Better for the rumble: straight-thru or 'turbo' muffler?

[SmashedGlass]

I've been combing the threads and watching what few videos there are trying to make a decision on a (low-cost) muffler replacement and I'm still not decided/convinced.

 

Sube in question is an '88 SPFI d/r with almost new y-pipe/cat, no resonator (mid-pipe was replaced by p.o., I believe 2" diameter...have to measure), and a stock muffler that is developing a hole in the front.

 

I'm not looking for loud noises!, just more of the low-tone boxer rumble.

So far the only thing I'm sure of is a)do not want it straight piped and b)cherry bombs are too rough. Atm, it's a toss up between getting something like the Dynomax turbo mufflers, or just a straight-through muffler. As it is with the small hole in the stocker, the rumble is there, just barely noticeable.

 

Advice, and preferably some more soundclips, appreciated.

[Gloyale]

2-1/2 outlet turbo style muffler.

[maozebong]

 

that's mine, it has the cat deleted and a new y-pipe, 2" all the way back, thrush turbo muffler.

[maozebong]

its not as raspy as it sounds on camera, in person. i think that was because how close i placed the camera to the tailpipe. in the car it sounds devine

[SmashedGlass]

Is that the only way to mount one of those?

[6 Star]

In-car with my setup. Stock ea81 exaust, minus muffler and straight piped out to the back bumper.

 

[SmashedGlass]

That Brat doesn't sound too bad, I'll give the straight pipe a listen for a bit as I have to lop off the muffler anyhow and see if I like it that way.

[Prwa101]

I have a 88 turbo gl, muffler that I'm not using anymore. Make me an offer? If you'll lookin

 

-Prwa AAE

[Stubies Subie]

I've been combing the threads and watching what few videos there are trying to make a decision on a (low-cost) muffler replacement and I'm still not decided/convinced.

 

I'm not looking for loud noises!, just more of the low-tone boxer rumble.

 

Advice, and preferably some more soundclips, appreciated.

Hey SmashedGlass, I’m not trying to steel your thread, but I’m having the same problem you are, my muffler is getting a hole in it, but my exhaust system is really a Frankenstein exhaust, it’s had some of the piping replaced, and other areas have patches, and on the Y pipe, the heat shields rattle something awful. The exhaust has pin hole leaks all over the place.

 

For as messed up as it is, It’s got a pretty good tone to it right now, but I know it isn’t going to stay that way, just as the hole in yours is going to get bigger, and louder, and nastier.

 

I gave the exhaust system a lot of thought, and am told that there’s no way we can ever make an EA82 sound like an EJ22, but I do believe we can make is sound better then stock.

 

I like the videos that maozebong and 6 star posted,

 

The idle on maozebong’s sound great, but that nasty rat-tat-tat sound at the higher RPM deceleration is almost too loud, it makes me want to go pop a couple Tylenol.

 

6 star’s brat sounds great, but almost a little to low toned for me, but that may be because he had his video camera inside the car and it insulated some of the sound.

 

 

My idea is to replace the Y-pipe and cat with something unshielded (I hate that rattle)

Borland has a direct replacement that’s oem, minus the shields:

 

The problem around here is, I live in a DEQ zone, my car has to pass emissions, so I need the cat, and the o2 sensor, so I can’t omit that stuff. And if I go to a muffler shop, I have to buy the cat and Y-pipe from them, and have them install it, they won’t install one from any other source but there own (stupid laws) …. Now from the cat back, all is fare game ..so here’s my thinking.

 

I’m told to leave the Y pipe stock, something about back pressure or something, GD knows about that stuff, but to go 2.5 inches from the cat back, and I haven’t seen anything through them Youtube videos that shows that this would sound like, but I’m thinking after the cat, ad a resonator:

 

Then for the exhaust add something like a twin Monza type muffler:

 

Or go with one of them fancy loop back mufflers:

 

I know I’m going to have to get mine into a muffler shop before long and just break down and do what I have to get the exhaust system replaced, so this is the direction I’m kind of leaning, although I’m not real sure about what it might sound like, I’m sure it would sound different then stock though.

 

I’ll probably gather up all the parts, install the Y-pipe and cat myself, then go to the muffler shop and have them install the rest of it.

[SmashedGlass]

Stubie, if you order your y-pipe/cat online (I did, a Magnaflow part, got it on sale for something like $50 less than Autozone and whatnot were listing) mount it yourself and chop the rest off. Then you won't have to pay the shops price for the y-pipe. It'll come exactly as pictured, including that flange where it mounts to the mid-pipe. All my exhaust shop had to do was weld on a new flange to the mid-pipe where idiot P.O. had turned my entire exhaust into a welded one piece affair.

 

*edit-whoops, didn't catch that very last paragraph, you have the right idea already

[Stubies Subie]

All my exhaust shop had to do was weld on a new flange to the mid-pipe where idiot P.O. had turned my entire exhaust into a welded one piece affair.

 

*edit-whoops, didn't catch that very last paragraph, you have the right idea already

 

that's the problem with mine, it's welded front to rear, all one piece, it looks like as sections went bad, they would cut it out, and weld in a new section, it's a real patch job under there.