Going Muffler-less

[TomoHawk]

I was reading about the MSA tips that you can use without a muffler, and they warn you not to use the tips if you don't have the "pre-muffler."

I think they're referring to a 'resonator' or expansion chamber. Where can buy new ones of those? Not in any catalog I have.

thx

[EricB]

L28 + MSA header with straight pipes all the way back and out the center of the car sounds amazing... there's portions of the rev range if you're standing on the street listening to the car go by which honest to goodness sound like a 60s Ferrari V12... beautiful...

way excessive for daily use by can sound SOO good...

sennavsprost (Dave) and his flat black 72 have this exhaust on every once in a while and that's the car I've heard sound sooo good...

[Ron Carter]

2.4 with Mikuni's, BRE header and dual 2 1/4 exhaust to two megaphones sounds pretty awesome too, but not something to drive on the street.

We are talking about 114db +

[TomoHawk]

Is it legal to gut a catralytic converter to use as an expansion chamber? Those ought to be easier to find and cheap at the JY.

thx

[LanceM]

Is it legal to gut a catralytic converter to use as an expansion chamber? Those ought to be easier to find and cheap at the JY.

thx

I don't think JY will sell a used catalitic converter, why not just buy a cheap glass pack..

[TomoHawk]

Thanks Lance

I didn't think a JY would sell you one because of paranoia/liability/laws. Maybe they have premufflers from other cars that would fit. But there might be some 'friendly places- I'll ask some friends. Maybe I'll get a cheap one from JCWhitney. They have some "high-flow" models that are long & thin. Maybe it'll work to cut down on HC emmissions too. I need to read up on how cat-cons work.

I'll keep the glasspack in mind as a last resort, but I'm trying to keep the looks of the exhaust the same( like stock) by putting on an expansion chamber/pre-muffler. It was designed to work that way and be quiet. A gutted catalytic converter is the closest thing I can find or think of that would look right without mods or painting. Plus glasspacks have to be repacked eventually, right?

I'll try calling a muffler shop to see if you can buy a new pre-muffler.

thx

[Ricklandia]

Tomohawk,

Okay, I'll admit straight up front that this goes back a long way, but I believe it is true as to the best of my recall. In the '80s I had a 260Z for a short stretch (about 2 years), and a friend of mine happened to have a 240. I bought mine off a used car lot so much of it's history was unknown to me. Mine was considerably louder than my friends (known to be virtually stock). I crawled under both to inspect. My attention was immediately drawn to the fact that not only did mine not have the (large) rear muffler (at the tip) as did his, in fact it didnt have one at all! I cannot recall why, but at the time I was sure it was an ANSA system. Couldn't tell you why that is now. Okay, now it gets a little fuzzy, but I "think" it had a catalytic converter too, but other 260 owners can chime in on that, I honestly dont remember.

With all that said, the sound was definitely louder than stock but very acceptable for street use. I loved it. Not so loud as not to be able to hear the stereo, but loud enough that when the accel was planted it really sang. I'm hoping to cince a deal on a 240Z real soon and that will be one of my first projects, to get "that sound" that I missed so much.

[TomoHawk]

I think I'll probably go with a glasspack. They are dirt-cheap (relatively) and as much as I drive my 280Z, the packing should last many years. The only problem now is to pick the size- I think a 2 1/2 x 26 incher will do. In a natural metal finish. A converted cat-con would propbably be too much trouble to mess with to meet my deadline to get mine running. Spring coming soon to Ohio.

thx

[Sean240Z]

Tomohawk,

I use a Dynomax Bullet Race Muffler as a pre-muffler / resonator which I got from Summit Racing. It works like a charm and really reduced the volume and resonance (I drove the car for a week with just the muffler and it was really loud when I got on it).

Below is a description of my set-up:

L28 (F-54 block, P-79 head)

Schnieder Stage 2 Cam

Motorsport 6-into-1 coated header

- 2.5" mandrel bent alluminized steel exhaust

- Dynomax Ultraflow SS muffler (WLK-17283) http://store.summitracing.com/

http://www.dynomax.com/ultrafloss.stm

- Dynomax Bullet Race Muffler (WLK-24236) http://store.summitracing.com/

Cheers,

[cremmenga]

Probably like running twice pipes. Loud but god does it sound sooooooooooo good. :devious:

I just cut everything off my 72 240z. It sounds like a mean one!! i love the way it idles down and pops from high rpm's. I think if you don't live in a area where you know the cops won't give a rats butt then i would keep it on, because DAMN it is loud!!

[TomoHawk]

Thanks Sean-

I'm going to look into using maybe two glasspacks; one for a pre-muffler, and one for the end, to keep things to a minimum. I can almost see the coffee-can muff from the side, so maybe I can get it all to hide under there, except the ANSA tips.

thx

[Murph]

What are these ANSA tips? Never heard of them.

I've taken my 260 for a spin a few times with just the stock headers. Ohh boy is it loud! I first tried driving it windows up, but even with ear plugs in it was unbearable. Windows down, not too bad... Made a glorious sound over 6000 rpm!