Rogue
Well-known member
I finally installed an aftermarket exhaust on my 1991 L98.
It's the Dynamax Ultra-Flow Stainless Steel Mufflers and companion Y-Pipe with cross-flow tube. These ones:
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.119.983
Opinion:
The build quality of the exhaust is pretty good considering the price. The stainless steel on the mufflers where of very high quality. The exhaust tips however are kind of cheap looking. Although, nowhere near as cheap as the factory ones. I paid about $510 plus shipping, and another $100 for professional installation.
The sound is very much improved from stock. It has a very deep rumble at idle and part throttle. Now it sounds like a mean-ass V8 powered muscle car. Yet, at WOT, the sound seems subdued. Just barely louder than the factory. Hmmm......weird. I was concerned with resonance and this is why I wanted the Y-pipe with the crossover, which is suppose to "eliminate" it. Well, like most things in catalogs, there's a bit of exhaggeration in their description. There is resonance between 1,500 to 2,000 RPM. However, it's there only when the transmission shifts to top gear and the engine is under load (like climbing a hill). In any other situation, there is very little to no resonance at all. At idle, there is no resonance. At cruise on flat roads (with little engine load) there's no resonance. At engine speeds above 2,000 RPM, which is where my engine is at during freeway, the exhaust is as quiet as the stock mufflers! This was a pleasant surprise as I didn't want the low droning exhaust sound while cruising down the highway.
My only issue is that the mufflers fit a bit off. The right muffler (while facing the back of the car) sits higher than the left. According to my installer, who is a Dynomax dealer as well, this is normal on all the Dynomax mufflers he has installed on C4's. It's because of the tooling Dynomax uses to manufacture the mufflers. I don't know the truth to this but he showed me that the mufflers just bolt on and are none adjustable. Once bolted on, there's little in the way of movement or leeway to allow adjustment of the muffler height. We tried our best but just couldn't get the installed height even between the two mufflers.
Conclusion:
I'm 90% happy with the mufflers. It certainly looks quality for its relatively inexpensive price of $510 including Y-pipe. The sound is just perfect for me.
However, I'm slightly disappointed that there is still resonance. Albeit the resonance is located in a very narrow RPM band and only happens when the engine is loaded at top gear. I am more disappointed about the muffler height difference. Most people won't notice it but I do and that's all that matters I guess.
Would I buy this exhaust again? Since I have an older Corvette, the exhaust of choice isn't available--the Corsas. Thus, I couldn't get that. However, next time I may try the Magnaflows instead. For the price however, I think the Dynomax is worth a look.
What do you guys think?
It's the Dynamax Ultra-Flow Stainless Steel Mufflers and companion Y-Pipe with cross-flow tube. These ones:
http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.119.983
Opinion:
The build quality of the exhaust is pretty good considering the price. The stainless steel on the mufflers where of very high quality. The exhaust tips however are kind of cheap looking. Although, nowhere near as cheap as the factory ones. I paid about $510 plus shipping, and another $100 for professional installation.
The sound is very much improved from stock. It has a very deep rumble at idle and part throttle. Now it sounds like a mean-ass V8 powered muscle car. Yet, at WOT, the sound seems subdued. Just barely louder than the factory. Hmmm......weird. I was concerned with resonance and this is why I wanted the Y-pipe with the crossover, which is suppose to "eliminate" it. Well, like most things in catalogs, there's a bit of exhaggeration in their description. There is resonance between 1,500 to 2,000 RPM. However, it's there only when the transmission shifts to top gear and the engine is under load (like climbing a hill). In any other situation, there is very little to no resonance at all. At idle, there is no resonance. At cruise on flat roads (with little engine load) there's no resonance. At engine speeds above 2,000 RPM, which is where my engine is at during freeway, the exhaust is as quiet as the stock mufflers! This was a pleasant surprise as I didn't want the low droning exhaust sound while cruising down the highway.
My only issue is that the mufflers fit a bit off. The right muffler (while facing the back of the car) sits higher than the left. According to my installer, who is a Dynomax dealer as well, this is normal on all the Dynomax mufflers he has installed on C4's. It's because of the tooling Dynomax uses to manufacture the mufflers. I don't know the truth to this but he showed me that the mufflers just bolt on and are none adjustable. Once bolted on, there's little in the way of movement or leeway to allow adjustment of the muffler height. We tried our best but just couldn't get the installed height even between the two mufflers.
Conclusion:
I'm 90% happy with the mufflers. It certainly looks quality for its relatively inexpensive price of $510 including Y-pipe. The sound is just perfect for me.
However, I'm slightly disappointed that there is still resonance. Albeit the resonance is located in a very narrow RPM band and only happens when the engine is loaded at top gear. I am more disappointed about the muffler height difference. Most people won't notice it but I do and that's all that matters I guess.
Would I buy this exhaust again? Since I have an older Corvette, the exhaust of choice isn't available--the Corsas. Thus, I couldn't get that. However, next time I may try the Magnaflows instead. For the price however, I think the Dynomax is worth a look.
What do you guys think?