what should I do for an exhaust tip?

I was thinking of a simple, stock looking 2.5" downturn... but then I got to thinking I could do something a little more cool looking too... like a set of 3" slash cut pipes (though I'm a bit worried that I'll bang them hard pulling out of some driveways)

I really wanted to do this:

but these tips are like $50/ea...

maybe just some side exits, right after the rear tire?

do em like this aw it on long roof

also, it just occurred to me that the mufflers on these cars aren't where I thought they were
In all my previous cars, the resonator came first, THEN the muffler
in these, it looks like the mufflers come first?
http://images.wrenchead.com/smartpages/partinfo_resize/MER/686.jpg
if that's the case, would any muffler shop do a side exit BEFORE the OTA pipe (in front of the rear tires) or is that not allowed?

I only bought the 2.5" mufflers, so I'd need a two reducers per side to connect to the OTA, or I'd have to have 2.5" OTAs fabbed up.

Go with Zoomies...

IMO those trans am tips look donk-ish
But its your ride. Build it the way you want.

Well, I'm not doing them because they're too much money... and I wouldn't have exposed them as much.

also, is it possible to go UNDER the axle? or does that create clearance problems?
I'd like to call Lou's tomorrow to schedule an appointment.

resonators ha junk em. go get your hack saw and get rid of them. and a shop will do what ever you want to do but most of the shops wont do it with your parts. the bitch about warranty and liability.

the local Meineke has been really good to me over the years with 'brought in parts' and they've done a good job too.

I'm just wondering how much extra cost putting new OTAs on or hacking the resonators off and putting side exit or downturns on will cost me
I'm trying to do this on a string budget

if your doing it on a budget and shop will do, none will for me, are the pipes good? if so and its a budget just replace the mufflers and after the rear axle cut it and dunp it out the side. 2 hours work. only the shop that will do it can give you a price.

dump out to the side with what? I can't weld, nor do I know anyone who can

they do have adapters and exaust pieces at auto zone. get it measured and figure were you want it and clamp it on. there only tail pipes.

Have your buddies there just cut out the resonators and replace with some pipe and whatever tips you like.

btw my resonator is cut off and just dumps after axle. seems ok for inspection lol.

toomanytoyz wrote:

Have your buddies there just cut out the resonators and replace with some pipe and whatever tips you like.

yeah, that's probably what I'll end up doing...

if I were to put downturn tips where the resonators START, where would the tips be? I might just do that.

also, do the stock tips clamp to the resonators or is it all welded up?

It's all welded.

The resonator starts at the wheelwell.

What supports the OTA pipe? If I cut the resonators out and just clamp a turndown on is the only support at the muffler?

its supported thers another hanger back there. idk were exactly but mine dont move an inch.

if it looks like this you can see another hanger around the ota part.

So I should get something to support the tips

not needed

chapel wrote:

So I should get something to support the tips

Yes. Because the hanger back there is actually near the bumper cover.

I prefer the stock Z28 tips.

is wagon different from sedan hanger wise.

mega wrote:

is wagon different from sedan hanger wise.

Muffler hangers are the same, rear hangers are the same, but installed different.

If you have time to come out my way sometime i'll weld the pipes. I used my factory intermediate pipes into an adapter welded to the mufflers intake. You will need another reducer off the back and a small run of straight pipe and then into the OTA pipes. I'd use the factory OTA and cut the resonator out and weld in a length of straight pipe oem diameter. Forget the tips... Keep it stock looking for a sleeper look...

thanks for the offer.
I'll let you know. I'm going to call Lou's tomorrow to see if they can give me a quote.

I think I'd like to put the mufflers on stock and just replace the resonators with straight pipe.

Wouldn't it be cheaper for them to just do like a clamp on downturn on that?

If you bought the mufflers from eBay (renfroeracing) them they will need to be reduced to 2" pipe. You ALSO have to extend the out (or in) a few inches to make up for the lost length (these are waaaaay shorter than the stock giants) other than that everything else lines up. You could have a clamp on tail pipe but will have to angle down, straight pipe would end up going through the bumper.

yeah, I got those.

question: if I put these 'flowmasters' on and remove the resonators... is it going to be ridiculously loud?
should I leave the resonators on?

might sound like this.

sounds mean. how would keeping the resonators change the tone?

they are like a second muffler.

I assume it would take a little of the bark out of it.

It will NOT sound like that............


They are much louder and deeper than that.
My Cadillac crushes the pavment as it thunders down the road

any video/audio?

