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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Performance => Exhaust => Topic started by: Lt.Del on June 10, 2005, 01:45:00 pm

Title: which muffler??
Post by: Lt.Del on June 10, 2005, 01:45:00 pm: I recently had my exhaust system redone from the catalytic converter back, since the cat and pipe forward were replaced just two years ago. I have single exhaust 3" pipes. I had them take the old muffler off and just go w/ straight pipes from cat back. I thought it would have a nice sound to it that way. Well, i think it is more sound than i bargained for. That puppy sounds great....but, i think a little too loud for a family vehicle. It sounds really good once i get up to speed, but accelerating from a stoplight or just taking off, I wake up the neighborhood!
My wife thinks it is a little too loud. What muffler do you experienced people recommend? I want it to still sound a little loud, just not so loud accelerating. If i get a muffler with 3" inlet and outlet, will it slide into place if i cut a section off of the 3" exhaust pipe? Or will i have to get it slightly larger than a 3" inlet/outlet so the 3" pipe will fit in it?

thanks in advance

SgtDel

suburban
www.delbridge.net

Edited by: SgtDel at: 6/10/05 5:52 pm
Title: Re: which muffler??
Post by: bowtieguy on June 10, 2005, 01:43:00 pm: Magnaflow. Put one just before your Y after the cat. You will Love it! Very deep but retains that wide open sound yet won't SCREAM at you. Very mello.

Good luck
Brad
Title: which muffler??
Post by: Lt.Del on June 10, 2005, 06:06:00 pm: Magnaflow, huh? Well, I am wondering if this one would quiet it down some, it is a magnaflow 12619

It has a 3" inlet and 3" outlet. If my pipe, which i need to cut a segment out, is 3", then would i have to expand the inlet and outlet to fit the 3" pipe into it?

Thanks for the info

SgtDel
www.delbridge.net
Title: Re: which muffler??
Post by: DnStClr on June 10, 2005, 09:14:00 pm: Yeah, Sgt.Del, you'd have to. The 3" would be the measurement on the outside dia. of the muffler's inlet and outlet tubes.
Don
Title: muffler
Post by: Lt.Del on June 11, 2005, 08:35:00 pm: Anyone have any secrets to expand the pipes for the inlet/outlet so the same 3" size will fit into the muffler? I have a propane torch to get it hot, i just don't have an expander of any sort. There should be some clever tips someone may have to expand the pipe end.

SgtDel
Title: muffler
Post by: Lt.Del on June 11, 2005, 08:47:00 pm: Has anyone used one of these expanders? Do they work alright? I found this one on ebay, around $30 w/ shipping. If this works, it may be just what i need.

any input would be appreciated.

thanks
SgtDel
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: DnStClr on June 11, 2005, 08:54:00 pm: Nice. But, what about taking the muffler to a muffler shop and have them expand it for you? You might find that the muffler is already expanded when you buy it.It should be something like 1/8" bigger than the exhaust tubing.
Title: muffler
Post by: Lt.Del on June 11, 2005, 09:05:00 pm: it would be very nice if the muffler is slightly oversized, but i fear the worst due to it saying the inlet/outlet is 3 inches. My pipe is 3 inches.
I just spent $200 on this exhaust system to get the 3" pipes from the cat back to the rear. I dont wanna spend too much more...tyring the cheap way first, just buying the muffler and using old fashioned clamps. I have an arc welder, but they may burn right thru the pipes.
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: DnStClr on June 11, 2005, 09:29:00 pm: Yes. It's something like 16 gauge metal. Maybe run ac and don't stay in one place too long while you're running the bead.
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: Blazin on June 12, 2005, 04:13:00 pm: I have a Snap On version of that expander and I have stretch many a pipe with it, they work well but you need air and an impact. The muffler should slide over the pipe on the inlet end and into the pipe on the outlet end. In other words expand the mufflers inlet and the pipe on the outlet. Also instead of welding the muffler. I would recommend band clamps like big rigs use, they look allot cleaner, they are stainless steel, work good too, and If you don't like the sound you an remove the muffler with out cutting it out or trying to pull it off the pipe after a regular clamp has distorted it.
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: DnStClr on June 12, 2005, 09:57:00 pm: Yeah. Band clamps are the way to go. Napa carries them. Install with an impact wrench for a good fit
www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2006231/showCustom-0/p-2006231/N-111+10201+600001718/c-10101
Edited by: DnStClr at: 6/12/05 8:58 pm
Title: muffler
Post by: Lt.Del on June 12, 2005, 09:45:00 pm: Excellent advice...thanks. I never used a band clamp, but that seems like it should be the way to go. Thanks for the info on the expander also. Its a peice of mind knowing they work alright.

