Hooker sidepipe muffler type.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 13
From: Seattle area, WA (On the Eastside)
Hooker sidepipe muffler type.
My '65 has the Hooker headers with sidepipes. The slip in mufflers are completely rusted out and I need to replace them. I've seen the replacement ones defined as glasspacks (louder) or reverse flow (quieter). I know some folks even have had custom ones made. I'm leaning towards the mellower reverse flow and want to know if anyone has those and regrets getting them. Also, mine have the baffled slots arranged in a spiral, but the current production ones are solid exteriors. I don't believe that it will make much difference.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
i know it's hard to tell with what came out of yours and the fact we didn't take mine out but the flange on each end of the muffler on mine contacts the pipe itself and uses that as the solid outer shell. if the new mufflers have a solid outer shell it is functionally the same...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,423
Likes: 8,873
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
In my bride's track car, with 7 baffles, we can run any sound-limited event at Laguna Seca and have margin for when the fog rolls in. That won't mean much to those who have never had to deal with noise at Laguna Seca, but trust me, this is a Big Deal. For reference, some bone-stock street cars get black flagged for sound violations at that track.
Very high quality spiral baffle mufflers are available here:
http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/
And the owner is a heckuva nice guy.
Jim
Racer
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: milwaukee wi
i have exactly the set-up you are describing. i replaced the free flow glass packs when i moved into the city. they are simply too loud for a residential neighborhood. the reverse flows that i now have give me a nice sound, but if you use them you can kiss your high rpm's good-by. they are definitely restrictive. you are kind of garroting your engine. i think my BB is mad at me. i can sense it staring at me when i work under the hood. very good for a non performance driver. a little throaty.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,226
Likes: 2
From: Lake Wylie SC
Very high quality spiral baffle mufflers are available here:
http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/
And the owner is a heckuva nice guy.
Jim
X 2 and he is very helpful with mounting tipsI use his 4 inch spirals inside 4 inch side pipes hooked up to a 24 inch long graduated megaphone cone that is attached to a long under the car 3 inch collector.......... very effective but also quite loud even with the center caps left on.
Next week I am pulling my headers to weld in some fittings for O2 sensors and CV check valves before heading off to the dyno for some tuning and sound recordings
Then those who are interested can hear for themselves if they want to step up to spirals
Doug
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 13
From: Seattle area, WA (On the Eastside)
I'm baffled!
I've been reading alot about these slip in mufflers and found that, indeed, the reverse flow is VERY restrictive. Also, although the glasspack type are less restrictive, the glass in them eventually disintegrates (mechron also confirmed this), and they hold water as well (between burn offs when in use).
So, the consensus in all the threads I've researched about this topic suggests the JCL spiral baffles mainly, followed by Sweet Thunders 2.5, then Classic Chambered. There were others but not mentioned as much as these three. I was confused with this until I realized that JCL, STS (spiral turbo specialties), and Spiral Turbo Baffles are all one and the same! I heard a sound clip for the baffles and the Thunders and I'm leaning towards the Sweet Thunders, although I still may be swayed to the baffles. The classic chambered have to be fabbed a little to add the end caps. I think the Thunders do too. Seems that the baffles can just slide right in, since they are 4" already, but seemed more metallic sounding to me, as well as louder. Anyone second the Sweet Thunders?
By the way, I mistakenly described the muffler I took out as "sprial" when actually, it looks like a reverse flow with the holes cut in them in a spiral configuration on the tube...not spiral baffles. See pic.
So, the consensus in all the threads I've researched about this topic suggests the JCL spiral baffles mainly, followed by Sweet Thunders 2.5, then Classic Chambered. There were others but not mentioned as much as these three. I was confused with this until I realized that JCL, STS (spiral turbo specialties), and Spiral Turbo Baffles are all one and the same! I heard a sound clip for the baffles and the Thunders and I'm leaning towards the Sweet Thunders, although I still may be swayed to the baffles. The classic chambered have to be fabbed a little to add the end caps. I think the Thunders do too. Seems that the baffles can just slide right in, since they are 4" already, but seemed more metallic sounding to me, as well as louder. Anyone second the Sweet Thunders?
