Muffler Experts please educate me
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Muffler Experts please educate me
I'm looking at Summit's website at mufflers to buy for my car and see a couple options that I don't know the difference between. Please explain the difference between the internal construction of Chambered and Turbo mufflers.
In particular how it pertains to HP and sound.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
In particular how it pertains to HP and sound.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by hz900
I'm looking at Summit's website at mufflers to buy for my car and see a couple options that I don't know the difference between. Please explain the difference between the internal construction of Chambered and Turbo mufflers.
In particular how it pertains to HP and sound.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
In particular how it pertains to HP and sound.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Originally Posted by Mr. Peabody
I think we could better answer your question if you indicate what year vette you're asking about. For example if it's a late model LT1 I don't believe that you're going to see and appreciable HP gain by just changing mufflers as the stock ones flow quite well.
Last edited by hz900; Mar 29, 2006 at 05:39 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I think the term Turbo is essentially meaningless today. When the Turbo mufflers first came out in the early sixties, they were a lightly-muffled unit that came stock on a turbocharged Corvair.
Today, everybody calls their muffler a Turbo. Don't worry about any distinction between what is called a Turbo and what is called a "chambered" muffler; take any non-straight-through muffler apart and it will have chambers. So, for all practical purposes, there is no difference.
By the way, I put the Hooker Aerochambers on my C4 and love them. The shape looks like it was designed for the C4...it fits perfectly. It is a fairly quiet muffler though, which is one reason I like it. Just a little more growl at low rpm than the stock units, and just a little more ring (reminds me of a jet engine) at high rpm. Oh, and they do resonate.
Larry
code5coupe
Today, everybody calls their muffler a Turbo. Don't worry about any distinction between what is called a Turbo and what is called a "chambered" muffler; take any non-straight-through muffler apart and it will have chambers. So, for all practical purposes, there is no difference.
By the way, I put the Hooker Aerochambers on my C4 and love them. The shape looks like it was designed for the C4...it fits perfectly. It is a fairly quiet muffler though, which is one reason I like it. Just a little more growl at low rpm than the stock units, and just a little more ring (reminds me of a jet engine) at high rpm. Oh, and they do resonate.
Larry
code5coupe
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 381
Likes: 8
From: NORTH WEST PA
I have a 92LT1 and when I bought the car it had 3" Flowmaster mufflers installed. I don't know what series they were but it was annoyingly loud (resonance) inside the car at cruising speed. I switched to Hooker Aerochamer mufflers with an improvement in resonance but still annoying. Next were a set of Pacesetter resonator tips (no mufflers), sounds good, looks good but still have the resonance. However, I have purchased the FlowTech Afterburner mufflers from Summit (BIG-50322FLT) because they are a chambered (Free Flowing) muffler supposedly without the resonance. Can't tell you how they sound/work since they are still in the box, but the price is right at $39.95 and they are well constructed.
I would suggest that you do not weld the mufflers on, and carefully plan your exhaust system so if you want to change mufflers, for whatever reason, it's an easy task.
Hope this helps
Brian
I would suggest that you do not weld the mufflers on, and carefully plan your exhaust system so if you want to change mufflers, for whatever reason, it's an easy task.
Hope this helps
Brian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Originally Posted by hz900
In particular how it pertains to HP and sound.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
I don't want a glasspack sound/loudness but at the same time I don't want it stock quiet either.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 1
From: sd
hz900 I have the true dual setup that you mention with the dynomax turbo mufflers and the sound is throaty. Sorry that's the best way to describe it. I have hedman headers and a muffler shop made x-pipe with true duals and I like the sound. When my car was stock with my L98 the resonance wasn't so bad but once I get my new alternator its off to see the man with the plan at the muffler shop to come up with something else to cut the resonance down. The wife loves the new 383 but she does NOT like the resonance. To keep her happy about all of the money I spent on my new 383 I think getting the exhaust note taken care of keeps me off of the long honey-do list that occasionaly pops up every now and then. Good luck picking out a combo that works for you!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 393
From: Lakeville MI
As has been said, turbo mufflers are old corvair technology updated in the 80s, remember the cyclone sonic turbo. The best 80s muffler according to Hot Rod testing.
Look at dynomax 2 1/2" for example: super turbos flow 410 cfm
ultraflows flow 1133 cfm
I think the dynomax super turbo is actually the old sonic turbo design.
Note: even with the low flow numbers, the 2 super turbo's are adequate for around 375 hp. Two ultraflows: something like 1030 hp. I think they even outflow straight pipes, if you can trust the numbers.
Anyone out there with ultraflows? How do they sound?
Look at dynomax 2 1/2" for example: super turbos flow 410 cfm
ultraflows flow 1133 cfm
I think the dynomax super turbo is actually the old sonic turbo design.
Note: even with the low flow numbers, the 2 super turbo's are adequate for around 375 hp. Two ultraflows: something like 1030 hp. I think they even outflow straight pipes, if you can trust the numbers.
Anyone out there with ultraflows? How do they sound?
Last edited by tequilaboy; Mar 30, 2006 at 12:31 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Marlboro NY
Originally Posted by RED92LT1
I have a 92LT1 and when I bought the car it had 3" Flowmaster mufflers installed. I don't know what series they were but it was annoyingly loud (resonance) inside the car at cruising speed. I switched to Hooker Aerochamer mufflers with an improvement in resonance but still annoying. Next were a set of Pacesetter resonator tips (no mufflers), sounds good, looks good but still have the resonance. However, I have purchased the FlowTech Afterburner mufflers from Summit (BIG-50322FLT) because they are a chambered (Free Flowing) muffler supposedly without the resonance. Can't tell you how they sound/work since they are still in the box, but the price is right at $39.95 and they are well constructed.
I would suggest that you do not weld the mufflers on, and carefully plan your exhaust system so if you want to change mufflers, for whatever reason, it's an easy task.
Hope this helps
Brian
I would suggest that you do not weld the mufflers on, and carefully plan your exhaust system so if you want to change mufflers, for whatever reason, it's an easy task.
Hope this helps
Brian
Looking for qiuet Power myself. Keep us posted.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 381
Likes: 8
From: NORTH WEST PA
Originally Posted by Bigredwing
My wife says that if you put the word Turbo on anything a man will buy it.
Makes perfect sence ... if you put "SALE" on any useless item women must have it.
Interestingly though ... I have more "sale items" in my house then stuff that has TURBO printed on it. Seems like there ought to be some sort of balance here.
Last edited by RED92LT1; Mar 30, 2006 at 04:11 PM.
