Resonator Replacement With A Straight Through Pipe, The "Brazillian" pipe modification Options

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Ah that's excellent. I was going to ask whether the standard resonator pipe was smooth, as the pipe on my car is definitely ribbed.

Thanks chap, very helpful.

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[jlgrosvenor]

I have had the fabled resonator replacement pipe on back order with Alfa for over three months now. The stockist (Autoworld Chesterfield) have told me that the delivery estimate for this part is January 2007, but that Alfa have given this 1 star out of six for reliability. Basically, this means that it will not be available in January.

Looks like I won't be able to get the pipe to make the mod.

Never mind. I have had the bumper off whilst I am trying to stem the corrosion problem on the bottom of the front bumper mounts and so have removed the resonator easily without damage. I have cut the start of the resonator pipe and the piece that goes in to the airbox and glued and black taped them together (stop laughing everyone). I have had to manufacture a new bracket out of a little piece of strip steel - painted of course.

I will take some pics and post the result, but this seems to be the best option available to me. And the cheapest.

This post has been edited by jlgrosvenor: 19th January 2007 08:55

[jlgrosvenor]

At long last, I have got round to taking pictures of the DIY straight through pipe and a picture of the original resonator showing where I made the cuts.

[Symon]

That is the same thing that I have done to my resonator. I must say that my car appears slower than it did with the resonator in place. So I will get another pipe and re-fit the resonator soon.
The car is not only less punchy at the top end but also at the bottom. The car does sound faster though and is a bit intrusive and boomy at motorway speeds. The sound is also a bit too chavvy for my liking.

This was done before I fitted my chip By the way.

[Slamby]

That is the same thing that I have done to my resonator. I must say that my car appears slower than it did with the resonator in place. So I will get another pipe and re-fit the resonator soon.
The car is not only less punchy at the top end but also at the bottom. The car does sound faster though and is a bit intrusive and boomy at motorway speeds. The sound is also a bit too chavvy for my liking.

This was done before I fitted my chip By the way.

Thanks for the feedback. I was considering doing this mod on mine, but won't bother now, as I think I wouldn't like the resulting sound.

Now please excuse me, but I'm going to cower in a wardrobe as I think the roof of my house is about to be ripped off by the wind.......

[Symon]

The sound without the resonator is similar to the sound you get with the top not fitted to the airbox correctly.
You loose the TS zing and get a Chavvy roar IMO.

[GialloEvo94]

You loose the TS zing and get a Chavvy roar IMO.

I'm afraid I have to disagree but everyone to their own. Maybe it's just different on the Phase 2 TS plastic top engine which is what I have Without the resonator box I certainly wouldn't say mine is particularly boomy at motorway cruising speeds and I wouldn't describe my intake sound as chavvy either. I also didn't notice any noticeable change in power/torque, either better or worse...seemed just pretty much the same as when the resonator was fitted.

If anyone is unsure whether or not to do this resonator mod then my suggestion is to give it a try and if you don't like it then just put the resonator back on again. The straight-through pipe is only a few quid so it's not like you wasted a lot of money if you don't like it...just the time taken to swap the resonator with the pipe and then visa-versa again.

[jlgrosvenor]

The straight-through pipe is only a few quid so it's not like you wasted a lot of money if you don't like it...just the time taken to swap the resonator with the pipe and then visa-versa again.

Only one small problem there GE.

It seems impossible to get hold of the Brazilian air pipe from Alfa. I have had one on order for 4 months now - still listed as unlikely to arrive so I have (obviously from my above post) hacked my resonator to bits and constructed that kack-handed alternative above

[Symon]

I have just put my resonator back on, and the car sounds crisper, pulls better and now sounds like an Alfa should do IMO.
No more boomy intake noise at certain speeds and there seems to be better midrange torque too.

[GialloEvo94]

I have just put my resonator back on, and the car sounds crisper, pulls better and now sounds like an Alfa should do IMO.
No more boomy intake noise at certain speeds and there seems to be better midrange torque too.

IIRC you fitted a TITAN chip to your car a short time ago so that may well have some effect on your particular car being better with the resonator left on.

[Junior145]

replaced my resonator with the straight through pipe this weekend, thought i`ll offer my opinion so far. Engine defiantly to me seems a 'little' free`er reving, and seems to hold the power a tad better, worth mentioning i also replaced stock air filter to a piper cross one (thanks van). the sound is awesome, you cant really tell a difference until you put your foot flat to the floor with that said there’s a slight issue arising, seems to have developed a flat spot from idle to about 1,500 rpm, tried to pull out promptly on a busy road as had no chance of getting out otherwise, pulled out and it felt like just had no power until went over 1,500 rpm and then i flew away, my reaction was 'oh s**t' when initially pulled out also today (car engine cold) i pulled out (making sure there was nothing coming for awhile just incase) and the car crawled out at 500rpm on the edge of stalling, wouldn’t do anything, put my foot on the clutch instantly and just waited till it recovered to normal idle, accelerated and all was good.

now its worth mentioning before when engine was cold i had performance issues where the car would rev but not feel like was getting any power, however this could be due to a failing lambda (keep getting the occasional lambda error on my diagnostic software you see) so ive got a feeling this doesnt go well with the replacement straight through pipe *goes looking to see which plug to d/c for the lambda*

This post has been edited by Junior145: 19th February 2007 22:50

[jlgrosvenor]

replaced my resonator with the straight through pipe this weekend

Where did you get the straight through pipe Junior - not direct from Alfa I assume?
Been looking for one for ages

[Symon]

IIRC you fitted a TITAN chip to your car a short time ago so that may well have some effect on your particular car being better with the resonator left on.

I took the resonator off before I fitted the chip, and with and without the chip the car seems better with the resonator.
TBH I can't tell if the chip itself has made a lot of difference, I may sell it on e-bay and get a squadra.

[Junior145]

Where did you get the straight through pipe Junior - not direct from Alfa I assume?
Been looking for one for ages

ah no.. i read your post about the wait from the chesterfield dealer so didnt even try, luckily i noticed vantastic was selling one awhile ago with an air filter so I quickly snapped it up

This post has been edited by Junior145: 20th February 2007 14:53

[ToxyMaTT]

As the 'brazilian pipe' is no longer available, I'll try to adapt the jtd one :

[Ganz]

As the 'brazilian pipe' is no longer available, I'll try to adapt the jtd one :

I've never seen the massive box pipe s**t. This is what I've always had.



This post has been edited by Ganz: 6th April 2014 00:48

[brentpham]

Rattling is one of the most common symptoms of a bad exhaust resonator. Inside the resonator, perforated tubes or baffles are welded or pressed into place. If one breaks loose, it can make noise. Sometimes, a rattling resonator will only rattle under certain operating conditions or when going over certain roads.
I suggest you to check your car condition

[dante giacosa]

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