"89" muffler eliminator question.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
"89" muffler eliminator question.
I had two Magnaflow mufflers installed onto the stock y-pipe about 6 months ago and am not satisfied with the sound. It sounds too quiet and not very loud or aggressive at all.
After reading a lot of other posts on the Magnaflow mufflers or cat back systems, I've come to the conclusion that the two pre-cats on my 89 Vette are reducing a lot of the sound.
I would like to hear from other Vette owners who have installed muffler eliminators on the stock y-pipe with the pre-cats and main cat to see how you like the sound. Thanks
After reading a lot of other posts on the Magnaflow mufflers or cat back systems, I've come to the conclusion that the two pre-cats on my 89 Vette are reducing a lot of the sound.
I would like to hear from other Vette owners who have installed muffler eliminators on the stock y-pipe with the pre-cats and main cat to see how you like the sound. Thanks
Last edited by GKK; Aug 16, 2004 at 04:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I have heard it and you are correct. If you want any thing that resembles noise from an L98, you must remove the mufflers.
It's not like an LT1 or LT4 with 1 cat per bank... you have that mess in the middle!!!
Another solution is to get higher flowing cats. But that is expensive. Several companies make higher flowing cats for the L98 that are CARB legal.
It's not like an LT1 or LT4 with 1 cat per bank... you have that mess in the middle!!!
Another solution is to get higher flowing cats. But that is expensive. Several companies make higher flowing cats for the L98 that are CARB legal.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
The normal process is to gut the precats, and put some straightthrough pipe in place (while leaving the cat housings in place).
A single universal carsound cat ($50) is all you need to pass the sniffer test. I'm running a single cat with a gutted air pump and muffler elims, and I passed smog with flying colors. Visual appears completely stock.
A single universal carsound cat ($50) is all you need to pass the sniffer test. I'm running a single cat with a gutted air pump and muffler elims, and I passed smog with flying colors. Visual appears completely stock.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to weld in a pipe in place of the magnaflow mufflers and then weld on the twin tips. I really don't want to gut the pre-cats.
Also, I know removing mufflers is illegal so, if I installed those Targa muffler pipes from Mid America that look like the muffler eliminators, do you think they'll sound just as good as well as being legal since they are technically mufflers?
I miss that aggressive muscle car sound I used to have on my 91 Camaro.
Also, I know removing mufflers is illegal so, if I installed those Targa muffler pipes from Mid America that look like the muffler eliminators, do you think they'll sound just as good as well as being legal since they are technically mufflers?
I miss that aggressive muscle car sound I used to have on my 91 Camaro.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by GKK
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to weld in a pipe in place of the magnaflow mufflers and then weld on the twin tips. I really don't want to gut the pre-cats.
Also, I know removing mufflers is illegal so, if I installed those Targa muffler pipes from Mid America that look like the muffler eliminators, do you think they'll sound just as good as well as being legal since they are technically mufflers?
I miss that aggressive muscle car sound I used to have on my 91 Camaro.
Also, I know removing mufflers is illegal so, if I installed those Targa muffler pipes from Mid America that look like the muffler eliminators, do you think they'll sound just as good as well as being legal since they are technically mufflers?
I miss that aggressive muscle car sound I used to have on my 91 Camaro.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Cleveland OH
Originally Posted by GKK
I would like to hear from other Vette owners who have installed muffler eliminators on the stock y-pipe with the pre-cats and main cat to see how you like the sound. Thanks
1) With precats + Random main cat
2) No precats + Random main cat (TPIS Long Tube Headers)
3) 396 with main cat
4) 396 without main cat (test pipe)
Obviously, they get progressively louder as you move down the options above. However, you get to a nice sweet spot once you do the headers and get rid of the pre-cats.
Behind the new motor, the PE really shines and turns heads.
I've never personally experienced muffler elims on the Vette, but I can tell you that the PE gives you a big block style rumble if that's what you're going after sound-wise.
Ron
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
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From: Northern California
Removing mufflers is illegal?
Maybe, as long as the engine is within a certain db level it's ok to run without mufflers.
1989, 89, 96, america, california, corvette, elimanator, eliminator, eliminators, illegal, mid, muffler, pipes, tip, twin
