Muffler Question

[78 Chevyrado]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a new muffler pretty soon.  I have a 2.5" single pipe from the y-pipe to the tip out back.  Right now I have a dynomax 2.5" in/out turbo.

I'm going to get one of those cherry bomb vortex mufflers on it.  My question is, should I just get the 2.5" in/out muffler or should I get a 3" in/out on my 2.5" pipes.

Would that make a difference in the sound?  I'm not getting a 3" tailpipe, it'll stay at 2.5" either way.   The 3" and the 2.5" vortex mufflers both cost the same and have the same outer case dimensions. 

I have heard of mufflers for a 2.5 system actually having less than 2.5" internals.  I'm pretty sure either one would work good, but I'd like which ever would be deeper sounding, if it would make a difference at all.

Thanks Guys

[Irish_Alley]

i don't think putting a 3" section is going to change the sound that much, i under stand what your saying tho. i would just stick to the 2.5 and skip all the adapters and be done with it. now if you were to redo the muffler back then yes go with the 3" but if your going to keep the 2.5 then stay with the 2.5

[VileZambonie]

Yeah it'll sound different.... because you'll have leaks all around your .250" gap around your pipe connections  Just get the muffler that fits your pipes.

[eventhorizon66]

I have heard of mufflers for a 2.5 system actually having less than 2.5" internals.  I'm pretty sure either one would work good, but I'd like which ever would be deeper sounding, if it would make a difference at all.

I have heard the opposite.  A 3" will not necessarily flow better than a 2.5" as the cores are often the same.  Do you only want a deeper sound or would you like more flow?  If it's mainly the latter and you don't mind a louder muffler, you should look into Dynomax Ultraflo Welded 2.5".  In a single 2.5" system, they will will support around 500hp loss-free (depending on the case configuration).  My guess is that it would also be a bit deeper in tone than a turbo case.

This one flows 1200cfm (@ 1.5" Hg) and is rated to support 545 loss-free hp:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17559/10002/-1 (The size is a misprint of course...2 1/5" )

But regardless of the type of muffler, I'd just stick with a 2.5".

[78 Chevyrado]

Yeah it'll sound different.... because you'll have leaks all around your .250" gap around your pipe connections  Just get the muffler that fits your pipes.

Well, I was going to bondo the connections so I wouldn't have a gap   

I'm not worried about performance, But I don't want to lose any (though that's not much of a worry either).  I'm after which will sound deeper, if either.  I still have the stock engine in a 5000lb. pickup , so a muffler ain't gonna help me much powerwise one way or the other...    

I'll probably just get the 2.5" so I won't have to pay the muffler shop to swedge my pipes out to fit. 

It's super hard to explain how a muffler sounds from one person to another, and over the last year or two I keep going back to checkin out those vortex, so I'm gonna try one just to see what it's like.  If I don't like it, I'll cut it out and replace it again in a year or two.