Is buying a cheap muffler Smart?
 

Let me start off by giving you my priority with this issue. As I am in a budget like usual. ( I know, I know can't be on a budget with this car, still dealing with that issue).
1) Performance
2) Cost
3)longevity
4)looks
5) sound
Well I was considering buying a cheap no namer chrome muffler (fart can) off the internet for around 50-60 shipped. There the same ones a local muffler shop is selling here in my town. But here they're expensive, here they go for around 120 single tip, and 175 duel tip. I was originally gonna go with a glass pack, I love the deep tone but they look like shi7. The only problem is I am going 3" all the way back and most mufflers are 2.5" inlet. The muffler shop said there would be no problem to go from 3" to 2.5" but would I be sacrificing anything with that size reduction at the end, or am I better of w/ a 3" inlet. Also is there anything I should worry about when selecting a muffler because of the rotaries extreme heat, or will any decent muffler hold up to the heat.

Here is the pictures of the ones I am debating:

http://images.andale.com/f2/123/104/...MF_RS3DTMa.jpg

http://www.makotoautotrends.com/prod...06-0888MFX.jpg

http://images.andale.com/f2/127/115/..._MF_RS340k.jpg

you get the idea.

no offense but those mufflers you posted were sh*t..

i rather wait and get something worth it than just to get that cause you have enough to get it..

Typically, the sound absorptive material in cheap mufflers will not last long under the rotaries heat. Also, if the muffler is only 2.5" inlet, why even bother? I would just keep the stocker in that case.

With this thing 2.5" / vs 3" won't be an issue due to the restrictor, plus there was an interesting thread about 3" or bigger exhaust pipes and when that was needed posted by Max Cooper not to long ago... a great read for performance / vs size....

http://images.andale.com/f2/127/115/..._MF_RS340k.jpg

As to will it hold up... well unless it's a wax muffler, heat is a far bigger problem near the manifold, turbo, dp, and cat if you have any, by the time it hits the "Fart Can" it's mellowed out quite a bit, due to the Cat etc... radiating a lot of it...

As anything I'd rather buy the "Good" part later, than buying the wrong part, now just to realize it was the wrong part, and replacing it with the one I wanted to begin with... which ends up costing 2X the labor, since cheap doesn't mean it fits either so maybe 3X the labor, and wasted money on a part that failed...

Bottom Line, if the old one stock / whatever works, save your dough and buy something that you'll be happy with..

Rynberg is right, I was thinking of the welds ....

From time to time there are some Megan 3" inlet mufflers on Ebay that seem to be of decent quality. I would not put a 2.5" muffler on 3" piping if your first priority is performance. Save up for a better quality 3", or wait until you find a cheap 3", but dont get a 2.5"

no offense, but what makes the stock any better, than the ones pictured, other than its oem. I would keep the stock if I could, but that's the problem. I don't have one.

Yeah I think you got a point there, the welds would probably be easier and last longer on a 3" inlet.

Not much, except that the performance will be less, but the packing material will be made to withstand the Heat, and sound output will be less...
A lot of people that cannot, or will not want to own "Fart Cannons" op for the Racing Beat Duals... look like stock, but flow a lot better, and sound a bit better, without alerting every cop in a 3 mi radius...

Racing Beat, & HKS I would say make some of the better exhaust parts for the FD... although I'm sure I'll get Flamed for saying that :D (My Opinion Guys)

lopedl, do you want a stock one? i have one sitting at my in-laws that i took off about a month ago... only had around 2k miles on it then. let me know if you'd be interested as i don't need it anymore. excellent condition, if you'll slide me like $25 plus shipping on it, its all good to go. i'll have to see what the shipping to you would be though.

pm me if you're interested

Don't ignore the fact that the inlet opening is much smaller than the 3"- 3.5" outlet tip. The mufflers shown above seem to have a 2" inlet, which make their 3"-3.5" diameter outlet tip moot as far as performance and exhaust flow. The tips are also tapered down to about 2".

D I couldn't find that thread are you certain the author was Max Cooper?
Thanks again man.

Good eye. So are you saying I should be concerned because of decreased performance, than what is actually stated???

I don't understand the statements about the exhausts. Typically an exhaust will comprise of steel for the piping, and for the cat and muffler ceramic, or at the cheapest fiberglass. With the exception of fiberglass I couldn't see why those other materials couldn't withstand the heat. I mean doesn't everyone talk about coating parts with ceramic. So I would assume as long as its either made from ceramic or steel, and withstand the salts and chemicals of the road it would hold up for a long while.

Isn't the heat comparable to a v8????

Just don't be mislead by the huge tip. You'll only get the performance/exhaust flow of a 3" cat back,.....from a straight through 3" free flow cat back.

Damn, it sounds like more and more I should go with a 3" glasspack, 3" straight through..... anyone ever tried it??

Do they even make 3" glasspacks? Even if they do from time to time you'll find Apexi N1 style canisters/mufflers on ebay and can sometimes find them with a 3" inlet, they can be had for about $90.00, and that's about the cheapest I'd go. Don't go wasting money on parts that you're going to need to upgrade later. Either that or I'm sure someone will sell you a stock catback for like $100.00..

If you buy a glasspack, the heat from the rotary will melt the packing within a couple hundred miles. It is much hotter than a V8.

lopedl. i dont think i woudl even bother with those mufflers that you are posting pics of. just search ebay and the forums for used catbacks, i got a practically brand new greddy SP for about $200 a few months ago. you will be much better off in the long run buying something that will last a little bit later, rather than something crappy now.

Understandable to be on a budget but putting garbage on a FD is disrespectful IMOP. Save up for something worth while that is brand new or find someone selling a used unit.

i'm still running a stocker as of now, but imo why buy a cheap muff for a car such as an fd, i would be embaressed to run one of those on my old honda.

i have seen the MEGAN racing 3 ich mufflers, they seem pretty good for the price, if i was you with a budget just stick with that..you can get an 3inch inlet muffler from ebay for about 60-75 dollars shipped..which is pretty good deal i suppose...but whatever you do don't get a 2.5 inch muffler, if you have 3ich pipin' then keep a constant 3inch air flow..good luck

.

I don't think I posted the exhaust thread if there was one. I did post about IC piping sizes, but I think that is different.

Don't waste your money on ricer mufflers. It would be better to get a decent performance muffler (Borla, Magnaflow, etc.) from Summit or Jeg's and get a tip welded on.

-Max

i bought a dynomax striaght thru muffler from summit racing, 3" in/out. i had a muffler shop weld on a tip. it looks unique/decent. the sound is muffled yet mean. it works well. i did if for under $200 if i recall. but those chrome muffler shop pieces are for ricers. order a decent muffler from a decent company or go high end but for tthe love of god dont use one of those gawdawful things.