Aftermarket Mufflers

[SkullV]

I was wondering if anyone has had only aftermarket mufflers installed on their V...I would love to go with the whole header/cat-back system but I can't really afford it right now. I am looking for a muffler setup that will provide the max HP gain along with a great sound. The only mufflers I have any experience with are Flowmaster 40 series and I think that these will be WAY too loud. Has anyone had any luck with a different muffler ONLY setup as far as HP gains and great sound?

[Kadonny]

Just mufflers? The stock set up is not really good to do just mufflers. When you say mufflers, do you mean catback?

How about trying to cut out the sound batts in the stock system and see if that pleases you. That mod is almost free.

Oh, and don't expect much if any gains on an exhaust.

[The Tony Show]

I tried exactly what you're talking about, and wasn't happy at all. I've got the money, but figured I could cheap out and get good results and boy was I wrong. Had some Flowmasters put in place of the factory mufflers, and while it sounded decent at wide open throttle, they droned like crazy at highway speeds and actually robbed a little power.

My advice is to save a few bucks a week and get a good, dyno tuned exhaust from B&B, Corsa, Magnaflow, etc... The Corsa is the most expensive (around a grand), but the others can be had much cheaper. Do a search for exhaust prices, and you and your car will be happier with a good system.

[trukk]

Originally Posted by SkullV

I was wondering if anyone has had only aftermarket mufflers installed on their V...I would love to go with the whole header/cat-back system but I can't really afford it right now. I am looking for a muffler setup that will provide the max HP gain along with a great sound. The only mufflers I have any experience with are Flowmaster 40 series and I think that these will be WAY too loud. Has anyone had any luck with a different muffler ONLY setup as far as HP gains and great sound?

By just changing the mufflers I wouldn't expect much if any HP gain. Adding a cat back really doesn't add much either.

A solution for you may be going with some replacement High Flow Cats. While not the cheapest solution, it would be less than most of the Cat Backs (exception is magnaflow) & all the headers out there, and would add the HP and sound you are looking for.

Random Tech makes a direct replacement set of Cat's for the V. They run approx $700, but are very high quality, and they provided great cust service. They work very well also. I noted a SOTP difference when I added them. My rough guestimate would be approx 7rwhp /7rwtq.

As an added bonus, they really lower the exaust note, and add a nice growl to the sound.

-Chris

[MWD]

Originally Posted by trukk

Random Tech makes a direct replacement set of Cat's for the V. They run approx $700, but are very high quality, and they provided great cust service. They work very well also. I noted a SOTP difference when I added them. My rough guestimate would be approx 7rwhp /7rwtq.

-Chris

Wow Chris, that is a highly calibrated butt-dyno!

Michael

[V-Smooth]

My $.02...go and buy some glasspack style chambered mufflers to replace the stock V mufflers (cost maybe $30-$40 a piece), then replace the existing resonator with an X-pipe. Find a muffler shop that deals in cash and is reputable. Total cost plus labor will be around $150 - $200 at the very most. The sound is pretty sweet. My buddy has this set up on his GTO, it's not obnoxious, not overly loud, mellow rumble at idle and a great muscle car sound at WOT. I was amazed at the fact that he spent as little as he did.

[V-Smooth]

...oh and while you're at it splurdge on some bigger 3" - 4" exhaust tips a killer sounding system for under $350.

[Luna.]

Originally Posted by The Tony Show

My advice is to save a few bucks a week and get a good, dyno tuned exhaust from B&B, Corsa, Magnaflow, etc... The Corsa is the most expensive (around a grand), but the others can be had much cheaper. Do a search for exhaust prices, and you and your car will be happier with a good system.

Zoomers, Corsa, B&B and Magnaflow are the most popular exhaust systems (sprinkle a little Borla in there as well). Try and hear them all before making a decision. Magnaflow will probably check in the cheapest, Corsa (at the moment) probably the most expensive. In all honesty, however, don't go for necessarily the least expensive exhaust system. You'll hear your exhaust every time you drive your car, so don't cut your budget here. Get what you want from minute one and you will probably be happiest that way.

[Silver Dollar]

Go HERE

[trukk]

Originally Posted by MWD

Wow Chris, that is a highly calibrated butt-dyno!

Michael

Heh, I 've had that conversation with Luna before.

When I pulled off the cats, and replaced them & stock manifold with Headers/Cats combo, I picked up about 10 rwhp/rwtq (note that I had a tune prior, and had it retuned after, so the real difference was the headers.) additionally I had my car dyno'd at the same time as another, and we had nearly identical mods, except the cats, and we ended up jjust about 10/10 away from each other. That, and the butt-o-meter, is where I got my numbers from. I'd love to see a before/after with the cats & a tune.

-Chris

[DRKSIDE]

Hmmm... sounds like flowmasters and a lightweight flywheel would hit better on the SOTP dyno... and cost about the same.

Thanks for the info!

[911ss]

heres my setup. i fust replaced the mufflers with straight pipe. also replaced the tips. i like it, it sounds louder bc its in the garage i think. at wot you can hear the engine over the exhaust so its not that bad. i have 2 slp loudmouth's sitting in my garage im thinking about replacing the resonators with.

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Picture220.flv

[SkullV]

Originally Posted by TN BLACK V

Hmmm... sounds like flowmasters and a lightweight flywheel would hit better on the SOTP dyno... and cost about the same.

Thanks for the info!

TN...I ended up going with the Magnaflow and I couldn't be happier! I have heard an LSX engine with just the flowmasters on it and like someone said earlier in this thread it droned like crazy. You would be happier spending the money on a Magnaflow and the Flywheel because you would STILL be under the price of a Corsa!

Ted

[Alan F]

I'm going to be the rebel just for a minute...

OK, I'm sure one of you guys w/ a physics degree will chime in and jump on me but...

The TRUE DUAL mandrel bent stainless exhaust system that comes on a V measures 2.5" on the rear section...I think it is slightly under 2.5" underneath the mid-section of the car, therefore possibly slightly less volume. (I'm measuring the inlet/outlets on my resonator that now sits in my garage)

How can any of you say that its worth $800-$1200 for a 2.5" catback when you could pay $350 installed for two stainless straight through mufflers (same exact as what you'd get on any of these cat-back systems <borla or magnaflow, don't know about loose corsa mufflers>) and have the exhaust shop ditch the resonator for an X or H pipe? The part number for the catback may be unique...but the muffler they use in the catback came off the shelf...same as you can buy.

The truth is...most of you guys will not go extreme w/ these Vs. A few of you have gone bigger cubes etc., but the majority of us will stay stock cubes, maybe a little more and dual 2.5" exhaust is more than adequate flow for small blocks making the power we make or will make. So...until someone proves that dual 3" is needed...I'm thinking !resonator and replacing mufflers is just as good as aftermarket cat-back.

My .02 only. I actually want to hear the response as I could be swayed, but as of now there's no way I'd pay retail value on an aftermarket cat-back for what you've all seen as no substantial dyno return.

Give me facts as to why replacing the muffler and/or ditching resonator doesn't give as good of results.

[911ss]

btw i payed less than 180 and most of that was bc the tips werent cheap to buy.