Glasspacks anyone?

[studio460]

Hey all!

I currently have Flowmaster 40-series Deltaflows and Megs delete tips on my otherwise mostly stock N/A Marauder. I decided on these since they were 20%-30% louder than the Magnaflows (after trying them actually welded onto the car with the delete tips), and you could hear the engine at idle with the Flowmasters. With the Magnaflows, the car was near-silent at idle.

Since my stated bias is that louder=gooder, I'm ripping the Deltaflows out and replacing them with 2.5" inlet/outlet Flowmaster 40-series "Original Flows" which, according to a phone call to Flowmaster, ". . . are the loudest mufflers we make." Then, I'm slapping 2.5"-inlet/3.5"-outlet SLP tips onto end of the new Flowmasters (I have the SLP tips already, and they look GREAT!).

The sound I have now is great, but I want more. I'm also still deciding on a header system, and I know that'll help the decibel output even more. I'm planning on 2.5" pipe from the X-pipe to 2.5" mufflers, and 2.5" pipe to the 2.5"-inlet/3.5"-outlet SLP tips.

Don't get me wrong, the car is LOUD now, I just want it louder, especially at idle. Now, I know I'll get more volume with the headers (when I finally decide on which ones), but are glasspacks gonna give me what I'm looking for? My chief objective is low-frequency rumble--I'm looking to achieve the most "car-alarm-tripping" rumble possible. Do you all think that glasspacks may sound loud, but too "thin?" Thanks for any input on this topic. At least one member here, I recall, had glasspacks on their Marauder at one time or another.

[BillyGman]

Shooter, the 18" Magnaflows that kooks sells are just like glass packs, but instead of fiberglass packing, the have some type of stainless steel mesh packing. However, they have bigger cases than your standard 'glass pack" muffler does, so that there's more packing on them to deaden the sound. but since they are a straight-thru design muffler w/out any bafffles or louvers in them at all, and they only consist of an open pipe running through the center of them which is peforated, they're pretty loud, however not as loud as some glass packs are.

You also should keep in mind that no matter what mufflers you choose for the marauder, it will never have a low-pitched sound like a Camaro SS does, or a Corvette, or even an mid 90's V8 Impala SS because those cars all have more cubic inches under the hood than our cars do. And having a mere 281 cubes like we do means that the combustion events are simply smaller, and therefore the exhaust note will never be as low-pitched and deep as cars and trucks w/more displacement under the hood.

[merc406]

Here's what I have always used, they sound awesome and for 20 bucks they last forever, (the bullet one, not the turbo), never had much of a stomach for spending anything over 20 bucks per for a freggin muffler.

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

[BillyGman]

Yep, those glass packs at the bottom of that page should be about the loudest things that you're gonna get short of no mufflers at all. I'm not sure what they mean by "expandable bushings" though.

[merc406]

Yep, those glass packs at the bottom of that page should be about the loudest things that you're gonna get short of no mufflers at all. I'm not sure what they mean by "expandable bushings" though.


You can expand the ends with an expander, if need be.

[studio460]

Shooter, the 18" Magnaflows that kooks sells are just like glass packs, but instead of fiberglass packing, the have some type of stainless steel mesh packing . . . but since they are a straight-thru design muffler w/out any bafffles or louvers in them at all, and they only consist of an open pipe running through the center of them which is perforated, they're pretty loud, however not as loud as some glass packs are.
Yeah, but . . . those are the EXACT mufflers I had welded onto my car in the first place! The shop insisted that I would like the sound of the Magnaflows better than the Flowmasters, and decided on their own to put the Magnaflows on instead, without my knowledge! They are QUIETER, believe me! I looked at the muffler, they are in fact "straight through without any baffles" and they do have that "stainless steel mesh packing" you mention. Oddly, they're noticably quieter than the Deltaflows!



. . . it will never have a low-pitched sound like a Camaro SS does, or a Corvette, or even an mid 90's V8 Impala SS because those cars all have more cubic inches under the hood than our cars do.
Yup, Billy, sadly, I know this already. Our mere 281 cubes are no match for the larger-displacement engines. What prompted this post was my passing an early 70's GTO in a concrete parking structure the other day. BOY, did that thing RUMBLE! Made my little engine sound like a go cart in comparison!

[BillyGman]

Merc406,yeah, but you can expand the ends on any muffler w/out any type of bushings on the ends. that's done w/a tailpipe expander tool and an impact gun. I happen to have one of those, but it doesn't require that the mufler in question have any bushings on it or in it. that's why I'm wondering what they're talking about.

I guess it's probably no biggie, and would be self explanatory once you get the mufflers and see them.

