Muffler Delete
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati oh
Muffler Delete
I am considering the muffler delete on my 85 I already have gotten rid of the Cat for a Test pipe.
So here are my questions
Will it be way to loud for the street?
Will it kill my millage?
How much of a power gain can i reasonably expect?
Please educate me brothers
So here are my questions
Will it be way to loud for the street?
Will it kill my millage?
How much of a power gain can i reasonably expect?
Please educate me brothers
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
With no main cat and no mufflers, it's going to be loud. Capital L loud and the local gendarmes may want to talk to you about it.... And the resonance inside the car will be horrible.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Are you going to the car show?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati oh
With no main cat and no mufflers, it's going to be loud. Capital L loud and the local gendarmes may want to talk to you about it.... And the resonance inside the car will be horrible.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Hedman Elites are a good choice. Summit Racing has them for around $400. They are thermal coated so they will look nice for a long time. If you do go with true duals, wait until you get the headers. That way the pipes from the headers to the X-pipe will only have to be bent once.
Also, that would be a good time to get new plugs and wires. The OEM stock plug boots will not fit very well with headers.
Chips for the early cars really doesn't provide any real power gain. The headers and dual will, and after that you can do some port matching on the intake to help with smoothing out the airflow in the plenum to the runners and the intake ports in the heads.
The stock throttle body will flow more than enough air for a stock motor so don't bother with a bigger one, unless you will be going to a larger cam and more cubic inches.
Also, that would be a good time to get new plugs and wires. The OEM stock plug boots will not fit very well with headers.
Chips for the early cars really doesn't provide any real power gain. The headers and dual will, and after that you can do some port matching on the intake to help with smoothing out the airflow in the plenum to the runners and the intake ports in the heads.
The stock throttle body will flow more than enough air for a stock motor so don't bother with a bigger one, unless you will be going to a larger cam and more cubic inches.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati oh
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati oh
Hedman Elites are a good choice. Summit Racing has them for around $400. They are thermal coated so they will look nice for a long time. If you do go with true duals, wait until you get the headers. That way the pipes from the headers to the X-pipe will only have to be bent once.
Also, that would be a good time to get new plugs and wires. The OEM stock plug boots will not fit very well with headers.
Chips for the early cars really doesn't provide any real power gain. The headers and dual will, and after that you can do some port matching on the intake to help with smoothing out the airflow in the plenum to the runners and the intake ports in the heads.
The stock throttle body will flow more than enough air for a stock motor so don't bother with a bigger one, unless you will be going to a larger cam and more cubic inches.
Also, that would be a good time to get new plugs and wires. The OEM stock plug boots will not fit very well with headers.
Chips for the early cars really doesn't provide any real power gain. The headers and dual will, and after that you can do some port matching on the intake to help with smoothing out the airflow in the plenum to the runners and the intake ports in the heads.
The stock throttle body will flow more than enough air for a stock motor so don't bother with a bigger one, unless you will be going to a larger cam and more cubic inches.
The only thing i noticed with the chip is the fan comes on @ 160 and it changed the shift points.
My goal (some day) is to get to 400 @ the wheels I have a feeling i need to either get it rebuilt with a bigger cam and heads or a procharger. I want it dependable and be able to drive daily
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
With no main cat and no mufflers, it's going to be loud. Capital L loud and the local gendarmes may want to talk to you about it.... And the resonance inside the car will be horrible.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
Straight exhaust may kill some low end torque (or at least feel that way) but you may pick up a few HP at high RPM.
I think you would be better off with a good X-pipe where the cat used to be, true duals and a pair of good high-flow mufflers. Look at the DynoMax race mufflers; not real loud and very good flow. The X-pipe will reduce some of the noise but not hurt exhaust flow.
What other mods does the car have? It might be reasonable to go with a set of headers and add the X-pipe, duals and mufflers. That could be worth something like a 15-20HP gain and some tq increase.
I have eliminators on mine with an x pipe and a dual cat. The car sounds awesome with a low rumble normally, aggressive sound under heavy acceleration and some resonance in the cab at highway speed. Its enough to make cell phone conversation a little difficult. Since you shouldnt talk and drive, this should not be an issue, right? 
The Vette exhaust is pretty much designed to have low restriction and yield the best mileage it can under the guidelines mandated. That being said, you can still make improvements to your system because of these guidelines but huge gains will not be realized. Gas mileage wont be affected much at all. I cant say for sure but my car gets about 24mpg at 70 with a 4+3. It probly could get a little better but as far as I am concerned, its great for a performance car.
If you dont mind a little resonance I say go for it!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Some track venues have noise restrictions after a certain hour at night. Race mufflers provide for some level of reduction in dB at the tailpipe but allow for as much exhaust gas flow as possible.
