I was wondering... I've seen lots of "grapefruit shooter" mufflers and most of them come with removable silencers... Is there a power difference with and without it installed? (the silencer) And is there that much of a difference in sound (tone) or how loud it is? I need to get a new one (going to straight pipe from almost stock everything) and need some advice.

Thanks!

 

I seen quite a few of those muflers around, they do seem to substantialy louder and weirder sounding with the silencer removed. as far as power goes there is probobly like a 1 hp difference at 7,000 rpm. its like a Supertrap, they say you can "tune your mufler for hp or torque" but it makes no damn difference exept for fractions that would only show up on a dyno.
I don't see why people get soo obsessed with muffler restriction and think it's the secret to making their car fast, as long as your exhaust system is reasonably free flowing your not going to gain a thing by constantly fiddling around with your muffler.

I say buy a Racing Beat Muffler, you will never regret it

Sorry 'bout the rant man
--Alex

 

On a stock ported engine with stock carb, and the rest of the exhaust is still intact (w/ cats and all) There isn't much to gain. However if you have a ported engine, and the mods to support it, the muffler is crucial. A bridgeport for example can make 160 Hp to 250 Hp depending only on the exaust.

 

Well, the main reason for changing the exhaust is because when RP built the last one (after replacing the CAT) the end that bolts onto the exhaust manifold didn't line up, so there's about a 3/8 inch gap on one side of it... So instead of getting that fixed then buying a new exhaust later, I'm doing what I can on my way to a bridgeport or street or some other type of porting (haven't decided yet which way I'm gonna go with that.)

So, it's basically a work in progress and this is where I'm at right now. I just didn't know if the silencer would make a difference, and what type of muffler/exhaust system to get or build so I'm just gettin' ideas.

 

But I agree with you on a heavily modded engine for sure.

--Alex

 

A silencer does make a difference... I don’t have one for my car because I have the street port racing beat exhaust, not a "grapefruit shooter" as u call it, lol, but my bf does have an apexi exhaust on his 87 turbo supra, the car is extremely loud, u can hear the car 4 blocks away. Any way we bought the silencer to solve that problem and put in it... it made the car 10 times quieter butttt what a difference in power, it was really upsetting LOL... it made a very noticeable difference and the silencer was gone with in a week... if u want the car to be quiet it is great... if u want the car to be quick... it really stinks!

 

The silencer in those types of mufflers makes a BIG difference in power and sound. My exhaust is one straight through presilencer to an apexi n1 styl muffler. With the silencer in I couldn't make more than 9psi, and it was slow, with it out I could make 17psi. At the same boost level (8psi) with the silencer out it is much faster.

 

So, it sounds like if I want it to be quieter (not yet knowing how loud it will be with it and no cat) then I may want to consider a "pre-silencer." Do THOSE make any difference in power? Or if it does, would it be very noticible?

 

well, having the header/straight pipe/ apex muffler i can tell you this.. It's gonna be loud... i went from stock everything to all new piping/header/exhaust in the same day, and whoa... you used to hear mainly *zzzzzzmmmmmm* when revving, now it's like *blaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmm*. definitely more power though and i got used to the hum on the highway...