C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Muffler Eliminators???

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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 01:36 PM
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Default Muffler Eliminators???

Stupid question but would muffler eliminators be legal in California...its probably more about sound laws....but I would still like to know...
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 03:04 PM
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Does CA have laws that relate to the sound measured in decibles from a vehicle at a certain distance? You should check with the DMV or your count or city to see if such laws are on the books. If not, then muffler eliminators would be legal. Removing the mufflers do not impact emissions so there should be no reason otherwise to worry.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by philly1919d
Stupid question but would muffler eliminators be legal in California...its probably more about sound laws....but I would still like to know...
You have a 1992... no way in hell! I don't know CA's laws on this yet, but, I suspect they are much like Delaware in this regard. 95 dB seems to be a defacto standard. Delaware measures it 3' off the tip of the pipe.

I had elims on my 92, replaced the elims with resonators... And they just squeeked under Delaware's sound limits!!!! 94.3 dB! That number was a wake-up call for me. I ordered Corsa's the next day.

I would suggest you look into an aftermarket exhaust.... Magnaflow, Borla, Corsa, Flowmaster... something, because elims are very loud on LT1s and do nothing but add to the resonance. Very boomy. Very annoying... Gave me a headache.

just my .02 worth... you need to hear them to believe it. From the outside, they are KICK ***... but on the inside? ouch.

Oh, for those with L98s, you are ok on Elims... you have 3 cats, 2 precats and one big central cat, that combo really does quiet things up. LT1s only have 2 cats, one on each bank. The pulses can get seriously loud. I am not sure if an H- or X-pipe would ease this or not, but it might not hurt.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 04:51 PM
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muff elims suck
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 05:02 PM
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I believe the law states something about requiring cars to be muffled; the LT1 resonator probably takes care of that.

I have elims on my LT4 and have passed CA smog several times.

It's not that loud.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 07:45 PM
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I tried the elims out as I came across an extra complete catback for my 92 LT1 and thought I'd try them out. I have a vert and they aren't that loud until I get the rpms up and WOT, then they are loud and raspy. I like them so much I put off buying a good catback system. But I just found a place to buy B&Bs for under $900.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 10:01 PM
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I put muff elims on my stock 85 L98. Its only got one cat and it sounds way from either inside or out, not annoying at all. You can cruise around town without bothering anyone, but if you romp on it you know you have a V8
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 10:34 PM
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Originally Posted by JasonL
I believe the law states something about requiring cars to be muffled; the LT1 resonator probably takes care of that.

I have elims on my LT4 and have passed CA smog several times.

It's not that loud.
yea, I suspected that - the LT4 has an H-pipe in it. That will even out the exhaust pulses... LT1s don't have that.

But on an LT1, you will find that the elims will kill you.

Oh, don't be surprised if you loose some power... elims will drop backpressure, resulting in a drop in torque.
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Old Oct 3, 2004 | 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by BlackRoseLT1
muff elims suck
I disagree, I love the way they sound. So much that I took the Corsa off and went back to muff elims.

I am considering Magnaflow since they sound sweet.

This will give you an idea of how loud they are inside and outside the car(still not loud enough for me, but louder than stock)

Inside the car:

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/mrm...ovspanuzzo.wmv

Outside the car:

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/mrm...lspinslide.wmv
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 08:57 AM
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Default Legel?

Try to call the California highway patrol and ask them the question. Ask them about the sound law?
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 03:46 PM
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I am undecided about taking off the Flowmasters from my '95 for elims. The resonance can be pretty bad at times. I will be going with the Hooker long tubes and X-pipe and don't know how this will affect the sound. Part of the problem may be the flows. My (Dad's) '87 has stock manifolds, precats, no center cat and elims and it sounds sweet.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 03:54 PM
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i have elims on my 1996 auto lt1!
they dont suck!
they sound great
it all depends what u want. if you want a louder throtty sound go with muffler elims. with cat back you are just paying for a name and a look! to a certian extint.
muffler elims save you about 20 lbs in weight, and they cost under $200
ladyvettr on ebay sold me mine
they fit and sound awesome!
id rather pay $200 for something that sounds and does more for my car than over a 1000 for something that just looks good.
but thats my opinion. but in cali you prob have to get catback because of laws.
just move
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 03:55 PM
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resonance only occurs in the 1200-1600 rpm range
and only below 30 mph!
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 05:09 PM
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I have elims with the front precats eliminated abd they sound very tough I love em. They're not for the old stuck up Vette owners
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 07:50 PM
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I've been running elims for about a year and would not go back to mufflers. The only time there is a bad resonance issue on my '92 is stepping into the throttle at anything under about 2200 rpm in the higher gears -

I use it as a reminder to drop a gear (or two) and nail it! Then it sounds GREAT!

FYI - my kid had a Corsa system on his '96 Z28 - even HE was jealous of the sound my elims - more mellow while his was kinda raspy in comparison.

We've got no dB testing here yet (thankfully!) - as long as you are not stepping into it, the sound level is not objectionable at all.



Originally Posted by redbullapril23
resonance only occurs in the 1200-1600 rpm range
and only below 30 mph!
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by redbullapril23
resonance only occurs in the 1200-1600 rpm range
and only below 30 mph!
that's funny.
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 11:15 PM
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how is that funny?
ure funny
.........


you
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Old Oct 4, 2004 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by redbullapril23
how is that funny?
ure funny
.........


you
not nice...

What I am saying is that resonance is present, especially on a 6spd, upto 2000rpm.

I honestly think I lost hearing frequency due to the elims.
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