New Muffler for Me

[SpectralSamurai]

I recently failed inspection due to leaking exhaust pipe; $9 part at Trak Auto. When I took the leaking pipe off, it broke off inside the muffler. I considered going and buying a standard replacement part, but changed my mind.

As a result of this, I now have a 2 1/2" Magnaflow straight-through muffler with a 2 1/2" tailpipe from the muffler back. That solved ALOT of power issues. I can actually push 95+ MPH in 4th gear (A4LD) without difficulty, and I still haven't touched the cats. The sound is also quite nice, low tone at idle, and does not rice out at high RPM, so I'm happy. The cats are next, I bought a Catco 2 1/2" cat off Ebay for $50 after shipping. I'm debating whether to stick that on before or after I do my motor swap.

I got some pictures of the old pieces next to the new pieces, as soon as I get the film developed I'll post the picture.

Incidentally, anyone wanting a "cheap" fix for some power, get a performance muffler. The stock muffler, I discovered, starts out as a 2" ID opening, however internally that gets shrunk to roughly 1" as it goes into and comes out of the muffler. Flow killer? What gives you that idea?

 

[JamesBaumann]

I dont mean to sound like your mom, but what were you doing driving 95+ mph on street roads? You could find yourself without a car at all if you get caught.

 

[freakintiger]

James is right; I also am a Commonwealth of Virginia resident. You will probably LOSE YOUR LICENSE!
They would probably charge you with SPEEDING(X#MILES OVER) RECKLESS DRIVING, and maybe EXHIBITION OF SPEED. NOT TO MENTION WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU GOT IN A WRECK: WANNA LAY IN A BED PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN? THAT'S RIGHT: NEVER HAVE SEX AGAIN!

SORRY TO BE SO DOWN, BUT BACK IN '93 A GIRL I HAD DATED, WHO I DEARLY LOVED WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 'STANG. SPEED WAS A FACTOR.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY SHE WAS DECAPITATED SO VIOLENTLY THE COPS HAD TO LOOK FOR HER HEAD.

So this reply will be a memorial to her:

Michelle Marie Bajowski, who never saw her 18th birthday

 

[itsgreat2bme]

That's terrible to hear freakintiger, very sorry!
And like they always say: "save it for the track"
Things like that are just too scary to mess with IMO

 

[SpectralSamurai]

I was not going 95 MPH on a Virginia road. I was going 95 on a stretch of I-95 in NC near the SC border and getting passed by motorists and highway patrolmen alike. I don't speed here, its a stupid idea. For that matter, I try not to speed anywhere because of the risks involved. I don't just go randomly flying down the road to impress my friends. The actual speed of 95 was reached on a completely abandoned stretch of road in the middle of nowhere at 1:30 AM, and that wasn't even maintained for 2 seconds before I dropped it back down to 80. Speed limit is 75 there, and generally people go 85-90, so I'm actually the slow one out.

Furthermore, none of you guys bothered to even ask where I went that fast. It could have been on a track somewhere, it turns out that it was on a major highway, but in a different state with different rules. Not everywhere in the US is the state speed limit 55 MPH. If I was doing 95 in a 55 zone, I would be an idiot. However, I wasn't.

I'm not trying to make light of speeding accidents, but the entire thread went completely off topic. I got an upgrade, I noticed a difference on the highway where people drive fast, regardless of the speed limit. The posters so far as if you guys never speed at all. If you drive the speed limit everywhere you go, good for you. If not, oh well, none of us keep all the rules all the time.

I don't mean to launch into a tirade here, but I mention one thing and suddenly I'm a horrible speeder who's going to get into a wreck and get paralyzed and kill all my passengers. I was alone when I hit the top speed and the highway was empty when I achieved it. Literally, for as far forward and as far backward as I could see no one. If I got hurt, only I get hurt, if I got a ticket, oh well my own stupid fault either way.

Oh and by the way, if any of you have never at all gone 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, even if only for a moment while passing someone, I will be duly impressed.

Is anyone going to raise any questions about the upgrade itself, or should this thread be locked?

 

[itsgreat2bme]

phew!
Ok well sorry for the upheaval, good to know you don't speed!

 

[SpectralSamurai]

s'ok, I got a speeding ticket roughly a week after I got the car. The speed limit was 65, then 50 going into a tunnel, and I thought it went back to 65, so I passed someone. Well, it was still 50, and I passed someone at 70, and there was a speed trap on the other side of the hill. So myself and 7 other lucky people became the proud owners of little pink pieces of paper. Since then I'm paranoid about speeding, and that was nearly two years ago.

 

[mr_woodster]

ah, lucky speed traps got outlawed in this state....perhaps the only thing going for it vehicle wise.

 

[HyYoSilver]

SS, I agree with you about an aftermarket muffler giving a performance boost. I've been researching them recently, and just installed a Hooker Aero Chamber on an Explorer. The increased torque was noticable, not to mention the sweet exhaust sound.

The Magnaflow is one of the better mufflers out there. I know most people choose the Flowmasters, and it's good to hear of good results from other types.