in my 70 electra convertible which has stage 1 heads and 290-94h cam,msd ,edelbrock and holley ,i run magnaflows PLUS dynomax resonators to tone down....great sound, drone muffled but still sounds very tough....i have a set of new dynos for up front which perform well but were too quiet so when i add headers i may reinstall those dynosuper turbos.
I'd like to revive this discussion if I might. I'd like to purchase an exhaust system for my '66 Skylark. I'd like a "nice" sound (relative term) BUT I DON'T want o piss off the neighbors (I notice that some like to). I imagine that you get what you get when you order online, so I'm looking for some opinions. Nice deep sound but not so loud that I wake up the neighbors when I pull in at 2am. This is a driver not meant for the track. Any recommendations - brand or type? And what's the benefit, if any, of X-pipes vs. straight - sound, performance, etc.? Theo My66Skylark
Let us know what engine you are running as that will effect the sound and diamter for the exhaust you will want. To make a long storry short the X pipe will make the car sound a little less noisey and it also adds a bit of HP over a straight or "true" dual system. The H pipe is almost as good as the X pipe in adding a few HP but it is easier to add into a regular or existing dual setup. Basically if you want a new system and you are after every bit of HP available then go with a mandrel bent X pipe system. If you want a more traditional dual sound where you can hear each cylinder fire then the true dual system is likely what you want. I would not worry about the couple of HP you might give up with a true dual system unless you are racing the car and need that extra tiny bit of power. If you have a dual system and want to keep it a little less noisey than it is then adding a H pipe is a good option. Mufflers are tricky, many like something that others hate... Personally I like the Magnaflow Turbo mufflers better than anything else I have heard. Other good ones are the Walker turbos, Cherry bomb brand turbos. All of these give you a deep sound without the racket the flowmasters make.
V8 - 300. I was considering the Magflow - MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust Kits 15893 This is a crossmember back system. I believe that this is what I need since I don't have headers (perhaps in the future if recommended). It doe's appear to need some welding so I will be heading to a muffler shop at some point. I'm not racing so I don't really need squeeze every bit of HP out of the car. Based on your feedback, it seems like the H-Pipe would be better than the X-Pipe for noise reduction; I couldn't find one on Summit so I'll keep poking around if you think that there's an appreciable difference in sound. If it's worth buying headers before installing a new Magnaflow exhaust system, I'll start saving my pennies. If not, I'll try to get the exhaust system - most like the MagnaFlow mentioned above - installed sooner than later. Thanks for the guidance, Theo
I would skip the headers for a street car, the kit you are looking at from magnaflow would be great! For your application I see little advantage of the X pipe, a true dual system might sound a bit meaner which you might like. If you go that route just buy a set of mufflers and have a muffler shop bend you up a custom 2.5 set of duals... This might save you a bit of money depending on the cost of labor at your muffler shop.
Interesting, as I had some big case Magnaflows on my Wildcat convertible and could not stand that noise "blapppp" @ WOT. I replaced the whole system with a stock type from Waldrons. Too classy of a car for bad exhaust. Now its purrrfect.
Can you guys tell us how long you've had the muffler and if it has grown louder over time? I have a 350 with headers, 2.5" pipe with an X and stainless steel mufflers from Lou's Custom exhaust. I don't know if it's my perception or reality but it seems like the system has grown a bit noisier over time. It's nothing obnoxious but it just seems more noticeable. I'm particularly curious to know if the mufflers with internal baffles hold up better over time than the ones with some form of absorbent material. I've heard glass packs get louder over time as the glass breaks down. Walker is listed as the quietest choice in most comparisons, but it has "glass fiber roving" as a sound absorbing material which sounds like it would eventually break down. Does anyone have long term experience with them?
My 71 GS 455 with Dronemaster 50's and 3" exhaust connected to long tube TA headers dropped a measured 6db in the cabin after changing my primary jets from 79 to 74. Maybe your car is running a little richer these days.
I'm currently replacing the entire exhaust system on my bone stock 71 Riviera and I'm trying to find a system that will give me a little bit of a rumble at idle, but not make too much noise when I'm driving. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Just some more food for thought......adding an H pipe or X pipe will change the sound of a system. I have dynamic turbos and added an X pipe to the system. Made the exhaust sound more thrushy and less lumpy. Doing some reading, seems an X pipe will have this effect as compared to an H pipe. I may change to an H....can't say I am super happy with the new sound.
Lots of good info in this thread, thanks. I am upgrading to a 3" system on my 1970 Wildcat (over the 2.25" and generic muffler set-up that the previous owner installed) since i have had to replace the stock exhaust manifolds with shorty headers and have a slightly hotter cam. My mechanic is trying to sell me on Magnaflow 40's, but I'm afraid that set-up will be a bit loud for a top-down cruiser. Any suggestions on chrome exhaust tips and how they effect exhaust sound?
I know an X-pipe is best for power but I prefer the sound of a true dual system. I would rather have the "more lumpy, less thrushy" sound...
I've used the Summit welded street and strip mufflers on everything I've ever had. I personally don't think you can beat the sound, they're basically a Flowmaster 40 series
