Muffler Eliminators

[jimmers]

I posted awhile back about them. I called a few muffler places around me to see if they were legal and they all said aslong as they werent really loud then its ok. So im just wondering if it is worth the risk to buy them? Im looking to get performance but dont want a ticket. Would i be better off buying a performance muffler? Is the performance gains between no mufflers and a performance muffler worth it? Thanks for the input!

 

[MPoore]

I bought a set from Mid America for an '85, used them for a week, and took them off. It was way too loud for the street. The only caveat to my story is that the vehicle didn't have the cat. While the cat isn't a muffler, I think it does affect sound level.

Mike

 

[jimmers]

i forgot to mention that i dont have a cat either.

 

[MPoore]

If you remember the cherry bomb mufflers, these are LOUDER! I went on a 150 mile trip while they were installed and the resonance at highway speed was so bad I couldn't comfortably listen to the radio. That was the last straw.

There are a lot of excellent mufflers for a little more money than the eliminators. The tuners get great power numbers with them, so I don't think it is a significant hindrance to power.

Mike

 

[John Robinson]

Remove the Resonator

The resonators are ahead of the mufflers and they take the stock 2.5" pipe and reduce it to 1 7/8" then back to 2.5" to the mufflers. The muffler shop here will take out the resonators an leave the mufflers for 75.00 They say it makes a big difference in the sound. I did some calculations and with the 1 7/8" resonators removed and 2.5" pipe put in their place you improve the flow of the stock system by about 77% (Less Restriction). I will be doing this mod in the future. If it works it's a cheap upgrade if not what have I lost

 

[Vettefan87]

i forgot to mention that i dont have a cat either.

Just take your mufflers off, that is what it will sound like, but it wont resonate inside the car as bad, since the sound will be moving out behind the bumper.

 

[UB2 SLOW]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67792&highlight=dyno

Here is what my car sounds like with the eliminators. I love them!

 

[jimmers]

Just take your mufflers off, that is what it will sound like, but it wont resonate inside the car as bad, since the sound will be moving out behind the bumper.

Thats a good point, i never thought to do that. Are they usually welded on?
UB2 SLOW that does sound really awesome!! Do you have a cat and is the sound to loud at times?

 

[c4speeder]

i bought the lt1 style muffler eliminator kit and had the local muffler shop do 2 in a half inch true dual form the headers back with high flow cats on each side and ive never heard anything so loud before. it sounded awesome at and idle and cruising around but when i floored it everyone within 5 blocks new i was coming so it all depends on how you drive and how often u open her up it was money well spent

 

[Vettefan87]

Thats a good point, i never thought to do that. Are they usually welded on?
UB2 SLOW that does sound really awesome!! Do you have a cat and is the sound to loud at times?

No, you just put them on with hose clamps. Mine has two pieces, one is the elbow piece from the exhaust, then the other is the two tips. I'll dig up what my car sounds like with open exhaust which is basically the same thing....

http://home.comcast.net/~vettefan87/vette.wmv
This was done with just my TPIS headers, and the Y pipe, also my buddy was like 15 feet behind me with the camera.

 

[jimmers]

No, you just put them on with hose clamps. Mine has two pieces, one is the elbow piece from the exhaust, then the other is the two tips. I'll dig up what my car sounds like with open exhaust which is basically the same thing....

http://home.comcast.net/%7Evettefan87/vette.wmv
This was done with just my TPIS headers, and the Y pipe, also my buddy was like 15 feet behind me with the camera.

Thanks for the video! Sounds really good. Was it to loud in the car though?

 

[Vettefan87]

It was a lot louder inside the car with just the open Y pipe, then with the full length stock exhaust with the elims, just for it bouncing around under the car. I drove it for a couple weeks like that, but I am almost 18 too so I'm young . I love the sound, and wouldn't change it unless the police forced me to.

 

[WhalePirot]

it wont resonate inside the car as bad, since the sound will be moving out behind the bumper.

I used to believe this, but don't any more.

I am on my second set of Flowmasters (new engine, PLUS). They breathe great; much better than stock or the attractive, but too-loud Monzas, which I used for a few weeks. These Flowmasters came with (ugly) rather long tips, which I retained only to keep the sound exitting as far behind the bumper as possible. I recently changed to some attractive chrome tips and was surprised at the lack of increase in noise. You can see from the attached, that these new tips end very close to the rear bumper.
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/fry747/MyVette/RRnewTips.JPG

I believe what my local performance exhaust shop said: the resonance is due to the large, squarish area inside the body shell, forward of the rear bumper. The Flowmasters' flat surfaces make great sound-emanating panels. I believe this is why so many on this forum bemoan the resonance of the Flowmasters, more than Corsas or DynoMax, which are rounder in shape.

I spent may days and some buck$ to deaden the interior with FatMat, which made a small difference. It seems that on my car, too much sound comes from other places than just this rear 'box'.
This is three layers: http://members.dslextreme.com/users/fry747/MyVette/FatMat/FatRear.JPG

As the threads point to, exhaust sound is very personal, so you'll just have to do your best to experience various setups inside and outside the cars.
Hey there are worse chores!

 

[Mad-Mic]

it's not that bad especially inside the cockpit until you get up to 3k in rpm then she sounds MEAN!!!

http://www.corvettekillstories.com/photogallery/albums/Mad-Mic/Racing/Sweet_Sin.wmv

TPiS long tubes, no cats, chambered muffler elims

BTW i started with straight dumps off my rear Y pipe but it was just TOO loud in the cockpit with the noise bouncing off the pavement and back into the car it's just as loud but as some of the other guys said it's out the back of the car past the bumper now.