[Steele]

The record Monza is not as loud as everyone makes it out to be. Porsches by comparison are at least twice as loud in sport mode. The Jaguar F-Type R is super loud stock. Although it’s pretty glorious!

Damn it. That is on the list of 2, for my spider. The other is possible Heritage stripe in a form of a wrap depending on cost (that is 50/50), but the other and it sits on top of said list is a RM

 

[sharkcohen]

Damn it. That is on the list of 2, for my spider. The other is possible Heritage stripe in a form of a wrap depending on cost (that is 50/50), but the other and it sits on top of said list is a RM

Same here for both.

 

[mtnghost]

I highly recommend it as it sounds stock but better. Shark has owned every exhaust made for this platform so he would be the most knowledgeable about how one sounds over another but I feel out of all the systems I have heard personally, the Monza is loud cold start, glorious putting around downtown, quiet on the freeway, and once again goes into glorious mode if not a bit quiet at times in the canyons. Driving with others with different exhausts, I feel they are annoying but never with the monza. I highly recommend it and it’s also a factory part. Only down side I have seen with it is I have some surface rust but it’s purely cosmetic. Never had the flap stick but I do lubricate it with high quality silicon spray everytime it’s in the air. Oil change and spring install. So like three times in a year and a half?

 

[Augerhandle]

The random pops and bangs of the Record Monza are a lot of fun. Then I figured out under which conditions they happened, and now I can reproduce them at will, so even more fun!

 

[SteveP.]

Give this a try on the valve.

Genuine GM Fluid 88862628 Rust Penetrant and Inhibitor - 11 oz. Amazon.com: Genuine GM Fluid 88862628 Rust Penetrant and Inhibitor - 11 oz. : Automotive

Hi @sharkcohen, I've been using the ACDelco penetrant since I started my career at a Cadillac Olds dealership years ago - back then it was called Heat Valve Lubricant, back when cars had "heat riser valves", very similar to the valves in our RM exhaust. This penetrant is the best I've ever used, including PB Blaster ( my opinion ). The ACDelco penetrant is of a gray color, suspiciously looks like it has extremely fine graphite particles in suspension . . . Hmmmm .... One may also be able to purchase it at GM dealers who carry it through their parts rooms. I use it in conjunction with the Permatex spray anti-sieze (PN 81464 or 133MA) available at auto parts stores - spraying alternately the ACDelco penetrant ant the Permatex anti-sieze repeatedly while working the RM valve back and forth many times - the idea being to try to work the anti-sieze down and around the shaft. I do this at each oil change. Best, s

 

[mtnghost]

The random pops and bangs of the Record Monza are a lot of fun. Then I figured out under which conditions they happened, and now I can reproduce them at will, so even more fun!

Please do share, mine only does it around the police! 😁

 

[sharkcohen]

View attachment 95472 Hi @sharkcohen, I've been using the ACDelco penetrant since I started my career at a Cadillac Olds dealership years ago - back then it was called Heat Valve Lubricant, back when cars had "heat riser valves", very similar to the valves in our RM exhaust. This penetrant is the best I've ever used, including PB Blaster ( my opinion ). The ACDelco penetrant is of a gray color, suspiciously looks like it has extremely fine graphite particles in suspension . . . Hmmmm .... One may also be able to purchase it at GM dealers who carry it through their parts rooms. I use it in conjunction with the Permatex spray anti-sieze (PN 81464 or 133MA) available at auto parts stores - spraying alternately the ACDelco penetrant ant the Permatex anti-sieze repeatedly while working the RM valve back and forth many times - the idea being to try to work the anti-sieze down and around the shaft. I do this at each oil change. Best, s

I plan on using the ACDelco penetrant when I get my Record Monza. I understand that it indeed does have graphite. Thanks for the heads up on the Permatex anti sieze.

 

[SteveP.]

For those with RM exhausts with "stuck" valves, possibly the very judicious and careful application of heat, prior to treating with penetrant, may do the trick. I have not tried this myself, as I have not needed to, and I DO NOT recommend trying it unless you know exactly what you are doing, and only after removing the muffler assembly from the car. Best, s

 

[124Scottish Abarth]

The record Monza is not as loud as everyone makes it out to be. Porsches by comparison are at least twice as loud in sport mode. The Jaguar F-Type R is super loud stock. Although it’s pretty glorious!

