Muffler recommendation ??
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,535
Likes: 25
From: San Francisco's North Bay California
Muffler recommendation ??
Since moving from the C3 to the C4 one of the things that I miss most is the rumble. Now people only hear me coming when I have the stereo cranked up. Currently the exhaust sounds like a Cadillac. The previous owner had the current system put on late 2011.
Keeping in mind that I have to pass the stupid smog tests here in Ca, what are some recommendations for a more throaty exhaust?
Borla seems to be the most popular, but I'm open to suggestions.
Keeping in mind that I have to pass the stupid smog tests here in Ca, what are some recommendations for a more throaty exhaust?
Borla seems to be the most popular, but I'm open to suggestions.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 278
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The standard c4 muffler had the entry go in one side, then the exhaust gas has to u turn (behind the dummy pipe outlet) and go thru the baffles then u turn again to exit the other outlet.
They are great at reducing noise but are a bit on the quiet side, i did have some mufflers fitted that were a straight thru type (could see right thru to them) now they sounded great, everyone used to comment on how good my vette sounded. But the DRONE!!!
it was a year or so and i found original mufflers to replace them and i love em 
Maybe i am getting too old but the drone is at the speed where you tend to drive most.
They are still hanging in the garage but i dare not put them on again
They are great at reducing noise but are a bit on the quiet side, i did have some mufflers fitted that were a straight thru type (could see right thru to them) now they sounded great, everyone used to comment on how good my vette sounded. But the DRONE!!!
it was a year or so and i found original mufflers to replace them and i love em Maybe i am getting too old but the drone is at the speed where you tend to drive most.
They are still hanging in the garage but i dare not put them on again
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Loud mufflers doesnt affect smog. Had delta flows 50 series on my old 89 and they never looked at it twice that was a Ca test only facility. Long as it doesnt exceed the decibel limiit which it shouldnt even with elims
They dont start getting real loud til youre making good hp
They dont start getting real loud til youre making good hp
Last edited by cv67; Jan 17, 2013 at 12:04 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 414
From: WV
If you like the sound of Borla you can buy just the Borla muffler instead of buying the whole catback setup and have it installed or do it yourself...It's called the "Borla stinger" muffler and buying just the mufflers can save alot of money.. I believe they were about $125.00 apiece when I looked them up last year.I called Borla and the Tech guy there told me about these....WW
Last edited by WW7; Jan 16, 2013 at 09:52 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Grandville, Michigan
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 104
Likes: 1
From: Moriac Victoria
The standard c4 muffler had the entry go in one side, then the exhaust gas has to u turn (behind the dummy pipe outlet) and go thru the baffles then u turn again to exit the other outlet.
They are great at reducing noise but are a bit on the quiet side, i did have some mufflers fitted that were a straight thru type (could see right thru to them) now they sounded great, everyone used to comment on how good my vette sounded. But the DRONE!!! it was a year or so and i found original mufflers to replace them and i love em
Maybe i am getting too old but the drone is at the speed where you tend to drive most.
They are still hanging in the garage but i dare not put them on again
They are great at reducing noise but are a bit on the quiet side, i did have some mufflers fitted that were a straight thru type (could see right thru to them) now they sounded great, everyone used to comment on how good my vette sounded. But the DRONE!!!
it was a year or so and i found original mufflers to replace them and i love em Maybe i am getting too old but the drone is at the speed where you tend to drive most.
They are still hanging in the garage but i dare not put them on again
I'm thinking about fitting muffler eliminators to my 88, but I'm wondering if and how bad the drone might be?
Ken D
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 99
From: Ashland PA
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I have a crossover on mine and I still have the drone problem, I read in a post the best way to eliminate drone is to sound proof under the carpet in the hatch area.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 205
From: Trinity FL
It's there. But not too bad, depends on how tolerable you are, and if the car is an auto or manual. When I had that setup I loved the way it sounded but I have an hour commute each day and got tired of it on the parkway. Running stock mufflers with an X-Pipe now. I like it better but wish I had some of the grumble back.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,535
Likes: 25
From: San Francisco's North Bay California
Through many searches here on the forum, Corsa and Flowmaster seem to be the most prevalent. Locally it seems as if everyone has a Borla.
I don't really have a preference at this point.
I don't really have a preference at this point.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Derby (Wichita area) KS
I have Borla on mine and it sounds mean as **** when you boot it but it's too quiet at idle and low rpms for my taste. I think in the future I will install headers ans high flow cats and keep the Borla cat back. Maybe freeing up the cats will let just enough sound through to make it sound aggressive at less than 100% throttle.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 325
Likes: 8
From: Princeton Jct. New Jersey
If you want something durable you can't go wrong with Borla stainless. I replaced the rusty OEM mufflers & Y-pipe with Borlas on my '84 about 22 years ago and they still look clean, even at the welds. I wasn't much interested in the sound or performance, I just wanted an austenitic stainless that wouldn't rust thru in 5 years (although they do have a nice low rumble at idle 
).
).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,535
Likes: 25
From: San Francisco's North Bay California
99% of my driving is in town, so I am looking for that rumble at idle and low speeds. When I had the C3 my gf heard me turn at the corner 3 blocks away. While I don't need that again (was kind of a pain to talk on the phone or hold a conversation with a passenger) I want people to know I'm coming down the road.
From the borla's that I have heard (not sure which model or other modifications made to exhaust) they sound pretty good.
I have not in person heard a C4 equipped with Corsa's, but online videos seem to get a reaction.
I'm not 100% sure how much I can mess with the cats or eliminators before the smog rules get bent, so I want to limit the changes to mufflers and see if I can get some sort of better sound.
From the borla's that I have heard (not sure which model or other modifications made to exhaust) they sound pretty good.
I have not in person heard a C4 equipped with Corsa's, but online videos seem to get a reaction.
I'm not 100% sure how much I can mess with the cats or eliminators before the smog rules get bent, so I want to limit the changes to mufflers and see if I can get some sort of better sound.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
These sound good on teh L98
Think those are the oval not the welded ones. They have a little rasp/bark to them without being too loud. Similar to corsa but flow better.
Think those are the oval not the welded ones. They have a little rasp/bark to them without being too loud. Similar to corsa but flow better.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
Likes: 282
From: Phila., PA burbs
Here's Flowmasters vs Corsas on my 91. The only change in the videos is the mufflers.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...on-videos.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...on-videos.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
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From: Kingwood Texas