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Good morning. Time for new exhaust for my 73 L48,auto. All stock. Going from manifolds back. I am going to use 72 type,as I do not like the look of the 73 round mufflers. Since Corvette Central price on complete kit is the same for 2" or 2 1/2" , is there a reason not to use the 2 1/2" ? How about Magnaflow compared to stock type mufflers. I have tried to listen to YouTube muffler videos, but pretty hard to get true results. Thanks.
It's really (really really) hard to compare exhaust sounds on different cars / engines / cams / etc / etc / etc
Here's mine with a 2-1/2" Corvette central exhaust, the first part is with their mufflers and then with magnaflow mufflers, no other changes. (then with a h-pipe at the end)
2" tend to fit / tuck up nicer, 2-1/2" will flow better (in theory) and if later on you go to headers it will make sense to start with 2-1/2" and not have to change again
M
Love the sound of my Magnaflow. I was contacted by them about 15 years ago while at a car show and they asked if they can use my car as a template for a magnaflow exhaust system. The sound is amazing and there is no drone and 15 years later it still looks like it was only changed yesterday.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have the CC true dual 2 1/2" system with Magnaflows on mine.
It's also around 15 years old & it still looks & sounds great. No reason not to go 2 1/2", IMO...
I have a 73 manual transmission small block. A few years back I bought new chrome tips for my car. Last year when I wanted to buy a new exhaust system, I was told that my 73 tips would not fit the oval mufflers used in latter years. I didn’t want to buy new tips, so I ended up with the OEM style round mufflers. I did some research and found where Chevrolet painted the mufflers black so they would blend in with the frame and spare tire holder. Make sure you buy all components at the same time, seems there are differences from year to year.
When I bought my 73 in 93 I bought a new exhaust for my car
i bought the 72 mufflers for the same reason
dummy me I did not know that I had the original tips and they did not come off the old mufflers until I ended up distorting them
the replacement tips for the 72 are smaller diameter tubes and offset compared to the 73 which are centered ( one year only)
needless to say the aftermarket tips are not even close to the same quality as the originals
Thanks to all for your recommendations. I am thinking 2-1/2 " with Magnaflows. Will this require a little carb tuning / riching ? It runs really smooth now.
If you’re buying new tips, check out Pypes.
They are top quality, polished, thick stainless steel and much nicer than the oem.
I purchased a set of their 2 1/2” for my 73.
73 exhaust