I'd say you can hardly compare a 5 L supercharged V8 sound to a 1.4 L turbocharged 4 banger. Of course the Jag is gonna be louder, and most Porsches which basically exhaust right from the manifold have zero sound dampening compared to the 124.

Why not compare stock for stock against similar cars.

 

[124Scottish Abarth]

For those with RM exhausts with "stuck" valves, possibly the very judicious and careful application of heat, prior to treating with penetrant, may do the trick. I have not tried this myself, as I have not needed to, and I DO NOT recommend trying it unless you know exactly what you are doing, and only after removing the muffler assembly from the car. Best, s

Some of us are screwed no matter what I fear. I've had heat on mine, regular penetrant applications over several days, levering on it, tapping on it with a hammer.....stuck solid. I'm sure I could release it if I really got on it, but likely I'd break it first which will mean replacing the exhaust or putting up with a rattling exhaust.

 

[Augerhandle]

Please do share, mine only does it around the police! 😁

Sport mode off, I get the best sound at full acceleration, with a quick shift into the next gear between 5500 and red line. It's just one good pop at each shift.

Sport mode on, under heavy acceleration, shifting between 3000 and 3500 RPM (you kind of have to listen to the sound of the engine to know exactly when to shift) gives the best pops, usually two.

Once, and only once, it popped 4 times. I don't have a good ear for music, but it sounded like the beginning notes of Beethoven's 5th.

Pow-pow, Pow, POW!

 

[Mikeydred]

Great info on the Record Monza and compelling cases for it. Does anyone know if these are still available at dealerships or are they something that needs to purchased second hand?

 

[mtnghost]

I'd say you can hardly compare a 5 L supercharged V8 sound to a 1.4 L turbocharged 4 banger. Of course the Jag is gonna be louder, and most Porsches which basically exhaust right from the manifold have zero sound dampening compared to the 124.

Why not compare stock for stock against similar cars.

I simply chose the loudest factory cars I could think of. It wasn’t a comparison of loud vs quiet, it was it’s not that loud compared to other “sport cars” also the poster I was replying to mentioned a Porsche.

 

[124Scottish Abarth]

Sport mode off, I get the best sound at full acceleration, with a quick shift into the next gear between 5500 and red line. It's just one good pop at each shift.

Sport mode on, under heavy acceleration, shifting between 3000 and 3500 RPM (you kind of have to listen to the sound of the engine to know exactly when to shift) gives the best pops, usually two.

Once, and only once, it popped 4 times. I don't have a good ear for music, but it sounded like the beginning notes of Beethoven's 5th.

Pow-pow, Pow, POW!

Sounds like you need a pop and bang map.

Making them pop is easy. Just lift off the throttle sharply when at high revs and full throttle....

 

[Augerhandle]

Yes, I believe I covered how to do that without a map.

 

[mtnghost]

The pops and bangs map is not something I’m interested in, I mainly want what auger described. Pops on demand, burbles are more my style.

 

[TCanon2023]

Most people would probably agree that the Auto Ricambi resonated and non-resonated axle-back options are the best bang for the buck and sound great. I have personally had both versions on my 124 Abarth and they look and sound great.

I have the non-resonated exhaust on my 2017 Lusso, if I do a mid muffler delete will it give the car any sort of droning

 

[Brett67]

The volume will be increased but not by much. I didn't notice any droning but I am not as sensitive as some.

 

[Steele]

Great info on the Record Monza and compelling cases for it. Does anyone know if these are still available at dealerships or are they something that needs to purchased second hand?

I called the local CJD dealer today close to me, it was $956 out the door, $723.22 Employee price (need to call a few friends)
it will take at the least 45 days to ship to dealer

 

[TCanon2023]

The volume will be increased but not by much. I didn't notice any droning but I am not as sensitive as some.

The exhaust shop near me said it would be about $80 to do it so I’m headed there today