I had a 4" version on my old Mustang SVO. Ahhh...the sound of the turbo still brings back memories. Those bullets aren't much of a muffler though. They just take the edge off and that's about it.
I had a 98 Z28 with a 3" bullet in the I-pipe. For those that aren't familiar, the last of the F-bodys had a single 3" exhaust that went into a dual outlet muffer at the rear of the car. It looked like dual exhaust, but wasn't even close. I removed my stock muffler, put a 3" bullet under the car in the intermediate pipe, then put a Y-pipe where the stock muffler was, to keep the dual pipes. At idle it was hardly louder than the stock muffler, but as rpms rose, so did the sound. About 5k it got really killer sounding. Up to redline (6250) it sounded very Nascar-ish. Music to the ears. I wish I knew how it would sound in duals on an SBF. The Chebbie was very easy to get around with. The volume was controlled purely by the throttle. If the sound cops were around, or I didn't want to wake the neighbors, I just used the throttle accordingly. The 3" pipe made things very deep sounding, so I could go through a parking lot, not sounding loud, but just the deep bass would set off alarms as I went. Edit: I have thought very seriously about doing the same with a Maverick. With all the trouble getting decent sized pipe over the driver's side, one could just run 3" pipe over the passenger side and split into dual pipes. As long as the pipe is true mandrel bent, it will flow more than a small V8 needs. Ask any Z28 guy that is running 450 rwhp and is going through a single 3" I-pipe under the car.
well it can be done but its gonna cost alot of $$$$ and the 22 new gas tank was $250 this is gonna be a cheap fix about $90 for the 2 flowtech mufflers the pipes,chrome tips,and the argon.(no more H-pipe)
Shoot. If i had the money, time and Doe. I would by the new loud mouth Exhaust system with an Xpipe. Its said to be one of the best exhaust systems made. I saw a set for sale on the Steeda web site. But its worth a pretty penny.
The F-body crowd has been going through this discussion for years. Now it has made it to my Maverick board! The loudmouth was started by SLP for the Z28. It is not a muffler, but just a bullet shaped expansion chamber. Very quickly the F-body folks started making their own with Dynomax race bullets. Much-much cheaper. No it isn't stainless, but it actually does sound better. The race bullets are ceramic packed with no baffles. It takes the edge off that is created by the hollow expansion chamber. If you like the system, get a couple DM race bullets and an x-pipe. Dave Edit: I should mention that the LM system relies on the cats being in place to control some of the sound. Without cats, the LM sounds like @ss IMO. The race bullets don't sound as bad, but can be raspy if not done right.
Oh. well isnt that expansion chamber just a cat because cats just have ceramic tiles in it. I love the way that they sound tho.
my cousins husband installed a LM on his 05 pony and said that instead of mufflers it uses resonators i go to hear it when i went to TJ and it sounded like S#!^.....last time i talked to him he said it sounded so bad he took if of for the stock equipment
What! He must have done somthing wrong. I have herd them on 5.0s and they sound great. But the length of pipe used has to be taken into consideration.
Old technology is not allways a bad thing, new technology is not allways a good thing. I'd rather use something tried and proven than something new and unproven. It's really all about what you like. I prefer to be different than everyone else, so I run glasspacks. I think the Flomaster crowd all sound the same, but if thats what you like, go for it. There is something in the resonace of the turbo/flowmaster style muffs that turns me off, sort of like the old Thrush "can" muffs of years ago, a tinny sound. Thats why I prefer glasspacks, they smooth the sound better, but I'm an old fart and don't guess many younger guys will agree. Thats OK, if everyone built cars they way I do, there would be no variety, and we all know, variety is the spice of life!
My comments about the glasspacks and side exit really pertain to two aspects of the situation. You live in an urban environment. All freeways are lined with K-rail and most streets are line with buildings in pretty close proximity. With side exit exhaust, you will have all that sound reflected back at your car most of the time. A quiet system with side exit would be loud under those circumstances. This will also cause the neighbors to complain and get the attention of the police on every occasion. The droning and reverberation in the car have several bad effects. On a long drive, these sounds can cause you to "zone" or seem to become less attentive. I don't know how to explain it but low frequency noise can cause you to lose your ability to focus almost like you were dozing off. A two hour drive can become a challenge. These sounds, over time can also cause hearing loss. Ask me how I know this. It can get to the point where you have a constant ringing in your ears, can't hear conversations unless you are looking right at the person, can't tell the difference between a cheap boom box and a high end stereo, etc. What sounds good to you now can cause permanent damage to your hearing, can get you constant hassles with the local cops, can t-off the neighbors and can get you killed if you are not really carefull. And that is why I was recommending a quieter setup with rear exit exhaust. With a relatively stock 302, you can use 2.5" pipe from the manifolds to the crossover/xpipe (roughly 30" to 40" back) continuing to the input to the mufflers, then use 2" pipe to the bumper with turn downs at the end. It will clear the gas tank, still flow more than your motor and be quiet enough to be pleasant to drive. Tune the sound with the type of muffler you use. This will reduce interior noise and drone, will not create too much back pressure, not get you in trouble with the police, etc. In the end, it will always be your decision. I made mine at your age..and have paid for it every since. Just trying to give you a little perspective on possible consequences and options. BTW, I love the sound of open exhaust, big bocks, top fuel cars, etc. The thrill of my life was spending the evening as the starter at a Nostoglia Fuel cars race. I can still feel it in my chest everytime I think back to that night! Just not on a daily driver.
Best sounding exhaust was on my 85 Mustang. 306 with 10:1, Bassani stepped long tubes w/ 3in collector, 3in X, 3in Spintech muffs, dumped right in front of the rear axle. Here's a vid of it just over a year ago, man I shouldn't have sold her. right click/save as http://www.illhostit.net/files/32/febracing.wmv
Not that I am for glasspacks, I have 2 points to make: 1: Many of todays aftermarket mufflers are fiber packed, even though they look like traditional turbos or flowmasters... I have seen cutaways of many "modern" late model muffs, and most are packed or chambered. 2: The life of any muffler has a lot to do with it's placement within the system. Exhaust gasses cool and shrink every inch they get away from the collectors. That being said, packed mufflers are very heat and pressure sensitive. Therefore, the further downstream in the exhaust, the longer they last. I have seen (and done myself) many mufflers put right after the header or H pipe, the increased pressure and heat will degrade and blow the packing out. When the muffler is moved at least just before the axle, it helps a lot. Then making sure your muffler is packed with something more heat resistant, like ceramic fiber also goes a long way. Look at modern cars, many, if not most, have the mufflers behind the axle nowadays. Helps flow, muffler life, and sound control due to less heat. Just some thoughts. Dave
Jayman, I got to agree about the side exits, better to exit toward the rear, if not at the rear bumper at least turn down at the rear axle. Also, the further the muffler is away from the engine, usually better sound and longer life like you said. Thats one reason header muffs are so loud. Now see, I do agree with the younger guys about a few things!
Jayman. Thanks for the imput. i will take that in account with my new exhaust that i am contemplating about. My hearing is important, i dont realy notice my hearing bothering me while driving, but then again i have to look at people when they talk to me. Note: Always wear hearing protection while hunting or shooting.
