The dual exhaust

[Java Junky]

I had the opportunity to be sittin' n' stewin' behind another Stewie in traffic this mornin' (warm n' sunny n' this guy's still got his top up) so I had the south end of it starin' me in the face for a while. 'Got to wonderin' why Honda'd go through the trouble n' added weight to endow our rides with dual pipes.
I mean, I know they work, but couldn't Honda've jus' gotten the same power results from a single pipe?
I can't see them doin' this because of aesthetics, r', at least, I hope that that's not the reason.
Anybody got any solid info on that?
I know with the bikes we'd always get more improvement from the lesser weight of an aftermarket exhaust, than from any supposed power increase.
If that's a similar situation with Stewie, n' a single pipe would considerably drop weight from the car . . . I may have finally found a legitimate reason to replace a OEM part.
Be well.

[Scott]

Yes, a lightweight aftermarket single exhaust would significantly lower weight.

The stock, all-steel exhaust system weighs close to 80 pounds if I remember correctly. Some of the lighter single exhausts (such as the JIC full-titanium single) weighs in at just under 20 pounds total.

Furthermore, most of the top-end single ehxuasts available will increase horsepower (albeit quite slightly), whereas most aftermarket duals offer little to no performance gain and only moderate weight reductions.

So why hasn't everyone switched to single ehxausts? Well, many for the same reason I didn't. Nearly every single straight ehxaust available for our cars is very loud and harsh sounding. I went with a quality aftermarket dual setup and the sound is very moderate and isn't raspy at all.

As for why Honda built the car that way, it's mostly just for looks. Dual exhaust is often one of the trademarks of a sports car.

[Java Junky]

Thanks Scott. Everything that you say makes sense. Would'ja believe that I hadn't even considered the noise aspect? (I have moments like that)
But I do have to add that dual exhaust is somethin' that was more what muscle-car addicts have come to expect to see gracin' the posterior of our vehicles.
It's always meant power; the ever-increasin' more.
The true sportscar tenet, r', at least the original one, was sheer minimalism to the Nth degree. 'Wasn't nothin' there that wasn't absolutely necessary to get 'er done.
Duals would not have been considered (at least not on anythin' with only one bank of cylinders) to appease the gods of noise, looks, macho r' any of the other lesser gods.
Now the gods of low mass, power n' quick . . their altars were open all nite.
Thanks n' be well.

[Halo]

It was done for aesthetics. Not everything on the car was done for pure performance... power top, A/C, leather seats, power windows/mirrors. Some concessions had to be made to real world driving. From an engineering standpoint, it makes me cringe that an I4 engine has a dual, but not as much as when I see ricers with Civics shoehorning duals on their transverse mounted FWD I4 grocer getters.

[kenpo_s2000]

Like they said not everything was done for performance. If your looking at an aftermarket dual exhaust its going to be for wieght loss, looks, and sound. I have the HKS hi power dual with test pipe and it sounds frekin mean. The exhaust really growls. People don't believe that its a four banger the way it sounds.

This weekend I will be installing a header to complete the I/H/E combo. I will see how it sounds then. If anyone is interested I will post some feedback on it and may some video or sound clips.

[Java Junky]

Well, I guess I have to chalk up another one for the guys at Honda. Checkin' around a bit shows me that there isn't anything single-pipe (lighter) that isn't also considerably louder. (No surprises there)
So, the Honda system apparently is what I prefer in an exhaust in that it helps me to, most of the time, fly below radar.
'Never saw the wisdom in havin' a street bike r' car that had the ability to "announce" your arrival whenever you were pushin' it. You can find some very unappreciative, uniformly-attired individuals waitin' to comment on your efforts.
Damn! I really thought that I was finally gonna be able to spend some money n' replace somethin'.
Thanks for all the input folks.
Be well.

[Stuart Rudolph]

Yes, I can understand the whole weight thing, but to me, single exhaust vehicles are a dime a dozen, and you seem them everywhere. Even on the oversized behemoth's (SUV's). But "our" machines are not a dime a dozen, and you don't seem them everywhere, except S2K rallies! The duals on our vehicles look good, and look intimidating and powerful when sitting behind one, at least to me they do. Aren't our babies powerful? So why not have a powerful look? Makes all the sense in the world to me.

