Muffler delete complete... my observations.

[Spiffyguitar]

I read a little info on the boards here about people ditching their stock mufflers and having straight pipes put in... so, for the minimal investment (compared to aftermarket systems) I thought I would give it a try. So here's what I think..

The Setup
I went to a good exhaust shop to have my work done. I paid $200... you can pay more, and you can defiantly pay less. I went there because I know they do good work. The whole process took 1.5 hrs. They reused the stock tips and other than the fact that there's no nasty stock mufflers hanging below, it looks (to the casual observer) like a stock SS.

Initial impressions
The car sounds nasty! I've had nothing but compliments from everyone that's seen/heard the new setup. For the minimal investment you get a very aggressive sound! I would put the sound at start-up/rev/take off against any top dollar setup.

Drone?
During freeway or cruising, this is not an issue. I was actually surprised at this. There IS a drone however that occurs from about 1900-2300 RPMS or so that is quite loud, but is most noticeable under light load when that rpm range is held for a slightly longer period of time (ie: slowly accelerating slowly/moderately from a light).

Popping sound
You know that slight popping sound you get under deceleration with the stock exhaust? Without mufflers this is amplified and much more frequent. Some may love it, some may hate it.

Rev/take-off/idol
It will scare away children and pets. Haha. Literally. I went to a friends house who has 3 dogs that bark and run around every car that pulls in. I rev'd it up, and they went away with their tails tucked. I guess it depends on your definition of 'loud', but one things for sure... it gets noticed.

Anyway.. That's my take on it. I might eventually go with an aftermarket system, but for them money... the result is quite impressive, and I would consider it to be fairly loud. Like any mod... it's not for everyone, but the nice thing is, if you don't like it you can always spend the bigger money later.

[chris rs ss]

Well said. I love mine.

[FFPM73]

I love mine as well. Have the shop put in a MagnaFlow Tru "X" pipe and get rid of the standard "H" pipe (if you have M6 with LS-3) It will reduce the deceleration popping a little and it makes the sound a little deeper.......My whole system with "X" pipe cost around $200.00 with all the new pipe and "X" pipe welded. Everyone that hears it thinks I am running Headers with a MagnaFlow 3in system.......

[towmoe]

I have muffler delete with an X-Pipe and your observations are pretty straight on. Good write up.

[AmericanV8]

Very cool! Thanks for the post. I was skeptical about the muffler delete option but I'm going to pull the trigger. TPW 11/30 wooohooo! This will be my first mod. Anybody know place where I can get a good deal on an X-pipe???? Thanks again!

[Partick]

I had the muffler delete, X pipe and 4" magnaflow mufflers installed and it sounds great!!!

[Spiffyguitar]

Sounds like maybe I should throw on an x-pipe... for those of you that have done this with the x-pipe, did you notice a reduction in 'popping'? I love the aggressive sound, and I guess the increased 'popping' is my only gripe... it's defiantly not a huge deal, but settling down the 'pop' a tad would be nice. Haha

[66DeuceLS1]

You will not notice a reduction in popping with the x-pipe, it will just be less aggressive. An x-pipe will drop the sound approximately 3 dB which is about half as loud. I have both on mine and love the sound. Bigger question in my mind is there a way to program out the non-injection events that GM programmed in the system to totally remove the exhaust popping...

[camaro5]

Excellent post!

Answered all the questions.

[Spiffyguitar]

Thanks Deuce... I think I'll leave my setup 'as is' for now. That aggressive sound is addicting.

I was turning heads today, was followed by a guy who rolled down his window and followed me from stop light to stop light. Next thing I know, he's on his cell, and when the light turned green, he held his phone out the window for the person on the other end to hear! Haha. I guess that says something right there!

[DGuth3]

Anyone know where to get this done in the San Fernando Valley area in CA

[Mzodarg]

I initially did the muffler delete, at the time I thought it was the bomb. I did have 5 bees stuck in a can syndrome when AFM kicked in. $60 to get it done

Anyway I decided enough of the ghetto Mods and installed a Solo Mach X exhaust (cat back) Now this is a deep rich exotic, muscle car tone. Does not sound like I cut the mufflers off.

Just my .02,
Mike

[NAHURRY]

So they reused the stock tips you say...are they out far enough so they
wont melt the plastic?

[Spiffyguitar]

Originally Posted by NAHURRY

So they reused the stock tips you say...are they out far enough so they
wont melt the plastic?

I don't see any issues with this possibly melting the plastic if the shop knows what they're doing. The reused the stock tips and if you look at where the stock tips exit, there is plenty of room. The tips exit slightly beyond where the plastic begins so that exhaust fumes exit to atmosphere, and NOT a plastic pumper.