muffler options...

[savedbyzero]

has anyone put a new muffler on their vibe/matrix yet? besides the shiny overpriced TRD coffee can? i'm looking into the 50 or 60 series flowmaster. i can get it all for $80 with install! i'll probably have piece of 3" stainless fitted to the end for my tip. anyone heard any exhausts or bought one? i want to stay away from straigh-throughs, just to loud and annoying...help would be appreciated!bradthis will be my first year anniversary gift from my wife!...i know, you're all jealous!

[d_m_kolb]

I'm not trying to slam on your exhaust by any means but I don't see why anyone would want to spend $400 to $600 on a cat back exhaust when you can go to a muffler shop and have them custom make an exhaust for less than $200 $250 and perform just as well. If you want a 2 1/4" diameter exhaust ask the exhaust shop to use 2 1/2" diameter exhaust because when they make the bends in the pipe the machine they use will slightly compress the diameter so the extra 1/4" will make up for it. You can buy a Thrush glass pack for around $15 to $20 and if you install it right after the last cat your exhaust will have a very mellow performance tone to it. Make sure it's the longest they make. The shorter the glasspack the more noise it will make. Also the closer to the end of the exhaust pipe the more noise it will make. It wont sound very loud or like a open exhaust if installed right after the last cat. Plus a glass pack is very free flowing. I did this to my last vehicle for under $250 with highflow cat, 30" Thrush glasspack and 2 1/4" diameter piping from the manifold out the back. It made a hell of a difference in throttle response and top end.

[piffy]

quote:has anyone put a new muffler on their vibe/matrix yet? besides the shiny overpriced TRD coffee can? i'm looking into the 50 or 60 series flowmaster. i can get it all for $80 with install! i'll probably have piece of 3" stainless fitted to the end for my tip. anyone heard any exhausts or bought one? i want to stay away from straigh-throughs, just to loud and annoying...help would be appreciated!bradthis will be my first year anniversary gift from my wife!...i know, you're all jealous!I don't remember which flowmaster I have on my current car, but I know its one of the two you mentioned. I went to a muffler shop and had them do the job themselves. It only cost me about $250 for everything and for the most part I am quite pleased.If I had it to do again, I would add a resonator or something to mellow the tone out a bit. The exhaust has been in my car for about a year now and I'm definitely growing tired of the noise it makes. Don't get me wrong, the throttle response and power boost are great, but the noise is just so aggravating at times.I'm not sure what a glasspack is (unless its another name for a resonator), but I'd look into that.When I get my Vibe, I may look into an aftermarket exhaust, but it would definitely have to be a lot more mellow and unobtrusive.

[savedbyzero]

umm..i don't think i said anything about a complete system..and i will never get another glasspack unless i'm using it as a resonator. dumbest thing i ever did to my sunfire. i was asking about mufflers, not a straight-through design. the flowmaster 60 series is looking good if they can get one in at the shop in indiana. what's the stock exhaust pipe size from the cat-back?brad

[d_m_kolb]

How is it dumb to use a glasspack for a muffler. If you get a short length glasspack and install it near the end of the exhaust pipe it will be very loud. If you get a long glasspack and install it right after the cat it wont be that loud at all and you'll gain quite a bit of performance.I say this because I have personally done it.I knew you wre talking about a muffler but a glasspack is in the same catagory. Flowmaster does make a glasspack for small engine imports. You'll have to check there site. I have seen flow tests that the flowmaster was pretty restrictive. A dynomax muffler are pretty free flowing.I guess it's all in what you want though and the sound your going for.

[savedbyzero]

d_m_kolb...sorry to get you going there.didn't say it was dumb, just from my experience and opinion i think it's way too loud. i did the same set-up you were referring to on my sunfire(long glasspack right at resignator). i also had a performance header. it just about shook my dang mirrors off. people were crying and pointing while their ears bled.i've also read that the 40 series yielded better results than 3" inch straight pipe...i'm not so much concerned with the preformance end. i want some gain, but don't want to sacrifice my eardrums...loud exhausts get freakin' annoying. it has to be better than the dang 4 foot muffler on it stock!

[d_m_kolb]

You didn't get me going I love to argue. Not sure why your exhaust was so loud. I had mine installed on a 97 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1 V6. It was louder than stock but now where near as loud as you said your was. Not sure why that is.The lower you go on the series of Flowmaster mufflers the better they flow but then again the louder they are. They do have a great performance loud sound to them though.

[shibaman]

I put a magnaflow and a resonator on a 130 hp motor and regret doing it. I have more top end hp, but have lost much of my low end. Not good with an auto. If you have an auto I think that factory offers the best choise for you.

[d_m_kolb]

This will fix your torque problem at low RPM and you'll still have your high RPM power.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=310

[savedbyzero]

looks like a gimmick to me. a lot like the spiralmax whirlie gig...some me actual proof(dyno sheet). the (removed) dyno and "feel a real difference"don't do it for me...

[d_m_kolb]

No it's actually works. A friend of mine at the base has a Tiburon at the base and had a full exhaust put on his car from the exhaust manifold all the way back. High flow cat and he used a dynomax muffler. He lost a lot of his low end torque mainly because the system flowed so well and had very little restrict so not much back pressure. He also has a auto so he really needs his low RPM power. I talked him into buying the exhaust Valve thing and we welded it on after work hours. He loves it. He's got all if not more of his low end torque back and it didn't hurt the top end power he gained. The exhaust valve actually works. I plan on getting one soon.

[d_m_kolb]

Some one asked about the Flowmaster 60 series muffler. After reading about it on there site and listening to a Accura Integra "R"1.8L VTEC with the muffler installed I'm pretty impressed with the way it sounds.http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/web10 ... Muff7.html

[savedbyzero]

it's ordered and will be installed on tuesday. unfortunately i got huge flack over at matrixvibe for even considering a flowmaster...i hate ignorant people...oh wait, i don't really care...i won't be able to post any sound clips until i get back from indy in 2 weeks, but rest assured i will! the intake will hopefully installed as well! dear lord! my business partner just purchased a RSX type-S. it's on...gonna be close, but with the mods and me nowing how to drive and him not, could be a real race!thanks for some insurance, folks! the power of domestics, mmmm...wait can we really consider ourselves domestics?
[Modified by savedbyzero, 4:59 AM 8/3/2002]

[d_m_kolb]

Who cars what people think as long as your happy. Hell look at me I have a Kia Spectra and am the moderator of a Vibe site. Hell I probably know just as much about the Vibe as I do my own car, and I don't even own a Vibe yet. LOLAs for http://www.matrixvibe.net giving you a hard time don't worry about it. Get it installed on your car and do some runs with the stock muffler then with the Flowmaster and post the difference. Either put up or shut up. Once you post your numbers they'll shut up. We'll I would think they would.Let us know the difference in performance, gasmileage and tone of the exhaust with the Flowmaster on there. If it's good enough hell I might end up putting a Flowmaster on mine once I get it.