[Java Junky]

Powerful??? In a world that's gainin' 400+ horsepower (and better. Much better) quasi-exotic, off-the-showroom-floor cars almost by the month, 240 horse doesn't quite cut the mustard to qualify as powerful. Agile n' quick yeah. But powerful? Well, I jus' don't know that I'd call it powerful.
While I very much appreciate the quiet note of the car, dual exhaust says to me that there're two banks of cylinders sittin' under that long, low hood, n' that there're enough ponies to dust 5.0 Mustangs at a single bound (from a stop), n', as we all know, that jus' ain't the case.
'Sides, I've always appreciated the stealthy, low-profile approach of
"sleepers" which is the opposite direction altogether: No show; All go.
But, like Halo pointed out about the power top, A/C, leather seats, power windows/mirrors, and the decision to go with that extra weight: everything's a balance of priorities.
Be well.

[Stuart Rudolph]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

Powerful??? In a world that's gainin' 400+ horsepower (and better. Much better) quasi-exotic, off-the-showroom-floor cars almost by the month, 240 horse doesn't quite cut the mustard to qualify as powerful. Agile n' quick yeah. But powerful? Well, I jus' don't know that I'd call it powerful.
While I very much appreciate the quiet note of the car, dual exhaust says to me that there're two banks of cylinders sittin' under that long, low hood, n' that there're enough ponies to dust 5.0 Mustangs at a single bound (from a stop), n', as we all know, that jus' ain't the case.
'Sides, I've always appreciated the stealthy, low-profile approach of
"sleepers" which is the opposite direction altogether: No show; All go.
But, like Halo pointed out about the power top, A/C, leather seats, power windows/mirrors, and the decision to go with that extra weight: everything'a a balance of priorities.
Be well.

Considering this engine is squeezing out 120hp per liter is nothing to sneeze at. How many stock mass produced engines push out that much horsepower per liter, that are not assisted by a turbo or supercharger? I'll say it again, this little 2 liter 4 banger cranking out 240 ponies IS powerful. Can you name an automaker that mass produces a gasoline engine with more horsepower per liter that's naturally aspirated and stock?

[Java Junky]

No, can't say's I can.
But somehow, that's little consolation when I know that the kid in the 21 year old Mustang sittin' beside me at the light's about to blow my doors off without breakin' much of a sweat r' even payin' much attention to what he's doin'. 'bout that time I'm thinkin' of alodda words . . . but, you can bet your paycheck that "powerful" ain't one of 'em.

[chemical]

i dont bother reading evrything all know is that duel pipe loks nice and classy. thast why kept mine that way. it also looks more like as if it has balls too

[gomarlins3]

I prefer the dual look. It may be because that is the way Honda designed it, but Ijust like it better. That's just an opinion though. A single exhaust would definitly would be lighter especially any made out of titanium.

[Java Junky]

If it can still stay unannoyingly quiet, I'm all for it.
Be well.
Java

[chemical]

Originally Posted by Java Junky

If it can still stay unannoyingly quiet, I'm all for it.
Be well.
Java

hey i like wanna buy your rims. when you get this get back to me lates

[AGBLLET]

Despite the weight disadvantage of the stock duel exhaust system, as previously mentioned above, given the distict style and class inherent in the design of s2k's becomes even more refined and classsier with a duel exhaust. Anyway, if you already have or plan in the future to enhance the performance aspects of your engine, then the issue of single vs. duel exhaust becomes moot. I thnk Java makes the most important point in that why make the car louder to only attract the attention of others that will want to street race you but more importantly provide the traffic cops the opportunity to hear you coming before they pull the trigger on their radar units? Understated but classy and enhancing the engine performance is the way to go. Finally, i believe that the resale value of the car might be decreased somewhat if fitted with a single pipe and the associated noise would certainly minimize the market for selling our car.

Any way, that is my advice, and it is no doubt worth what you paid for it!

Good luck