I like it 'loud' but I don't want it to be harsh

I don't have any of mine, but this video is close, ( will be a tad different in tone because he has cats deleted, and its maybe a little louder because he has 2.5" pipe all the way)
But it's pretty close to the aggressiveness.

If you can get out my way you can always listen first, I have everything stock but the mufflers. That video is a little "much" it's really not that loud, but like I said it's close to the bark. I'm headed to Brian's place this Sunday (fingers crossed) in attelboro. I'm hoping to ride out in the caddy If I can get the body back together. If your around and Thats doable you could listen there. If you decide it's not for you, I'd be willing to buy them off you. (need a set for my sedan) I'll hold off ordering them on eBay til you know what your gonna do,

hmm, maybe I will leave the resonators on.

Ironfistdog wrote:

If you can get out my way you can always listen first, I have everything stock but the mufflers. That video is a little "much" it's really not that loud, but like I said it's close to the bark. I'm headed to Brian's place this Sunday (fingers crossed) in attelboro. I'm hoping to ride out in the caddy If I can get the body back together. If your around and Thats doable you could listen there. If you decide it's not for you, I'd be willing to buy them off you. (need a set for my sedan) I'll hold off ordering them on eBay til you know what your gonna do,

I'll still install the mufflers, it's just a question of deleting the resonators.

I think for the sake of cost and to not totally rouse suspicion with the wife (I told her they had a hole in them and it won't pass inspection) I'll just bring it to Meineke and have the mufflers put on alone and not deal with doing anything else for the time being.
even with the resonators on it still sounds mean.

Thats your best bet, and the hard part would be over. Deleting the resonators is an easy job later.

Ironfistdog wrote:

Thats your best bet, and the hard part would be over. Deleting the resonators is an easy job later.

yeah. that's what I was thinking too.
better to remove one thing at a time then go overboard, right?

Chapel, you have tons of options.....
in answer to your ??? about stock setup pics on page 3 of my car domain site may help

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2386222/1996-chevrolet-impala-ss-sedan-4d/page-3

looks like only the tip end of the RES i have pics of...anyway.

The RES is basically a cherry bomb glasspack, read as "not much to it"


someday i will have side exit after the OTA pipe with these cheapos .....




Dan at CIA sells Mandrel bent OTA pipes if you want the BEST...but it's more work as you would be changing pipe size

You wanted to see UNDER the axle

out of the car




-ALF out...

so, I brought it to Meineke (Like I have for my past two cars)
now, I've had great luck with them in the past. They installed a custom cat back on my Rabbit in 99 for about $80. They installed a cat back on my BMW for about $110 (after wrestling a few hours to get the stock system off.

So, today I bring them the Buick and they call me back like 4 hours later and say "It's gonna be $250 to install"
so I tell them no.

waste of a day.

I mean, really? $250 to put a few reducers and a few inches of 2" pipe on in place of the original mufflers?
Gonna reach out to Bay State Muffler and Lou's in a few weeks.

Really bummed. I was hoping to hear the new voice of the car today.

Been there with them before.
Thier story with me was that they couldnt just piece meal stuff in there,
had to do the whole side.
Went to Lous & got a whole duel system (cat back) for same $.
Like anything else...you gotta know someone

yeah, I'm gonna see what BayState charges

Does anyone know how much pipe length I need to make up for it? 6" a side?

I was thinking of buying all the materials myself, giving it to a friend of mine that's handy with a welder... have him weld up the reducers and the length of pipe (plus some extra) and then drop it off at a muffler place to have them install them

fatvet wrote:

You wanted to see UNDER the axle

out of the car

what's the disadvantage of doing it this way?

chapel wrote:

fatvet wrote:

You wanted to see UNDER the axle

out of the car

what's the disadvantage of doing it this way?

I'd assume speed bumps

that's what I was wondering

chapel wrote:

that's what I was wondering

I figure the scene you used to be in you know how to avoid all of the speed bumps you'd ever see. Unless you didn't lower the Audi and all of your cars like that, but I'm just assuming you did because why not? right?

no, I liked to drive my cars. I didn't build cars to bottom out. I built them to drive.

I think I may have hired Indigo to do my exhaust.

I'm going to buy some reducers and some lengths of straight pipe.

Should I do the extension lengths in 2.5" diameter?

chapel wrote:

no, I liked to drive my cars. I didn't build cars to bottom out. I built them to drive.

I like to build cars to bottom out . I couldnt ask for anything more.

Indigo will point you in the right direction and cost effectively.

working with him via email now

gonna do as much 2.5" as we can do without getting complex (IE, not straight)