[svtsonic]

I love my 2k4 sonic SVT. I am trying to learn how to mod it right, so please excuse my ignorance. I dont have any money, but i wanted it louder. First , I removed the mini-snorkle attached to the airbox. This definately made the car a little louder, but I wonder what the cons are? Then, knowing I could not afford a CAT, I had my local exaust shop cut off my resonator and make a straight pipe to the rear muffler. The car is extremely loud! Too loud I think, but it only cost $25. How will these two "rip off" modifications effect my car's performance and/or warranty?

 

[svt medic]

the snorkle won't do much more than make it louder which it did. and will not void your warrenty, however the 25 dollar mod to the exhuast will void the warrenty if anything related to the back pressure or the o2 senser in the exhaust should go wrong. Good rule of thumb is, if you force it and it breaks,then it needed replacing anyway. If ford can in any way shape or form relate the future problems of the car to your mods,they will,and ford won't pay for that related fix. you buy an 04 svt and screw with a perfectly good part,that's not good and remember these are only my opinoins, so take e'm or leave e'm. The SVT has a really free flowing exhaust as is. Just open up the intake and you will gain some power. probably not much until you do things likeunder drive pully's and throttle body, coil packs and wires stuff like that get's better numbers. I hit the track before and after mods, and it cost less than the dino. your mods are only as good as the driver.[?|] [?|]

 

[LastRites]

The exhaust is relatively free flowing true enough but it looks like the pipe between the flex and the muffler is a smaller diameter than the rest of the pipe, maybe a bottleneck. I ordered the Borla for pure sound alone because the stock exhaust is perfect, only a little mellow. If you want a loud car then throw down $200 for the ORP but be advised to search some threads first to see the pro's & cons to that.

 

[svtsonic]

Ok...the warranty is a big concern now. I still have the original part (rasonator) still and the mechanic said he could put it back on, but anyone could obviously see the welding. Would this be good enough or could I buy a Borla and Ford accept it?

 

[Wailabod]

I don't quite understand where you are talking about, but any mod done, from the cat back will NOT effect your warranty

 

[svtsonic]

Im not sure what Im talking about either, sorry im new at this. I believe the part was the rasonator. The mech said I had two mufflers and he could remove the one towards the front of the car. Could this of been the cat converter?? Im not sure, what does the cat look like?
This part looks like a muffler to me, it was located almost where the door handle is. If it was the cat, can i put it back?? What damage or loss of power could happen?

 

[Toolman00]

I don't think removing the snorkle would really do much. The snorkle is kind of a bottleneck though because the hole is larger, but the SVT has 2 sources of air.

Hacking off the exhaust is kina worthless... it flows pretty good and it actually sounds decent.

 

[Wailabod]

that does sound liek teh cat
i would put it back on

 

[svt medic]

It sounds to me like the cat that you hacked off.walabod is right, cat back systems do not void warranty. If you wacked the catalitic converter thats bad. and what shop would do this to a brandy ass new vehicle or even a newer one with out warning the owner that he could void factory warranty. Cat back Systems are free flowing exhaust systems that are tacked on to the system posterior to the catalitic converter, that on the side closer to the rear of the vehicle. In theory this allows for less back pressure. so open the mouth more and open the ass more= better flow=faster car. Thats in theory. The svt has very little back pressure to begin with, so keep what you got or do the right thing and save up quick for the cat back system or the off road pipe. Welding the cat or resenater or what ever they wacked back on is not going to help. The mechanic at ford would see this in a new york second and, wahla, no fixy under the warrenty.Anyway if you see a check engine light in the next few days or weeks, this will most probably be related to your temporary loss of mind.

 

[malconsSVT]

the removal of the snorkle should give you a slight increase in throttle response. and yeah i cut my cat offf to but i had it put back on it sounded like ...

 

[svtsonic]

Thanks for the input medic and malcons. Now that I realized i screwed up big time, i have to prepare for the worst. Does anyone know of any problems i may run into w/o the cat. Also, if i put it back on (original) for now, will it even work right? Basically am I stuck into buying a new exaust? I hope not.

 

[essveetee]

Are you sure you had the cat removed? You mentioned 'resonator', which is not the cat. Technically, it is a muffler, and it is the forward most muffler on the car (not counting cat). If your mechanic took the cat off, bent piping to replace it, welded in o2 bungs for $25 I'd say you got a good deal. A real good deal.

Take a pic for us if you can.

 

[svtsonic]

essveetee that sounds right. The mechanic said it was a muffler. I dont know much but if i heard him say "i'm removing your catalytic converter" i definately would had said stop. I just posted 3 pictures of the removed part. If anyone knows what exactly this is please reply. Also, what might be my options now? Would this effect the warranty if i get a new cat soon?
Or, am i ok?? No emmissions in GA.
Here is the link to the part.

http://sadams00.textamerica.com/

 

[ianmcc]

Ok that's not a cat, its a muffler, I say cut 'er off!

 

[svtsonic]

OK...if thats a muffler i cut off and not the cat....would that void my Ford factory warranty?
Would it help or hender performance?
If it helps or is OK , then i recommend this cheap mod for a really loud exaust.... but i dunno yet

 

[essveetee]

Look at it like this: you took off one muffler. When you put a cat back on, you take everything from the cat back and replace it with a new exhaust system. I haven't heard of any dealers voiding warranties because of this. Now, if the new catback has larger piping and doesn't fit correctly, like rubbing or causing things to melt, don't expect any help from your service department. You should be fine.

 

[svtsonic]

so now that i know it is just a muffler, can i have it put back on without really noticing a difference? I want my factory SVT back...for now

 

[shadyninja]

do what ever you feel you need to ..the dealer installed my borla cat back for $35..
and it sounds sweet

 

[svtsonic]

I would love a borla, but cant right now....will i be ok driving like this for a few more months?
When i just came home , it is a little cold, i heard some back-fire in 3rd. Normally this only happens gearing down to 2nd, when i like the sound. Am I losing power or damaging my engine by running like this??

 

[FiveDoorSVT]

Dear lord, RELAX MAN!

All you did was cut off a section of the exhaust that is filled with fiberglass to help muffle the sound. It in no way will affect the performance because the exhaust on the SVT already flows well. Your car is louder and any sputtering in the exhaust is normal, which is why you heard exhaust sputtering in different gears. It was always there it's now just amplified. You just hear it more now that youve cut off one of the resonators. Youre not damaging the engine in any way, so relax!

Dont do mods if your gonna worry about voiding warranties. Research any potential mods you may do before you do them. Find out if they will give you the gains you want, as well as the sound and look you want. Figure out how they may affect your warranty and if you will be able to reverse them should the need arise. Dont go rushing into this, its an excellent way to screw up a perfectly good car.