I am new to the forum and just purchased my Tracker, so hello everyone! I have couple questions. I have a 3 speed automatic, does it have a lock up torque converter? I don't feel it lock up and I run about 3200 rpm's at 55 mph, and 3700 at 65 mph is this correct? Also, I am considering taking off the muffler and running straight pipe out the back, leaving the cat. Will this help me or hurt me? Also does anyone have any input as too what it will sound like? I plan to put a turbo muffler on later, when I get a header.

Thanks in advance, Luke

Your RPMs are so high because of the low gearing Suzuki put in these little things...so yes your RPMs sound right.  And taking the muffler off would HURT you.  You need some back pressure for good power.  Have you thought about just upgrading your exhaust?  like to a header, hi flow cat and 2in pipe?  That would help alot..

Thanks for the reply. I was going to use 2" pipe without a muffler, just leaving the cat. But, do you think this wouldn't be enough backpressure?

Thanks, Luke

First of all, "back pressure" is not a good thing for any engine. Google exhaust systems, and you'll find a boatload of info on the study of pressure and sound waves during the combustion process. NOWHERE will you find it stated, that in order for an engine to perform properly does it need some or any "backpressure" in the exhaust system. Engine designers spend many hours trying to find ways to eliminate any reversion or "backpressure" in an exhaust system, while still keeping the noise down to an acceptable level, or a level that meets the standards for epa, etc. With each explosion in the cylinder, first the pressure wave has to escape, followed by the sound wave. Exhaust designers tune the length of the header , size of tubing, collector shape, etc, to use the escaping sound and pressure pulses to help refill the cylinder with mixture. The only reason we don't all run around with open exhausts is the obnoxious noise it would create. Put a good header on that thing, and a GOOD muffler. Do the rest of the world a favor and keep it reasonably quiet.  My 2 cents.

It's true that properly tuned exaust can run minimal back pressure or even a slight vacume at the point the valve opens. Which is great if you plan on running high RPM high hp. Too little back pressure will however allow the combustion pressure out of the cyclenders earlier loosing the last hairs of pressure on the piston. Fine when at high RPM you want to let the air pump under your hood to cycle as freely as possible. We are (mostly) not concerned with this. High breathing- High compression motors use the earliest part of the burn for power then start to push out exaust. The more sluggish motors (read stock- mid range motors) depend on useing a longer slower burn over a greater stroke.


Whats all this mean? That You need some back pressure! Not only would open headers warp and burn out exaust valves but on highly sophisticated vehicles it will tick off the computor. For mid range torque you need more backpressure than high rpm hp. Why do you think high buck high rpm vehicles have baffles in the exaust and intake? To keep backpressure ie torque up at lower engine speed.


Headers and 2" exaust will be great for your ride. I ran the Doug Thorghly Headers and 2 1/4" with a glasspack for a year quite happily.

Good luck and welcome to Zukiworld

Can I run a straight 2" pipe behind the cat without suffering performance, under normal driving conditions? With hopes of helping my performance and mileage! I plan to get a header in a few months and at that time I will put a good turbo muffler.

Thanks, Luke

When I bought mine the previous owner had eliminted the cat and had 2" pipe to a turbo muffler.  The muffler had a small hole in it and it was incredibly loud.  I replaced it with a new turbo muffler.  After a 2 hr drive my ears were ringing due to the drone in the cabin.  Now I have it going to a 2" cat, then to a 2" resonator, then to my turbo muffler.  No I can drive it and the wind noise is the loudest part and I notice no difference in performance.  I have a header coming as well.  The resonator give the exhaust a deeper note as well.  I think you will really hate a straight pipe.  These engines have a really annoying crackle to them when uncorked.     If you have a soft top then you want some sort of muffler on it cause you will be listening to the noise the whole time.

 

It's true that properly tuned exaust can run minimal back pressure or even a slight vacume at the point the valve opens. Which is great if you plan on running high RPM high hp. Too little back pressure will however allow the combustion pressure out of the cyclenders earlier loosing the last hairs of pressure on the piston. Fine when at high RPM you want to let the air pump under your hood to cycle as freely as possible. We are (mostly) not concerned with this. High breathing- High compression motors use the earliest part of the burn for power then start to push out exaust. The more sluggish motors (read stock- mid range motors) depend on useing a longer slower burn over a greater stroke.


Whats all this mean? That You need some back pressure! Not only would open headers warp and burn out exaust valves but on highly sophisticated vehicles it will tick off the computor. For mid range torque you need more backpressure than high rpm hp. Why do you think high buck high rpm vehicles have baffles in the exaust and intake? To keep backpressure ie torque up at lower engine speed.


Headers and 2" exaust will be great for your ride. I ran the Doug Thorghly Headers and 2 1/4" with a glasspack for a year quite happily.

Good luck and welcome to Zukiworld

Baffles are there to change the frequency of the Noise caused by intake and combustion, and to eliminate it as much as possible. I stand by my comment, backpressure is a non desireable in ANY exhaust system. Low and midrange power, Or what you mistakenly refer to as torque,  is  the function of displacement, valve timing, and cam lobe design. Valves only burn because of leaking gasses around the seats, and thats only exhaust valves. If "back pressure" is so desireable, why are freer flowing headers, larger exhaust tubing, and bigger better mufflers useful for extracting the last bit of power out of our small engines? Because they REDUCE the restrictions in the system . " Backpressure" is as useful as tits on a bull.

i agree that backpressure is not good for the engine! i have a little crx for racing that is quicker then most street legals cars out there, check it out on youtube! search for 9720680. its not backpressure that you want, but more like sustaining a good flow of pressure through out the whole exhaust system while still having that bunch to push all those bad gasses out...basically. also, since these are rigs, and dont require high reving motors at high speeds, you may also want to heat wrap your headers down to the cat, some even go past the cat up to the resinator! doing this helps keep the exhaust pipes hotter! and hotter is better as it allows more exhaust flow to move more freely. so you can gain a tad bit of power there. 

and yeah, straight piping means that you actually have no cat and instead, have a "straight pipe" in the area to which the cats supposed to be. im still getting used to these motors as this is my first tracker as well and only had it for about a month now you can say and very happy with all the help that zukiworld has given so far! 

for everyone thats looking for good quility piping, kteller.com has some of the best mandrel bents around! we use them on our race cars so i plan on putting some on the tracker very soon