Mufflerectomy!
 

I was finally able to take care of some overdue projects during the weekend, including cutting off my rotting rear muffler. I replaced it with a couple sections of open pipe. Here's a link to pix:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37215883@N00/sets/163037/

I like how it came out. I used an exhaust pipe cutting tool -- a free loaner -- from AutoZone to remove the muffler. Then I attached a 2.5" 45-degree elbow to the leftover stub, and a straight piece of 2.5" pipe to that. It angles out just behind the rear wheel. It would have been just as easy to run the pipe straight back, but I thought I'd try putting it out in the airstream to the side might eliminate the light soot buildup I get on the back of the car. Plus I just like how the side-exit looks.

The whole job probably took only 30 minutes and cost less than $20. It isn't any louder than before, though it does sound a little more "throaty". I've noticed that the turbo might be spooling up just a little quicker due to less back-pressure.

The exhaust is good on both my cars....I may never get around to doing a 3" system from the turbo back.

My exhaust on my 300TD is like new......I wish the harsh salt of the northeast winters would take care of it, I would love a 3" pipe the whole way back too!

Don't wish for that.....problem is the exhaust would end up being the LAST thing to rust out.

My exhaust is getting pretty thin in a bunch of places, its still sturdy, but I reckon its going to be meeting its end in a year or two....I flaked off all the rust I could everywhere by hand, then painted all those rusty areas with that compound that makes rust into a hard finished surface, worked great....the problem is that the rust is in all of the joint locations, so when it gets too thin the whole assembly is just going to break off everywhere. Then its 3" pipe time :D :D I am also inclined to just have a pipe too.

I would run a flowmaster muffler with no resonator.....these things aren't an American V-8 and won't have that sweet rumble. I don't want to hear an unmuffled 5 cylinder....but then thats just me speaking.

caeful what you wish for....As for me? IH8salt

Yeah I agree, I'd put on one of those with no resonators, sounds good, and cheaper.........hopefully the current muffler system will last a while yet, I have other things to fix/spend my money on first. :D

I've got a straight pipe, no muffler, on my turbo 617. You can't tell it's unmuffled. Adding a flowmaster would sound horrible - those things are designed to make noise, and they add backpressure too. On my turbo 280Z I replaced a 2-1/2" chambered muffler (like a flowmaster) with a 3" baffled muffler, it got quieter and spooled faster.

Does it sound any louder than the OEM setup with both the resonators and the muffler? I'd think it'd be a little louder.....not that I'd mind that part of it, I just don't want it to sound odd or weird, preferably as close to what it is now as possible....

So this is a straight pipe system or is it just missing the muffler?

I'm running with no muffler; the resonator and factory downpipe are still in place.

Jeez, this weekend I have to replace tthe resonator AND the muffler on my SDL. Around $240 for one and $145 for the other. I don't know which is the resonator. The muffler is furthest back right? My muffler fell off yesterday while my mom was driving. I have no idea where it is now :rolleyes: It came off right after it exits the resonator.

Thanks
David

In my case, the rear muffler is now gone, but I left the center muffler (what some are calling a resonator) in place. I swear it has not increased the exhaust noise AT ALL. The only change I can detect is that the sound is now a little deeper and not unpleasant in the least. Even that change is very subtle.

I would not spend money on a new rear muffler if yours needs replacing. I would just have the shop replace your missing section with a straight pipe.

I did the same on my 560SEL, the resonator had rusted where it entered it on both sides so I cut it off and welded in two straight pipes in place of it. Compared to $326 my price at the dealer for a new one? No thanks I'll be cheap and remove it. Its similar to the exhaust on the later SD's. only a slight deeper tone noticed, not bad at all, but my oh my did it sound badass with only the downpipe on it when I was fixing it lol.