also, to revise my earlier statement: the x-pipe is stamped. Looks like the one in the XJ8 above and also like this one from summit racing

 

Does this mod alter emissions ? Could you also just add 2 pipes in lieu of the center muffler ?

 

It doesn't affect emissions, as you're not doing anything to the cats, and the center muffler doesn't do anything to reduced emissions. You could do straight pipes in lieu of the muffler, but some people who have tried that reported back an "unbalanced" sounds. That being said, the center muffler itself goes straight through. From what I've learned scanning these forums for the last few months:

x-pipe: quietest replacement for center muffler.
h-pipe: louder than x-pipe.
straight through: similar to h-pipe, but more rappy, less balanced

Some people also reported back feeling less power with an h-pipe vs. an x-pipe. But I'm supremely doubtful that any of these on their own make any practical difference in power.