[studio460]

Hmmm . . . I think my signature just changed . . .

[BillyGman]

Yeah, I hear ya shooter. Then since you want louder than that, I'm sure those skinny glss packs that merc406 dug up for you are gonna be about the loudest you can get since they have such a small amount of space for packing in them that they aren't going to muffl;e the noise all that much.

magnaflow also makes those type of skinny glass packs too. I believe that they show them on their website, but I dunno if they're only gonna be a mere $20. i highly doubt it.

[merc406]

Got mine last year, 2.5's they fit perfect on the pipe, they didn't come with anything else like extra ends, those expanders are a pain in the ass to use on good pipe, used mine once, I'll take anything I need expanded to the muff. shop.
NBC, there's no replacement for displacment. Sorry. :pimp:

[BillyGman]

Shooter, here ya go. These are stainless steel, so they should last longer than the Thrush ones will however, I'm sure that there considerably more expensive than $20 a piece. I'm not saying that you shouldn't go w/the ones that merc suggested, I'm merely letting you know what some options are...... checkout the link. With these, there's also a variety of sizes and lenghts that you can choose depending on just how loud you want things to be.

www.magnaflow.com/02product/pack.htm

[merc406]

Well hell, if you really want LOUD, go here.......


http://www.sweet-thunder.com/chambered_general_main.html#st ainless

[studio460]

Thanks you guys--I really appreciate the links!

Merc:

So, looking at the Thrush spec sheet, I imagine you got Thrush part no. 24214? It has a 28" overall length, a 23" shell length, 2.5"-inlet/outlet I.D., and most importantly, a 2.5" inner tube diameter, and a 4" body diameter. Sounds good. The 28" overall-length glasspack still fits in our Marauders, yes?

Billy:

Thanks for the link--couldn't find it on my own. I really like the look of the Magnaflow stainless steel glasspacks! Unfortunately, the spec sheet for all the "Magnapacks" says, "all universal Magnapacks have a 2.25" core." Hmmm . . . was hoping to go 2.5" all the way back. Maybe that's too little backpressure anyway? Reinhart's exhaust systems all recommend keeping the 2.25" mufflers and tips.

Thanks, again, guys!

[merc406]

NBC, I got a 63 Marauder, you'll have to check your pipe sizes.

If you want really loud go mufflerless, the cat's and the tip resonator's may be enough.

[BillyGman]

LOL!!! There ya go.....that's really having no mufflers at all. I've seen those for sale in cataloges in the past, and I didn't know if you can still get them. pretty tempting if ya ask me. but my neighbors wouldn't appreciate me roaring through my condo complex every night coming home from work at midnight!!!!

from a performance aspect, i think the glass packs probably would be more free flowing since there are actually no baffles in them at all. Although they wouldn't be quite as loud as those things!!!! merc, did ya checkout the sound clips they provide on that website? I just did. pretty wild!!! :D

[BillyGman]

Hey, I think we probably have Shooter's head spinning by now.........he's probably gonna change his signature three times before this thread is done!!!!

[merc406]

Had chambered on my 1st Marauder and the Vette, neighbors around here thought it was cool, but I never came home after 10pm with them. lol!

[studio460]

It's 4:10AM in the morning, Pacific Time [yup, head spinning]. And now I'm going downstairs to measure my pipe clearances . . . Damn, you, mercurymarauder.net!

[BillyGman]

yeah, some nights i don't even get home from work until 1:00am, so for me it would be downright inconsiderate to get something like that. W/the magnaflow 18" mufflers that I have, atleast i can keep it pretty quiet by going easy on the gas pedal while driving through my condo complex and over the speed bumps. It isn't loud unless I get into the pedal atleast 1/3 way to the floor.

Shooter, when it comes to things like those skinny glass packs which haven't any baffles at all, I don't think that having an inner diameter perforated pipe of 1/4 smaller is really gonna matter, since they're just so free flowing. And because the exhaust gasses are mush more cooled off by the time they get way back to the mufflers, they're less expanded than they are while going through the headers, cats, and X-pipe.

[Mad4Macs]

It's 4:10AM in the morning, Pacific Time [yup, head spinning]. And now I'm going downstairs to measure my pipe clearances . . . Damn, you, mercurymarauder.net!

Last time I had my "pipes checked" at 4:00 AM, it had nothing to do with my car. You need help, man... ;)

[BillyGman]

Last time I had my "pipes checked" at 4:00 AM, it had nothing to do with my car. You need help, man... ;)

LOL...don't we all???

