Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4315 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:52 pm
I've always wanted an exhaust system that sounded like a Ferrari. Not just any Ferrari tho, like a late 80's early 90's Ferrari.....they just sound cool. We had a GTO (new one) come into the dealer with headers and a complete Corsa setup (I think it was a Corsa). It sounded sweet! I was expecting the loud V8, but instead got a pleasant "Ferrari" sound. Of course, until I get 10-12 cylinders with a smaller displacement than our 3.8L V6, don't think it's gonna happen
Last edited by Abaddon on Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:54 pm; edited 4 times in total
Rickw Guru
Name : Rick Location : Lancaster, MA Joined : 2008-09-13Post Count : 6282 Merit : 119
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:53 pm
BrianEsser wrote:
I merely meant Dynomax is an OK product, but it's not in the same class as Spintech. That doesn't mean it's junk, just that you can't really compare the two. Like I said, I used Dynomax and was happy with it on my Jeep, but if cash wasn't a problem, Spintechs all the way. lol and No, I wasn't calling you a wingnut (or does it fit?).
Thanks for the clarification. My problem with understanding the sentence was that I did not know that SpinTech was a Muffler. And to answer the other question, yes -at times it does fit. So you hit a soft spot and I'm very sensitive.....NOT.
BrianEsser Enthusiast
Name : Brian Esser Age : 48 Location : Ohio Joined : 2010-01-22Post Count : 168 Merit : 8
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:53 pm
Yeah, Corsa is grade A stuff, but wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of my price range. A cat back from them, would probably cost as much as my car did.
BrianEsser Enthusiast
Name : Brian Esser Age : 48 Location : Ohio Joined : 2010-01-22Post Count : 168 Merit : 8
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:55 pm
Rickw wrote:
BrianEsser wrote:
I merely meant Dynomax is an OK product, but it's not in the same class as Spintech. That doesn't mean it's junk, just that you can't really compare the two. Like I said, I used Dynomax and was happy with it on my Jeep, but if cash wasn't a problem, Spintechs all the way. lol and No, I wasn't calling you a wingnut (or does it fit?).
Thanks for the clarification. My problem with understanding the sentence was that I did not know that SpinTech was a Muffler. And to answer the other question, yes -at times it does fit. So you hit a soft spot and I'm very sensitive.....NOT.
Here ya go.
http://www.spintechmufflers.com/
They mostly specialize in race stuff, but they do have street mufflers. They can custom make mufflers for you as well.
Rickw Guru
Name : Rick Location : Lancaster, MA Joined : 2008-09-13Post Count : 6282 Merit : 119
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:15 pm
So Brian, Your saying you are currently using Spintech on the Riv or not, yet. Are they all stainless? and which model would you choose for a older wingnut like me that still wants to hear the exhaust but not have the droan during cruising. I'm beginning to think such a muffler doesn't exist.? Please prove me wrong. Can I have my cake and eat it too.?
Abaddon Expert
Name : Scott Location : Macomb, Michigan Joined : 2010-02-24Post Count : 4315 Merit : 185
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:17 pm
did someone say cake?
BrianEsser Enthusiast
Name : Brian Esser Age : 48 Location : Ohio Joined : 2010-01-22Post Count : 168 Merit : 8
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:27 pm
Right now, I'm all stock, but I'm stashing $$ back for the new engine and new exhaust as well as some other goodies. I will however be going with Spintechs mufflers, most likely something the Pro-Bullet line, but for some reason they aren't showing them on the site, they have some in clearance, I wonder if they are coming out with a new line soon or dropping them, hmmm. I'm thinking 3 of them, one in place of the stock resonator, all in stainless and no cat. I don't think I can afford headers anytime soon.
I think using a third one would help cancel the reverb and droan.
