you will regret it if you have smog inspections, and why pollute any more than we have to.
Eliminating Mufflers - Affects Performance?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
Eliminating Mufflers - Affects Performance?
Hi all,
I've seen lots of threads, but no definite answers on this (I searched!).
I have a 94 Coupe, Stock everything, and wanted to put some extra bang in the exhaust department... I was thinking about getting some new cat-back mufflers (not interested in touching headers/cats at this point in time) and found that just eliminating the mufflers is a pretty cheap option for me.
I think I'd be happy with the loudness of it (neighbors might not, but I don't like them anyhow) but will it affect performance at all? I'm getting into drag racing, and I don't want to do anything that might lessen my track times.
Has anyone every dyno'd their car before/after having stock mufflers and no mufflers, and is there any performance gain or loss from the deletion of the mufflers?
Thanks in advance...
John
I've seen lots of threads, but no definite answers on this (I searched!).
I have a 94 Coupe, Stock everything, and wanted to put some extra bang in the exhaust department... I was thinking about getting some new cat-back mufflers (not interested in touching headers/cats at this point in time) and found that just eliminating the mufflers is a pretty cheap option for me.
I think I'd be happy with the loudness of it (neighbors might not, but I don't like them anyhow) but will it affect performance at all? I'm getting into drag racing, and I don't want to do anything that might lessen my track times.
Has anyone every dyno'd their car before/after having stock mufflers and no mufflers, and is there any performance gain or loss from the deletion of the mufflers?
Thanks in advance...
John
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 681
From: Marlboro country MA
I did that with my bone stock 92 A4 a few years back. It had no observable impact on the performance on the track, but it did have a big effect on smiles per mile. I eventually restored the stock mufflers when I did a Hotcam installation - with the increased valve opening lift and duration, the exhaust sound became intolerable. YMMV. One piece of advice: be sure that the exhaust tips extend fully to the rear edge of the back bumper. Any shorter and the sound will fill the interior of the car to unpleasant levels. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
If you want loud, yes you will like it! This is not an apple to apple comparison, but you can get an idea of what the LT1 might sound like without mufflers. Here is a sound clip of my 2000 with B&B Bullets cat-back system. No mufflers, stock exhaust man. and cats still on car!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6VvaPKD9m8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6VvaPKD9m8
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 3
From: Georgia
I eliminated mine on my 96' LT4. To me the sound is great. My wife doesn't want me touching her stock 91'. She thinks mine is to loud now.
If I gained anything it was minimal. I definetly do not feel I lost any power. Also, It only cost me $65 at a local exhaust shop.
If I gained anything it was minimal. I definetly do not feel I lost any power. Also, It only cost me $65 at a local exhaust shop.
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Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Keep the cats no matter what.
Removing the eliminators will cost you some power, but you won't even notice it. I lost about 1.5 mph in the 1/4 mile.
The sound you get is worth it though.
Removing the eliminators will cost you some power, but you won't even notice it. I lost about 1.5 mph in the 1/4 mile.
The sound you get is worth it though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
From: Warren Ohio
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
Actually the loss is in the exhaust manifolds. Replace those with long tubes and it will make a power difference. The exhaust system, unlike the L98 system is already a very good system from the factory.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Mustang Oklahoma
I had my mufflers cut off about 2-3 weeks ago.
No *noticeable* gain in performance, but the smiles per miles went up alot! It sounds amazing. Not too loud, no drone at highway speed either. I also just got done putting in a new stereo and speaker goods, so maybe I'm not hearing the exhaust.
It sounds great though, but I do find myself getting into the gas a little heaver than I normally do, so the ol' fuel mileage might suffer, but it's worth it for the sound. Definitely sounds like a proper small block.
No *noticeable* gain in performance, but the smiles per miles went up alot! It sounds amazing. Not too loud, no drone at highway speed either. I also just got done putting in a new stereo and speaker goods, so maybe I'm not hearing the exhaust.
It sounds great though, but I do find myself getting into the gas a little heaver than I normally do, so the ol' fuel mileage might suffer, but it's worth it for the sound. Definitely sounds like a proper small block.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 3
From: Georgia
I have a set of Flowmasters I haven't used. I wonder if I will have better power putting these on in place of the eliminators?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
I'm in Florida, so no worries about smog testing... although I AM wondering if the LEO's will start paying more attention to me around town... anyone ever get nabbed for breaking sound ordinances or the like after removing your mufflers?
Thanks for the tip about making sure the tail end of the exhaust sticks out the rear, I'll make sure they do that....
Thanks for the advice...
Thanks for the tip about making sure the tail end of the exhaust sticks out the rear, I'll make sure they do that....
Thanks for the advice...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
You'll loose some weight in the rear. Not the best place to drop weight though when traction starts to be an issue later on. When I had just the mufflers removed it didn't sound that much different/louder than a set of flowmaster mufflers. I did not experience any loss in performance. Did not gain much either but it sounded 
.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
Just went to the local shop near work, they said 1-2 hours of labor, charging me between $75 and $150 for labor, plus $20 or so for parts...
I told him $100 even, and it's a deal... and if I order Magnaflows or something else in the future, I'll do it as his shop. Am I getting screwed, or this a fair deal?
I told him $100 even, and it's a deal... and if I order Magnaflows or something else in the future, I'll do it as his shop. Am I getting screwed, or this a fair deal?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Just went to the local shop near work, they said 1-2 hours of labor, charging me between $75 and $150 for labor, plus $20 or so for parts...
I told him $100 even, and it's a deal... and if I order Magnaflows or something else in the future, I'll do it as his shop. Am I getting screwed, or this a fair deal?
I told him $100 even, and it's a deal... and if I order Magnaflows or something else in the future, I'll do it as his shop. Am I getting screwed, or this a fair deal?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Cost is not too off!! I had the guy order in some custom tips 2 1/2" inlet that were stainless that were more like megaphones and took him about an hour to bend and fit then, he took them off and put a little squezze in them like chambered exhaust, did this a couple of times to trial run the sound. Ended up spending about 3hrs cost $150 cash he was happy me happy too!
wro87
PS HE was impressed with the sound difference (had a big grin) nothing better than a SBC that breaths
wro87PS HE was impressed with the sound difference (had a big grin) nothing better than a SBC that breaths