Mufflers locations
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 7
From: Wentzville MO
Mufflers locations
I added a set of Flowmaster Delta 40 a couple of months ago. They sound great around town, but the drone sound in the interior is very annoying after a couple of hours on the road. After spending over $500 on getting them installed not looking to scrap them. Anyone ever add mufflers of some type in front of crossmember? I have the interior very well insulated.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,615
Likes: 7,062
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If you have true dual exhausts.....mini-cats designed for 3Liter engines work great at reducing the noise/drone/vibration (and be SURE to heat insulate/reflector plate between the cats and the floorboard!)...
I don't even have mufflers on my 350/290 sbc/700R4 '36 pickup....but I DO have 2" inlet/2"outlet Harley chrome "mufflers" at the rear bumber....
NO noisy cab...just a low--deep rumble at 70 mph---and as with Harley mufflers...90% of the rumble is BEHIND the vehicle...........radio is very easy to hear at half volume....
Now when you hit passing gear--between the intake and the exhaust---IT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER STORY...lol!
I don't even have mufflers on my 350/290 sbc/700R4 '36 pickup....but I DO have 2" inlet/2"outlet Harley chrome "mufflers" at the rear bumber....
NO noisy cab...just a low--deep rumble at 70 mph---and as with Harley mufflers...90% of the rumble is BEHIND the vehicle...........radio is very easy to hear at half volume....
Now when you hit passing gear--between the intake and the exhaust---IT'S A WHOLE 'NOTHER STORY...lol!
Last edited by doorgunner; Oct 17, 2013 at 10:00 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
The X pipe is the most effective at reducing sound level and drone. It may not eliminate it, but may make it livable. X pipes often add some performance too. A little extra benefit to make it worthwhile.
Wrapping the mufflers with exhaust wrap may help a little also. Some of the drone is the muffler casing itself vibrating and transferring that into the car.
Wrapping the mufflers with exhaust wrap may help a little also. Some of the drone is the muffler casing itself vibrating and transferring that into the car.
Last edited by v2racing; Oct 18, 2013 at 07:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I have flowmaster 40s,i had straight through duels and then i bought a pypes exhaust pipe system with x-pipe,it did make drone quieter but it still has it,not as anoying.I also do have a built engine,so that might be louder then a stock or mild build engine.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 135
Likes: 4
From: NY
I had 40's on my '71 Camaro, with an h-pipe, and it was still loud as heck on the open road.
I had a custom single outlet system, with a 70 series "dronemaster" muffler on my truck (full 3" system from the y-pipe collector back, with a hi-flow cat) and the drone on the highway would make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I ended up installing a Dynomax bullet style mufler just before the tail-pipe exit....I think I went with 2-1/2 bullet mufler vs. staying at 3"...and it took the drone down. I was able to live with it for 65k miles before I replaced the entire system.
Two bullet style mufflers might be an option for you.
I had a custom single outlet system, with a 70 series "dronemaster" muffler on my truck (full 3" system from the y-pipe collector back, with a hi-flow cat) and the drone on the highway would make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I ended up installing a Dynomax bullet style mufler just before the tail-pipe exit....I think I went with 2-1/2 bullet mufler vs. staying at 3"...and it took the drone down. I was able to live with it for 65k miles before I replaced the entire system.
Two bullet style mufflers might be an option for you.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 7
From: Wentzville MO
I have 2 1/2 pipes straight back, Stock C5 manifolds. My LS engine is built with a cam. I have some room next to the tranny to try some small cats or mufflers. Don't think there is any room to fit an x pipe behind crossmember.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,771
Likes: 2,596
Solution
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...e-tv-sponsors/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I have a cheap experiment for you,ive seen people put header wrap around their mufflers,they say for heat and it may help with the resonance from mufflers.im thinking the resonance comes through the muffler case,so if you wrapped it the sound might not come through the body of car,what do you guys think about this?i think it could work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
I have a cheap experiment for you,ive seen people put header wrap around their mufflers,they say for heat and it may help with the resonance from mufflers.im thinking the resonance comes through the muffler case,so if you wrapped it the sound might not come through the body of car,what do you guys think about this?i think it could work.
This is one of the things I suggested in post #5.X pipes do deaden some of the sound waves by crossing the two exhaust streams and it is usually good for a little gain in power. It may not eliminate it, but it will help. I can say this from actual experience.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I said this earlier too about the x-pipe,i too know from experience. 
You can use the silver insulation wrap like they use for covering starters,that way it wont look bad ,but on newer c3s the mufflers are more conceiled.
Last edited by Billysvette; Oct 18, 2013 at 01:11 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,942
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I doubt the X pipe will do anything for the drone other than cost you more money which could be applied to the real solution.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...e-tv-sponsors/
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...e-tv-sponsors/
FWIW, years ago, as a younger and (naive) enthusiast I had blowmasters on my '69. Spent all weekend welding up elbows and mounts for the mufflers. Drove the car six miles with those mufflers and couldn't stand the noise. I turned the car turned around and drove it straight back to the garage and pulled them off. I put Dynomax mufflers on it and never looked back.
I agree with Ironcross regarding Dynomax mufflers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I disagree. An X or H pipe will theoretically cut the pulse amplitudes in half, and double the frequency of the pulses that the mufflers are trying to quiet. It should improve things, but those mufflers are still a large problem looking for a large cure.
FWIW, years ago, as a younger and (naive) enthusiast I had blowmasters on my '69. Spent all weekend welding up elbows and mounts for the mufflers. Drove the car six miles with those mufflers and couldn't stand the noise. I turned the car turned around and drove it straight back to the garage and pulled them off. I put Dynomax mufflers on it and never looked back.
I agree with Ironcross regarding Dynomax mufflers.
FWIW, years ago, as a younger and (naive) enthusiast I had blowmasters on my '69. Spent all weekend welding up elbows and mounts for the mufflers. Drove the car six miles with those mufflers and couldn't stand the noise. I turned the car turned around and drove it straight back to the garage and pulled them off. I put Dynomax mufflers on it and never looked back.
I agree with Ironcross regarding Dynomax mufflers.