Rickw Guru
Name : Rick Location : Lancaster, MA Joined : 2008-09-13Post Count : 6282 Merit : 119
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:33 pm
Header's aren't that expensive. The inexpensive SSAC's I got were less than $300.00 on special +shipping. I think they are a very well made stainless header for the money. I completely wrapped them and the downpipe prior to installation and you would never know i had headers installed unless I told you or showed you. I just saw a set of SLP's used on another board go for $150.00 + Shipping. Keep your eye's open and you can have some cake too. I would not modify my exhaust without starting at the engine first and get rid of the restrictive manifolds.
turtleman Expert
Name : Codith Age : 37 Location : Villa Park, IL Joined : 2007-02-08Post Count : 3671 Merit : 140
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:38 pm
Spintech or Corsa on a 3800 would be an expensive mistake.
BrianEsser Enthusiast
Name : Brian Esser Age : 48 Location : Ohio Joined : 2010-01-22Post Count : 168 Merit : 8
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:39 pm
turtleman wrote:
Spintech or Corsa on a 3800 would be an expensive mistake.
How so? If you like the sound, whats wrong with them?
Rickw Guru
Name : Rick Location : Lancaster, MA Joined : 2008-09-13Post Count : 6282 Merit : 119
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:42 pm
Codith, You have headers on yours, correct.?
crlombardi69 Enthusiast
Name : Chris L Age : 55 Location : Metro/Detroit area Joined : 2009-12-31Post Count : 207 Merit : 5
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:49 pm
I have the SLP headers on my riv w/3" straight pipe back to the stock "Y" and mufflers.I want to place one round muffler where the resonator was then split it into two 2.5 inch tailpipes w/nice ss tips.
deekster_caddy Master
Name : Derek Age : 52 Location : Reading, MA Joined : 2007-01-31Post Count : 7717 Merit : 109
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:15 pm
24 pages of this thread and I still have yet to hear a muffler that makes a 3800 sound good.
crlombardi69 Enthusiast
Name : Chris L Age : 55 Location : Metro/Detroit area Joined : 2009-12-31Post Count : 207 Merit : 5
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:23 pm
That depends on what you're interpretation of "good" is. As far as I'm concerned there probably isn't one that's really gonna sound good.(Imo)Unless it is highly modified with a big cam in it!
Rickw Guru
Name : Rick Location : Lancaster, MA Joined : 2008-09-13Post Count : 6282 Merit : 119
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:29 pm
deekster_caddy wrote:
24 pages of this thread and I still have yet to hear a muffler that makes a 3800 sound good.
I know neither you or I can hear the various combination's of exhaust systems or just mufflers on this board but,
You have more experience than I do as far as being around these engines in all different kinds of cars. You haven't heard one yet that you might want to try, given all the Pontiac's, etc that you've been around. Nothing..........?
turtleman Expert
Name : Codith Age : 37 Location : Villa Park, IL Joined : 2007-02-08Post Count : 3671 Merit : 140
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:33 pm
This is probably one of the best louder header'ed 3800's i've heard. clean rasp-free sound, if still a very 3800 sound and this is not an extensively modded car btw
Rick - yes I have headers
Brian - Corsa and Spintech are usually pretty loud systems. They sound nice on corvettes and stuff and no doubt, they can be counted on for performance and quality but if say I were to put a spintech or corsa muffler where my current muffler is now and did nothing else, I'd be getting noise tickets again for cruising barely above an idle down a residential road. They could probably sound good as a muffler swap on a relatively stock riviera exhaust but on a car with headers, cat del, resonator del, bigger mandrel piping, etc, which most who want performance would sensibley have before buying expensive mufflers, it would be very loud and full of drone.
crlombardi69 Enthusiast
Name : Chris L Age : 55 Location : Metro/Detroit area Joined : 2009-12-31Post Count : 207 Merit : 5
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:56 pm
Right and that is just another opinion of what "sounds good"I will bet money that if 100 people were asked what sounded better between a SBC v-8 and a 3800 v-6 that the v-8 would win without a doubt.Most people love the way that they run but not really so much on how they sound.imo
turtleman Expert
Name : Codith Age : 37 Location : Villa Park, IL Joined : 2007-02-08Post Count : 3671 Merit : 140
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:43 am
Ok, can we all get on the same page with these two points? 1 - We all know (if you didn't before, you do now) that a 3800 will never sound like a v8. Can we stop trying to make comparisons to a v8 sound? There is simply no reason or application for it. A SBC v8 is not a saught for benchmark for automotive noise, in the v6 world. If you treat that way, you will be forever disappointed. Chris, of course most people would prefer the v8 sound and I'm no exception myself. Point here is let's make comparisons between stuff we can actually do.
