Sudox_E

Well, I've been a member for several months now, and despite the fact I don't post too much, I pour over the threads on a daily basis. The one thing that I find somewhat confusing, and im sure theres others out there too, is exhaust systems. I have heard so many conflicting reports of "this muffler falls apart in 3 minutes", and "damn, this muffler is GREAT". I just wanted to clear some things up for myself and others. Will any fiberglass packed muffler work/last? What mufflers out there are affordable and SS packed? How bad does flowmaster suck? What size pipe should I use? I understand that RB exhaust systems are probably best for those with street and stock ports, but what about those with bridgeported or turbocharged engines? Is true dual exhaust any good? I have heard that having dual pipes w/ preslincers collecting over the rear axle is a good deal. I'm looking to hear from people with actual experiences, not just rumors. These are all questions I had In mind, pretty soon i'm gonna set out to build an exhaust system for my soon to be bridgey 12a. So if you guys could answer these questions, it would help me out, and I'm sure alot of other people would get something out of it. Hell, I think we need a good exhaust thread in the archives anyways .

Thanks a lot guys
sudox_e (exodus)

coldy13

I don't have much experience, but I do know that the muffler I have works, and works GREAT. I bought it a year ago off ebay, it is completely stainless steel. It's an Apex'i N1 style, 2.5'' inlet, 3.5'' outlet. It is a straight through design, 2.5'' perforated stainless pipe going straight through it packing is around this pipe and is also stainless. It has a removable silencer. With it in, the muffler is slightly restricting, but it makes it plenty quiet for a stockport with gutted cats on the street. With it out, it is a little loud, but it doesn't restrict at all. I don't think they are sold on ebay anymore, but they are sold at www.meganracing.com

Yes, I know they look like a ricer fart can, but they work great.

Sudox_E

A friend of mine just got an N1 style muffler, it looks pretty decent, don't know if his was stainless steel packed though. I'll check it out, heh, but I'm sure theres a lot of people who dislike the N1 style fart cans

pvc

I've got an APEXi N1 Muffler. I thought when I bought it that it was SS packed. Nope, it's fiberglass. So far it's been holding up though. Mine is VERY loud with the silencer off. Shoot's flames too!

Gregs

how much is an apexi n1?

-greg

Gregs

how much is an apexi n1?

im thinking about running one for the street and them getting a y cutout straight off the header for the track
-greg

APT CSVT

If you want a SS packed muffler, get a Maganflow. I bet they are cheaper than Apexi, look and sound better. www.bigexhaust.com has great prices. If you want the mirror finish, pick the race series which is stright through vs. the street which are not. And I would pick a 5x8 muffler, not a round one.

However, I think the Racing Beat street port system will probably be a good compromise.

coldy13

A real Apex'i N1 is close to $200, I think. I have a fake one, mine IS packed with stainless, not fiberglass. I'm not sure if meganracing.com still packs theirs with stainless, since they have changed a few other things about them since I bought mine. I bought mine off ebay, $70 shipped. It cost another $50 to get it put on. So it was $130 total. Still MUCH less than the RB muffler, doesn't quiet as much, but it flows better.

pvc

My apexi N1 was 50 bucks off of ebay. That's why I got it. But yeah, about $70 shipped.

pvc

Wait a minute...

Maybe mine is a fake!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Sudox_E

heh, I love how theres so many mufflers advertised as "Apexi N1", then you get the muffler, and you get teh muffler and find out its actually by TEAM XENON or some other horrible made up company. Are all magnaflow mufflers SS packed? Will the provide adequate... uuhh, muffling? What are you guys out there running with your turbo setups? I'm looking for a system that flows well enough for a bridgeport, but also quiets down the exhaust. I have heard enough too-loud rotary horror stories!

Bruceman

iTrader: (5)

I have just completed fabricating and installing a new exhaust system on my 82 GS. The cost was about $570, same as a complete Racing Beat (RB) system (rear muffler and presilencer). Although my cost includes an oxy/acetylene welding kit!

Materials:
2 - 2" diameter cherry bombs about 36" long, cheap $15 each from Meijer
Roll of SS wool from Mcmaster
7 ft length of 2.5" tubing, 2 - 2" 180 degree mandrel bends, 6 - 3 bolt flanges, all from JCWhitney
Combo length of 2.5" diameter mandrel bends (45, 90, 120, 180 degree) from Hedman
Magnaflow muffler 20" length, 2.5" inlet with dual outlet from ebay $75 total
Welding kit off ebay $60 + shipping
Welding gas bottles $155
3 gas bottle refills about $30

I removed the fiberglass from the cherrybombs and loaded them with SS wool, made up a Y with the 2" 180 degree bends and ran them in parallel to just in front of the rear axle. Bought these together and made the pipe up over the axle with the Hedman Combo 2.5" mandrel bends. Used flanges on either end of the pipe over the axle and on the Magnaflow. Welded on chrome extensions to the Magnaflow outlet from the old RB rear muffler.
I have driven about 500 miles since installation which includes a 450 mile round trip on the Interstate. Noise ( or music to the ears) is not to much louder than the previous RB system both inside and outside the car. It would have to be a lot louder, before I'd be embarassed to be seen driving it. In my opinion the RB system is too quiet. Butt dyno tells me performance is very similar.
I intend to install a turbo soon which is why I went for the 2.5" pipe. I wanted 2 "presilencers" in parallel to keep it quiet. May only need 1 when the turbo is installed.
It was many hours of work and head scratching. But I'm very satisfied.

I cut open the old rusted RB system (no idea on the age)to see what it was made of and how it was made. The presilenser was packed with SS that looked like big pot scouring pads in the shape of a donut. The length of the rear muffler was divided into 3 sections, like placing 3 coke cans end to end. The first section had straight perforated tubing, 2nd section was the Y into 2 perforated tubing, while the final section is the 2 straight perforated tubes. All sections were packed full of what looks like a lot like fiberglass but RB tells me it is a ceramic material. This packing was in good condition. I think the volume (length and diameter) of the RB muffler has a lot to do with why it is so quiet along with the thick wall tubing. The construction is very robust, all steel is very thick, and everything is fully welded.

Sudox_E

mmm, thats the kind of info I crave... Do you think it would be too loud w/o the silencers?

Bruceman

iTrader: (5)

Without the silencers it probably would be too loud. Not sure whether the tone would be very desirable.

Would be pretty easy to try this and pretty interesting.
Now you've got me thinking .......

Couldn't do this until the oil leak in my oil cooler is fixed. But may do in the future as I have the materials, just need to weld flanges to 2.5" pipe and put a slight bend in it. May be just what the turbo ordered.

FB II

no presilencers or cats = insane loudness! that's how mine is. i just bought another muffler to use as a presilencer cause it's pissing me off its so loud. hahaha

Sudox_E

My idea is a magnaflow stainless oval muffler w/ a new hi-flow cat, all 2.25 pipe. Maybe if its too loud, I could get one of those moroso spiral flow race mufflers, just to take off the edge (and theyre only 40$ of so). Im sure it would stand up to the beating, not be too loud, and would all be fairly free flowing.