SgtDel
"Andy"
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: Blazin on June 13, 2005, 10:17:00 am: I always spray a bit of WD40 or PB Blaster on the threads of mine before and during use.
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: bowtieguy on June 13, 2005, 12:00:00 pm: SO are you leaning toward a Magnaflow??!!! I have the oval style on mine, not the bullet type. I think the bullet style would be a little louder, but still better than strait pipes!! Let us know how you like it!

GOOD LUCK!

Brad
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: roundedline on June 13, 2005, 04:34:00 pm: I use Dynomax and have recently put a Magnaflow on the Jimmy. They didn't have a Dynomax so...

I "HATE" band clamps. They don't seal very well as there is nothing holding them. They are different metal than the exhaust and expand at different rates and everyone I have see slid back. The last one was on a 2000 Z28 that a customer brought in for us to put a turbo on. I told him before he left, you are going to loose your exhaust or beat it to death if you get into it hard and I won't be responsible for your exhaust or the turbo if you don't let us weld it up. He disagreed. 30 minutes later he is back at the shop wanting us to fix it (by putting the band clamps back on). If fell almost all the way off on his way home.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: Blazin on June 14, 2005, 12:55:00 pm: When I worked at the local oil / lpg co. thats all we used on the big trucks and they never came lose unless some simpleton ran the pipe into something. I do know a guy that runs a bead of high temp rtv silicone along both edges of his band clamps.
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: roundedline on June 14, 2005, 04:26:00 pm: I am sure they work in a Big truck environment, but this Z28 has a 6L in it and was built for a big turbo and lots of rpms. In addition (more contribution for them not working) when he came back, we found there was about a 1" gap between one of the pipes after you had to press it as close together as you possibly could. The system was already under tension and then he was trying to clamp it together. I guess I would just rather weld them or put a good connector on it.
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: DnStClr on June 14, 2005, 07:44:00 pm: Last year I ran a 4" exhaust on my Duramax and they were reccommended. Maybe I better check to see if anything loosened up. (But not tonite. It's raining cats and dogs around here.)
Title: Re: muffler
Post by: Blazin on June 15, 2005, 07:53:00 am: I wouldn't use them to but two pipes together. The pipes still need to be fitted inside one another.
Title: hmmm
Post by: ChevyGuy on June 15, 2005, 09:45:00 pm: Shadetree mechanic it!!!!! It always works with a torch and a 110 wire feed welder.
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: bowtieguy on June 16, 2005, 02:09:00 pm: who needs a welder! Just the torch!!! Get it red hot so all slides together and use some bailing wire to hold it up!!!
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: Blazin on June 16, 2005, 08:08:00 pm: Or just the torch and an old coat hanger, weld it up!
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: 85c10 on June 16, 2005, 08:21:00 pm: when i got my exhaust done one pipe slid into the other and he got some of them pipe clamps and used an impact on them then he welded a little bit of it
Shane
1985 chevy c-10 silveraldo
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: TRUCK6DRIVER on June 17, 2005, 04:49:00 pm: SUPER GLUE!!! No wait it was DUCT TAPE!!! yea thats the ticket.

Seriously guys do it right the first time. Take it to a muffler shop and have it mig welded in.