2 - I have never ever heard anyone with a 3800 complain about the sound at idle, cammed or stock. These motors pretty much sound great idling no matter what you do to them. Let's worry about fixing the stuff that needs fixing. To be specific, lets worry about basically everything above idle lol, especially the stuff that we universally have a problem with - drone. Some of us like it loud, other quiet, some that literally can't decide (me) but almost no one (only exception that I know being Corey) likes drone.
Last edited by turtleman on Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:23 am; edited 1 time in total
crlombardi69 Enthusiast
Name : Chris L Age : 55 Location : Metro/Detroit area Joined : 2009-12-31Post Count : 207 Merit : 5
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:08 am
I wasn't trying to fire anyone up! Iwas just saying that these engines don't sound nearly as good as they perform.(Imo)also I like them loud and drone doesn't really bother me.I haven't heard a modified 3800 yet that I didn't like just not the best sounding engine I've owned.
turtleman Expert
Name : Codith Age : 37 Location : Villa Park, IL Joined : 2007-02-08Post Count : 3671 Merit : 140
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:39 am
I'm sorry if that sounded like a heated rebuttal towards you, Chris. It was hard to make that not sound that way. It was just something that I feel like I keep seeing over and over.
crlombardi69 Enthusiast
Name : Chris L Age : 55 Location : Metro/Detroit area Joined : 2009-12-31Post Count : 207 Merit : 5
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:57 am
Hey turtleman I'm on the same team don't worry.I hear what you're saying and I love my riviera .
robotennis61 Guru
Name : robotennis Age : 63 Location : las vegas Joined : 2007-12-17Post Count : 5562 Merit : 143
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:00 am
i have been toying with the idea of having "Baffle" headers made. a baffle header,if that what its called, is similar to the headers found on some ferraris and lambos. instead of individual pipes coming from each cylinder and then dumping into a collector,the header itself is more of a clam design.each cylinder opens into a shaped single chamber that in turn is sculpted into the collector and out the back. i saw this design on one of the "worlds most expensive rides" episode. any thoughts people?
Eldo Expert
Name : Mark Age : 59 Location : West Salem, Oregon... FINALLY Joined : 2009-04-09Post Count : 3174 Merit : 104
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:44 am
My thoughts are these:
-Ferraris make their noise from 60-degree V12 engines, or 90-degree V8's with flat-plane crankshafts...
-You can never make a good-sounding exhaust note from a 90-degree V6... and since we already have split-pin cranks, we can never use a flat-plane crank.
deekster_caddy Master
Name : Derek Age : 52 Location : Reading, MA Joined : 2007-01-31Post Count : 7717 Merit : 109
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:42 am
I think the 3.8 in Grand Nationals and the like sound pretty good. Maybe it's the turbo sound overpowering the exhaust that I like though.
Ever since the computer controlled 3.8 in the early 80s I think they sound too raspy. Maybe it's the waste spark changing the sound? I don't recall older V6s sounding this way.
Rick, correct I have yet to hear a muffler that I would use on my car. I will have to use something eventually (or the next buyer will), because my OEMs are starting to come apart at the forward seams. They get a little louder every week. Not sure what I will do, probably stick as close to OEM as I can find, if I have to replace it.
AA Administrator
Name : Aaron Age : 47 Location : C-bus, Ohio Joined : 2007-01-13Post Count : 18452 Merit : 252
Subject: Re: FAQ: The Exhaust Thread Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:53 am
Quote :
I think the 3.8 in Grand Nationals and the like sound pretty good. Maybe it's the turbo sound overpowering the exhaust that I like though.
It's the turbo muffling and changing the sound. Less is better!
I think the older ones sounded just as bad. We had some 90º V-6s in the '80s, wow did they sound horrible without a good exhaust. I agree with Mark: the 90º V-6 is inherently bad-sounding by design - which is, it was not designed for the sound at all. Only way I know of to help is to use a really lumpy cam to break up the character 90º V-6 sound.