By the way, I mistakenly described the muffler I took out as "sprial" when actually, it looks like a reverse flow with the holes cut in them in a spiral configuration on the tube...not spiral baffles. See pic.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
I've been reading alot about these slip in mufflers and found that, indeed, the reverse flow is VERY restrictive. Also, although the glasspack type are less restrictive, the glass in them eventually disintegrates (mechron also confirmed this), and they hold water as well (between burn offs when in use).
So, the consensus in all the threads I've researched about this topic suggests the JCL spiral baffles mainly, followed by Sweet Thunders 2.5, then Classic Chambered. There were others but not mentioned as much as these three. I was confused with this until I realized that JCL, STS (spiral turbo specialties), and Spiral Turbo Baffles are all one and the same! I heard a sound clip for the baffles and the Thunders and I'm leaning towards the Sweet Thunders, although I still may be swayed to the baffles. The classic chambered have to be fabbed a little to add the end caps. I think the Thunders do too. Seems that the baffles can just slide right in, since they are 4" already, but seemed more metallic sounding to me, as well as louder. Anyone second the Sweet Thunders?
By the way, I mistakenly described the muffler I took out as "sprial" when actually, it looks like a reverse flow with the holes cut in them in a spiral configuration on the tube...not spiral baffles. See pic.
So, the consensus in all the threads I've researched about this topic suggests the JCL spiral baffles mainly, followed by Sweet Thunders 2.5, then Classic Chambered. There were others but not mentioned as much as these three. I was confused with this until I realized that JCL, STS (spiral turbo specialties), and Spiral Turbo Baffles are all one and the same! I heard a sound clip for the baffles and the Thunders and I'm leaning towards the Sweet Thunders, although I still may be swayed to the baffles. The classic chambered have to be fabbed a little to add the end caps. I think the Thunders do too. Seems that the baffles can just slide right in, since they are 4" already, but seemed more metallic sounding to me, as well as louder. Anyone second the Sweet Thunders?
By the way, I mistakenly described the muffler I took out as "sprial" when actually, it looks like a reverse flow with the holes cut in them in a spiral configuration on the tube...not spiral baffles. See pic.
incentendally, my baffles are NOT in a spiral pattern, i suffer from CRS-
.my baffles/mufflers are much more in an X pattern, they may have looked spiraled to you, but they are not. come over and we'll pop that muffler out of the side pipe we took off the frame and is now sitting on the bench and you will see the X pattern.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 13
From: Seattle area, WA (On the Eastside)
Dilemma between these two...
listen to the sound clip:
http://www.sweet-thunder.com/chamber..._corvette.html
or these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDQ1RKYHYM
Anyone? By the looks of the old tube inserts, i was driving almost wide open sidepipes anyway!
OK, if I don't hear from you guys I'm gonna get the JCL baffles and drive by your homes at night!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
I have the Classic Chambered mufflers. I "fabed" my own ends because they did not make an insert at the time. They now make a sidepipe inserts with the ends. I like the ones I am using.
http://www.classicchambered.com/classic/products.html
http://www.classicchambered.com/classic/products.html
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 10
St. Jude Donor '09
Listened the Sweet Thunders 3 times and the spiral baffle one twice and personnally would prefer the spiral. Sounds more Corvette-ish then the Sweet Thunder (although also a nice sound).
Sorry to add to your delema
Sorry to add to your delema
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 10
From: california
listen to the sound clip:
http://www.sweet-thunder.com/chamber..._corvette.html
or these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDQ1RKYHYM
Anyone? By the looks of the old tube inserts, i was driving almost wide open sidepipes anyway!
OK, if I don't hear from you guys I'm gonna get the JCL baffles and drive by your homes at night!the hookers are overkill on any SBC, buy the quitest mufflers you can (the reverse flow ones) and don't worry about restriction.
i learned a long time ago, quiter exhaust=more fun on the go-pedal without attracting attention!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 13
From: Seattle area, WA (On the Eastside)
mechron, funny you mention that because I was pointed towards the Hooker "MaxFlo" insert which is different than the glass or reverse, but looks similar yet provides great flow and moderate sound. As noted above, the baffles a very pricey. I'm considering the budget here as well as efficiency, and I'll probaby go somewhere in between. Thanks.