I like the sound of a dynomax super turbo.
My 2 cents

RH
Edited by: TRUCK6DRIVER at: 6/17/05 3:50 pm
Title: MUFFLER
Post by: Lt.Del on June 21, 2005, 12:08:00 pm: Thanks for the input guys. I got some good ideas. I ordered the pipe expander. Unsure of the clamps yet, heck i may take it to shop to get it welded once it is in place...it can't cost too much for that. But then again, i am kind of getting used to the loud system now. My wife thinks i am turning into a redneck, i said, "turning? where have you been?" Yehaaww! Get down on that sucker and wear ear plugs.

It is after all, street legal. In Va, all we need to pass inspections is the cat on it. No muffler needed if you have a cat. It just gives me better reason to turn the stereo up louder.

Edited by: SgtDel at: 6/21/05 11:10 am
Title: Re: MUFFLER
Post by: 1976Scottsdale on June 23, 2005, 10:25:00 pm: I would recomend the flowtech terminator. A nice, deep rumbly, but not too loud. It gives your truck a nice, loud floored take off, but when cruising, it is pretty quiet. I am running mine with a dynomax 2.25 dual kit and my dad likes it better than his flowmaster 40's.
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: DnStClr on June 27, 2005, 12:14:00 pm: Roundedline-I'll bet it was fun tryin to fill a 1" gap with weld.
Just kidding- I'm guessing you used a connector.
Title: Re: hmmm
Post by: roundedline on June 28, 2005, 11:18:00 am: DnStClr he didn't want it welded. So we had to put the stupid band clamps back on. It lasted roughly the same amount of time that it did the first time but I told him drive it slow and take it easy on the way home and you will make it. He chose to get into it and blew the system off.

Funny thing is when he came back the first time after it fell off, he told me the turbo was bad. I asked him how could the turbo possibly go bad. He said because I can't get any boost anymore. Then I had to explain to him that he lost the exhaust, so there is nothing to spin the turbo anymore... DUH!!!
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: mufflers
Post by: 87swb on July 02, 2005, 02:31:00 pm: well since we are talkin' about mufflers, what do the cherry bomb mufflers that you buy at auto zone sound like? they have 2 kinds the regular cherry bombs and the turbo 2 cherry bombs. anyone know what they sound like? i want something that sounds like flowmasters but not as high. right now i have a TBI 305 with headers and a 2 and a quarter inch pipes with glasspacks, and they sound good but if i didn't know any better i'd say they slowed my truck down and hurt my gas mileage as compared to those Flotech raptors i had on there which i took off because they were tooooo quiet for me but were a good muffler for 16 bucks. any ideas anyone???
Title: Heres a link
Post by: solopitdgmn on July 04, 2005, 01:14:00 pm: www.pypesexhaust.com/

Try this link and see if it helps with your decision. Their just a flowmaster knockoff.
Title: Re: Heres a link
Post by: roundedline on July 05, 2005, 10:21:00 am: We sell the Pypes Exhaust system on this site. They are located here for $362.75 + $65 shipping anywhere.

Pypes Exhaust System through 73-87chevytrucks.com
Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project
Title: mufflers
Post by: jacksubc20 on July 21, 2005, 05:58:00 pm: SgtDel,

Not sure if you bought the round shorty Magnaflows yet, but I put them on my big block 78 burban w/headers and 2.5" duals exiting behind rear wheels and they were not what I expected--very loud and poppy (like a glass pack or cherry bomb). I went with a Flowmaster 40 and think it is still a little too much, but after all that money, I'm learning to live with it. All depends on what you're loooking for. Good luck!

Cheers,
Jack
Title: muffler
Post by: Lt.Del on July 26, 2005, 12:18:00 pm: No, i havent decided yet. I am kinda used to the straight pipes right now. Let's just say it isn't high on my priority list yet. I will add a muffler eventually, just not right now. I appreciate the input. That may not damper the sound much according to what you say.

thanks

SgtDel
www.delbridge.net