i was wondering if i could just gut my stock muffler for a little gain and a little noise? i plan on getting a gmmg but im getting married and dont want to spend too much on my car. i have cutting tools and a welder so it would LOOK stock.
oh and im marrying the best woman in the world, she bought me a 4" cowl hood!!

sooo............is it doable or just a dumb idea?
thanks in advance
jay

 

been there done that.

COMPLETELY gutted it. nothing inside.

sounded like a coke can when you dent it and then pop it out. except really fast and loud.

took hours to reinforce it to make it strong enough to not pop and flex.

with a gutted cat and everything else stock it sounded AWSOME i think probably the best sounding ive ever heard. and im NOT new to fbodies.

the stock muffler consists of two thin layers of metal. you have to have a mig welder that will turn WAY down. and you need a sawzaw, cutting torch, hammer, ect. you will have to burn through electronic spot welds to get the second layer open and to get to the baffle walls.

the muffler is made almost exactly like a fullboar muffler. look it up on the net to get a idea of how its made.

i cut mine open in a big square U shape and folded the top layer back, then melted the spot welds (you can see them lightly) then cut out the second layer. then i cut out everything inside.

Fold back down the top layer. weld up. and take some 3/8 rebar or equiv and bend to the shape of muffler. then weld it from front to back, as if the muffler was on the car. i used 8 pieces. then weld one across the top of them from side to side.

make sure to weld them up GOOOOOOD

cause i would still have that done to my car if my welds hadnt ripped out and left me with a coke can for a muffler.

you WILL be pleased with the finished product. sounds and looks. performs REALLY well too. looks completely stock even under inspection.

i say try it. you will findout everything i told you as you go.

 

p.s. it is nooooo were near as loud as you think it is. actually its quite quiet inside.

acually im ready to change my exhaust and i think im gonna redo it like that again.

anyone have a stock muffler laying around?

im being serious.

 

I know a guy that did his on his LT1 Z and it sounded OK. It wasn't anyhting that I would want my car to sound like, but to each his own. His car was pretty loud also!

 

I think I have the best combo, stock muffler with a 3" electric cutout after the FLP y-pipe

 

I was about to say, you should buy the gmmg before you get married b/c of the wife and what she would like to do with the money... but you are one lucky guy with your wife buying that hood for you

 

ya i had to mention that cause she can be as bad as me sometimes when it comes to cars. your car should sound like that one(heads and cam) you ARE getting the cowl hood, it looks so good on your 3rd gen. but she still wont let me do anymore to the avalanche.

 

i just hacked mine off before the muffler... that with headers and stock cats sounded mean.. way louder and deaper than my current setup with the loudmouth.


i miss it

 

ok i finally started gutting my muffler. now what do you mean about reinforcing it? there are 3 parts that are in there that could reinforce it. will i need to do more or are those 3 good enough?

thanks
jay