additionally, most people on here have never worked for or understand how global manufacturing works. If they did, they wouldn't comment on why something was a bad design. Until they have sat in on meetings regarding marketability, cost analysis, production run, production run time, minimizing waste, conserving energy, all the while meeting EPA requirements for not only the vehicles but also your manufacturing process, only then will they get it.

 

If you knew what it takes to manufacture the mandrel bent 180 and fit it in the vehicle you wouldn't say that they took the easy way out.

Agreed!

 

You can't have it all. You agree manufactures make compromises, and this is exactly my point, and on the other hand you imply the current design is the best there is no aftermarket will provide an improvement.
What you said supports the opinion of manufactures compromising and using crappy parts. Simple as that. You want to justify it, sure... It is justifiable as per your argument.

* and oh, excuse my ignorance...on a second thought, no... Has nothing to do with what it takes but with what it costs. And re-routing and re-designing and introducing more components is tenfold more expensive.

 

All I was trying to say is that the loop is not an easy piece to make or install. To be completely honest, I don't know enough about exhaust to comment on if it could be better. I do however know what it took to design and manufacture the loop and trust me, it wouldn't be there if it didn't offer some advantage that (at least in the designers eyes and those that approved it) outweighed the disadvantage(s).

The OP was asking if the loop is needed... In my opinion, it is.

 

Equal length pipes allow you to have one tune for an engine. Unequal length pipes require a separate tune for each cylinder or each bank, depending on how many different lengths you have. That loop makes the computer logic a whole lot less complex...and therefore cheaper to design, manufacture, and maintain. Those long term factors far outweigh the cost of manufacture of the loop. I believe that is the basis behind the design. K.I.S.S.

 

I may happen to know the aforementioned engineers. It's not my place to make specific comments, but as a guy starting a custom build that requires moving the exhaust, I can tell you that it's a topic I've discussed. Keep one thing in mind, the exhaust design needs to work for 2-doors, 4-doors, right hand drive, left hand drive, etc. Lots of the design aspects are there because they accommodate every engine and design worldwide. As a previous poster noted, they need to manufacture at scale. Sure, on the surface it may appear that the exhaust design adds cost. However, it reduces cost when it can be used in every variation of the Wrangler.

Anyway, my loop will be deleted and I have no concerns about it. Comments about equal length, etc, are relevant and should be researched.

 

I'll be installing a Exhaust Loop relocation kit next weekend that essentially turns the trumpet sideways (wholly replaced unit), increasing the clearance.

 

I owned a 2004 Subaru WRX STI, it came factory with Unequal length exhaust. This gave it the popular STI throaty uneven rumble.
A friend had the same car, He swapped his Unequal length headers to Equal length headers. It sounded like a Nissan 370Z it purred and was smoother driving.
It lost the STI boxer rumble. But gained a smoother tone and manners. Just a different sound and vibration to exhaust system.
We both still ran 13.4's in the Quater mile. We'd traded wins.

I am a Mechanical Engineer and I approve this message.
Hack the beoch up and let us know how it works.

Goodluck

 

Equal or unequal length exhaust mani/headers? - Subaru Impreza WRX STI Forums: IWSTI.com

A good read.

Ernie

 

Revive this thread..........wanna see some examples of the loop removed!