Help Choosing Mufflers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Los Alamos NM
Help Choosing Mufflers
I have a 96 CE LT1 that the previous owner eliminated the mufflers on. The drone is driving me nuts and making the car significantly uncomfortable to drive. I'd really like to go to a much quieter setup at least inside the car. I don't care much how loud it is outside. I'm on a very limited budget so cat back isn't really an option. I figure that almost any muffler will be quieter than no muffler, but I want to get the best bang for my buck. I need to keep each muffler limited to no more than $100.
I'll end up having my mechanic installing them since there are no muffler shops within 100 miles. They told me nothing that requires welding.
First question is whether or not the mufflers should be offset. Since I don't have anything there right now I can't tell what the originals were.
Please be gentle as I'm not really mechanically oriented, but I love my new toy.
I'll end up having my mechanic installing them since there are no muffler shops within 100 miles. They told me nothing that requires welding.
First question is whether or not the mufflers should be offset. Since I don't have anything there right now I can't tell what the originals were.
Please be gentle as I'm not really mechanically oriented, but I love my new toy.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Los Alamos NM
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 303
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From: North Cali.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 381
From: Lunenburg MA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Los Alamos NM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 381
From: Lunenburg MA
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
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I experienced similar issues with my 94. Drone was horrible. Previous owner had installed dynomax mufflers. I tried to determine which mufflers would return me to a quiet interior. I found nothing that gave me confidence.
I looked and found a low mileage factory cat back. Maybe for $120 or little higher. Drove 125 miles brought it home, installation was $100ish and I am happy.
Watch craigslist and the parts forum here. Not a high demand item so don't accept an inflated price.
I looked and found a low mileage factory cat back. Maybe for $120 or little higher. Drove 125 miles brought it home, installation was $100ish and I am happy.
Watch craigslist and the parts forum here. Not a high demand item so don't accept an inflated price.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Post #115 on Page 6 of the thread, below. VASTLY reduced the drone in my '96 CE with muffler eliminators. Cost me all of $40.00!
Good luck!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-drone-6.html
Good luck!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-drone-6.html
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 243
I picked up a factory LT1 exhaust system on Craigslist for $75. Look for a used system locally, likely someone near you has one taking up space that they wil let go cheap. Worth a search.
Stock mufflers for me with an x pipe in place of resonator. Nice sound, no drone.
Stock mufflers for me with an x pipe in place of resonator. Nice sound, no drone.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 262
Likes: 12
From: South Lyon, MI
I didn't see it yet but make sure you buy offset inlet mufflers. I bought center in center out flowmasters and it made it tricky for the shop to install. The offset inlet makes so you dont have to do a severe bend to miss the rear suspension.
Last edited by tgurnick; Jun 10, 2015 at 12:15 PM. Reason: Spelling
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
Many people modify the exhaust on these cars so you should be able to find stock parts in good condition, if not a full cat-back then at least the mufflers. May just take a bit of searching to find it, and perhaps a longer drive than you wanted. But the parts are out there. When I bought my car, it had muffler eliminators and a nasty drone at highway speeds. No way I was going to live with that. I lucked out and found a pair of brand-new (yes they were new) OEM mufflers at a local shop, complete with rectangle tips, installed for under $300.
EDIT: some exhaust joints use U-bolts, others are welded. My muffler shop cut off the tips with a sawzall and welded the mufflers onto the ends of the pipes. To be done properly I believe this particular joint is welded.
Last edited by DGXR; Jun 10, 2015 at 12:09 PM.