[67435animal]

Well hell, if you really want LOUD, go here.......


http://www.sweet-thunder.com/chambered_general_main.html#st ainless

These would be the best choice for loud and rumbly, esp. under throttle. I suspect that they would be similar in volume to a midyear Corvette with sidepipes (which are really just chambered exhaust).

BTW, the little car below with 427 CI, and a slightly aggressive cam, really rumbles nicely at idle. But, it sounds best under heavy throttle.

Bob

[BillyGman]

BTW, the little car below with 427 CI, and a slightly aggressive cam, really rumbles nicely at idle. But, it sounds best under heavy throttle.

Bob

I'll bet it does.......there's a lot of cubes ubder that hood!!!

[studio460]

Okay, just finished measuring the clearance . . . about 24" from upturn-to-upturn. Too tight for the Thrush glasspacks. But it seems the Magnaflow glasspacks, part no. 14495, would fit. Specs: 2.5"-inlet/outlet; 4" body diameter; 18" body length; 23" overall length.

Hmmm, so, you say the Sweet Thunders would be best for "loud and rumbly," huh? Hmmm . . .

[SergntMac]

Talk to Big Joe P here...Open pipes. As bad as it gets, eh?

Remember, it's still a 4.6L, a small block engine. You can't get what you don't own...

[merc406]

Remember, it's still a 4.6L, a small block engine. You can't get what you don't own...



Yeah but even lawnmower engine's sound good with the right muffler. :lol:

[BillyGman]

Yeah but even lawnmower engine's sound good with the right muffler. :lol:

"Good"? Yes, but not as good as a bigger engine will.

[Dr Caleb]

"Good"? Yes, but not as good as a bigger engine will.

I notice in the Ford Racing Catalogue 2004 that they sell 465hp GT crate engines.

Anyone got a shoehorn? :)

[sailsmen]

Merc406 that link to those glass packs sure brought back some memories!

[BillyGman]

I notice in the Ford Racing Catalogue 2004 that they sell 465hp GT crate engines.

Anyone got a shoehorn? :)

GT engines???? They must cost as much as our entire Marauder car did. Right??

[TAF]

GT engines????Hey Billy...I got my Official Ford GT multi-page, color, brochure today (man, is it SWEET!)...was gonna get an extra for you...but, your all happy now with your S/C, and all...:P

[merc406]

Merc406 that link to those glass packs sure brought back some memories!


Yeah, remember the tube ones with the blue stripes and the bird painted on em? More of my buddies got into trouble putting them one their mom's and pop's cars, me included. :lol: :rock: :rasta:

[RCSignals]

I had glaspacks on my 1957 Fairlane 500.



Anyone tried Smithy's on their Marauder? Has to have the sound shooter is looking for

[merc406]

I had glaspacks on my 1957 Fairlane 500.



Anyone tried Smithy's on their Marauder? Has to have the sound shooter is looking for


They come in 2 inch only but an adapter would make em fit. :beer:

[Dr Caleb]

GT engines???? They must cost as much as our entire Marauder car did. Right??

It doesn't give prices, but there are several models, from the 4.6l with the swirl heads (305hp) , to a 5.4l supercharged w/turbo swirl heads (465hp). The 4.6 Cobra Supercharged is also there. Last I looked, the Cobra engine complete is $12,000.

[BillyGman]

Yeah, the Cobra engine is 12K, and that's why I figured that the GT engine has to be a whole lot more than that.

[BillyGman]

Hey Billy...I got my Official Ford GT multi-page, color, brochure today (man, is it SWEET!)...was gonna get an extra for you...but, your all happy now with your S/C, and all...:P

....somehow I just knew you were gonna jump in here Todd. It was inevitable....... yes, I'm happy w/the roots S/Cer, but that doesn't mean that I still don't dream about a twin screw S/Ced 5.4 L engine. Especially one w/a GT wrapped around it. C'mon homebase!!!!! Just throw one in the mail for me, uh??? After all, I've always said that you are the best MM.net member around Pal......and I've always appreciated the music of Hank Williams jr. :D

[RCSignals]

......and I've always appreciated the music of Hank Williams jr. :D

Todd is Hank Williams jr?? :confused: :eek:

[studio460]

Uhhh . . . how did we get from glasspacks to Ford GT engines and Hank Williams Jr.?

[BillyGman]

it's old hank jr. I believe in Todd's avatar, and the Ford GT, well, it's just a major dream of mine to own one, and Todd likes to rub it in.......

[studio460]

. . . and the Ford GT, well, it's just a major dream of mine to own one, and Todd likes to rub it in.
Yeah, Billy . . . Who ISN'T dreaming about that car!