Efficient & good sounding exhaust?

[ElCaminoBill]

Any ideas or experience on a good sounding efficeint exhaust.

My main objective is mileage and power gains over stock. I don't want it to sound bad (which many V6 systems do) or be real loud inside the car.

 

[Doober]

Though people don't actually find it synonymous with the name, Flowmaster does have quiet mufflers. I had one on my truck a few years ago, didn't sound any louder than stock (slightly deeper, but still sounded pretty much stock), and I was running a cat as well.

 

[Darwinskeeper]

ElCaminoBill,

How would you define "real loud inside"? :?

I think the system I have on Darwin might be what you're looking for. My car friends seem to think it sounds good and a few were surprised to learn that the exhaust note was produced by a V6. I can definitely hear the engine while driving when the windows are up, but it doesn't seem loud enough that it would interfere with the stereo (if I had one) and I didn't mind the sound over last Summer's cross country drive, while I was driving over 10 hours a day for two days.

My system has a pair of Hooker full length headers (with 1.5in dia primary tubes), crush bent 2.50in main tubes and Flow Tech turbomufflers.

 

[80ECLT]

Mine has Hooker long tubes, H-pipe, dual cats, and Flo-Pro turbo mufflers. Mandril bent 2.5" pipes, rear exit. Havent fired it up yet, so I dont know how it sounds! LOL! I will let you know this spring. It sounded ok with the V8...

 

[Anonymous]

Its hard to get a 3.8 to sound good but, I've heard a few, and heard even more 4.3's sound good. I've found that most V6's keep a deeper tone when the cat. conv. is left in place, a resonator (pre muffler)in line, and the pipe no larger than 2.5" single or 2.25" duals. IF you need to run bigger because you've making some serious power...it doesn't sound as good anymore...but the performance makes up for it. :twisted:

 

[bukweet]

My longroof has the buick 3.8(still there sadly). Several years ago the stock muffler rotted out. I went to the local pipe bender and told him to put the cheapest thing he had under it.
It has a $18 glass pack and still has the converter. It sounds kind of deep and rumbles a bit. Everything else is stock. I actually like it!
I was afraid of the old " buzzin' half dozen" but I suppose the converter helped keep that away.
SOMETIMES there's success in being cheap.
Afterthought: Just might leave the V6 in this thing.

bukweet

 

[DOUG213XRJ]

I had a 79 malibu with the 200 V6 took it to a muffler shop for 2.25 pipes from the mainfolds to H pipe out to turbo mufflers then out to the bumper. sounded good and is very efficent, then if a V8 is in the works the exhaust is alreaty there.

 

[Supe]

2 1/4 duals with Dynomax super turbos or ultraflows.

 

[Darwinskeeper]

The wierd thing about Darwin's exhaust system is that there is no balance tube between the two pipes. Is that common for shop fabricated dual exhaust systems? How much would I have to gain by adding an H Pipe?

Is anyone running an X-pipe system on a V6? How did you like it?

 

[80ECLT]

H pipe or x pipe will help torque, and make the sound a little more consistant, you will lose some resonation. A good thing with the V6's. They usually resonate pretty bad from my experiences.