Catback Exhaust v AFM

Has anyone fitted a catback exhaust to a VE / VF with AFM ?

I am looking to put a catback on my Calais V to get a V8 note as it is very quiet but not sure how they go with the AFM.

The car is my daily driver and lease vehicle so can't go OTT with mods. I do around 120km per day and am getting great fuel economy so don't want to lose that.

Can a catback be fitted and leave the AFM active without droning ?

Is AFM turned off via the tune and if it is turned off does it affect fuel economy ?

Any real world comments and what system you have fitted would be appreciated.

Cheers JK :)

JK,
Something I have been researching for over three years now. I have not actually fitted an exhaust yet (sorry no real world comments). Mines a wagon, so even more pronounced drone.
I have not heard of any catback system (yet) that does not create drone, especially when AFM kicks in. Sureflow are promoting a 3" full system that is 99% drone free in a wagon with AFM active, however it is very quiet (until you put the boot in) so maybe not what you are looking for. Video is on you tube. I will be going with this system later this year.
AFM can be turned of via a tune leaving the running gear as is. It can also be maximised via a tune. The result to fuel economy will be dependant on driving conditions i.e. mostly highway or mostly stop start city, but the effect should only be between 0.8 & 1.0 l/100k. Once again sorry for no real world, but my 2c worth anyway.

I put a catback (2.5inch S/S Xforce) on my 09 SS Ute with AFM and I never had much of a problem with it but it was my first v8 and was addicted to the noise etc. Only lasted about a month before I finished off the system and got it tuned.

FWIW - my full KPM 3" system (pre SLC) had absolutely no drone at all, even when AFM kicked in (before it was removed in the tune). My wife, who is no dummy when it comes to car stuff, could not even pick when it went in and out of AFM mode! I could feel/hear it through a slight change in pitch and slight increase in vibration, but there was little to it.

Also trying to find out if VF catback is the same fitment as VE catback.....some say yes, some say no :confused:

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Originally Posted by Mungus

JK,
Something I have been researching for over three years now. I have not actually fitted an exhaust yet (sorry no real world comments). Mines a wagon, so even more pronounced drone.
I have not heard of any catback system (yet) that does not create drone, especially when AFM kicks in. Sureflow are promoting a 3" full system that is 99% drone free in a wagon with AFM active, however it is very quiet (until you put the boot in) so maybe not what you are looking for. Video is on you tube. I will be going with this system later this year.
AFM can be turned of via a tune leaving the running gear as is. It can also be maximised via a tune. The result to fuel economy will be dependant on driving conditions i.e. mostly highway or mostly stop start city, but the effect should only be between 0.8 & 1.0 l/100k. Once again sorry for no real world, but my 2c worth anyway.

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That Sureflo system is VERY quiet as you said and hangs VERY low. So if your car is lowered at all Thats just a warning. I have the Sureflo twin 3 system on my cammed clubby. I sliced off the j pipes they put on there as it was honestly so quiet. But they do guarantee no drone and they've tested it on their AFM wagon.

I can say on the clubby with the 100cell ballistic cats and that system there is zero drone, but for most everyday driving the OP probably won't notice much difference in sound on the inside of the car from the note of the stock system

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Originally Posted by jkgmh

Also trying to find out if VF catback is the same fitment as VE catback.....some say yes, some say no :confused:

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According to XForce they are different..... http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthre...24#post2093924

I run HSV headers, ballistic cats, a HM mid section and standard rear mufflers on my VE. Looks stock from behind with the note slightly throatier at idle but a nice bark with throttle and zero drone in a wagon with AFM on or off. I have a 120km round freeway trip to work and back so would go nuts at the hint of drone.

So I am still no further progressed on a catback to run on my Calais...

Hey Wonky,

Where did you get your exhaust fitted?

Cheers, Chris.

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Originally Posted by Wonky

FWIW - my full KPM 3" system (pre SLC) had absolutely no drone at all, even when AFM kicked in (before it was removed in the tune). My wife, who is no dummy when it comes to car stuff, could not even pick when it went in and out of AFM mode! I could feel/hear it through a slight change in pitch and slight increase in vibration, but there was little to it.

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Originally Posted by jkgmh

Also trying to find out if VF catback is the same fitment as VE catback.....some say yes, some say no :confused:

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The answer is no, i had a KPM SLC system on my SS-V sedan and it had no drone, the Sureflow system sounds the goods as well. In all honesty if you don't cruise much ie. on the highway get it tuned and disabled you probably benefit more in the long run. If you do that it opens you up to all the options then rather then just the expensive ones.

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Originally Posted by Plenty

The answer is no, i had a KPM SLC system on my SS-V sedan and it had no drone, the Sureflow system sounds the goods as well. In all honesty if you don't cruise much ie. on the highway get it tuned and disabled you probably benefit more in the long run. If you do that it opens you up to all the options then rather then just the expensive ones.

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I'm doing 100km a day to work and back at 100 to 110km/h so 85% of my kms are at the 1,500 to 1,700 rpm :(

The upside is that currently I am averaging 10.5 l/100km overall and at crusing speed with AFM activated sitting on 6.5 - 7 l /100km so really happy with the economy. If I can't get a drone free catback I will just leave it stock.

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Originally Posted by jkgmh

I'm doing 100km a day to work and back at 100 to 110km/h so 85% of my kms are at the 1,500 to 1,700 rpm :(

The upside is that currently I am averaging 10.5 l/100km overall and at crusing speed with AFM activated sitting on 6.5 - 7 l /100km so really happy with the economy. If I can't get a drone free catback I will just leave it stock.

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go for the sureflow system, less chance of drone with cats and headers as well.

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Originally Posted by Krizto

Hey Wonky,

Where did you get your exhaust fitted?

Cheers, Chris.

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Hi Chris,

At Chev's, same as pretty much everything I get done.

Cheers,
Gary

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Originally Posted by Plenty

go for the sureflow system, less chance of drone with cats and headers as well.

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Lease vehicle so NO header and cat change, only catback if I can get no drone version !!! Have emailed Greg so see what he can offer.