So my newest DD/ semi beater (its almost to nice to be a beater) (03 Vitara/Tracker) needs an exhaust.
It came to me with a hang dangly muffler that was not connected to anything and missing the tail pipe. The CA version 2nd cat and its pipe were hanging too and yesterday fell off. I am left with the exhaust manifold off the engine and the first cat. after that its all open pipe. loud. however it passed emissions as it sits. so at least its clean for the ice caps.
I took it to the local muffler shop by me. Its a colorful arched chain store. Got the quote....nearly passed out. $355. Granted its lifetime warranty (for a beater though?) and they use galvanized pipe. That's almost what I paid for the car. I find that to be a tough pill to swallow.
Then I thought I have a nice Lincoln MIG in the garage and my buddy reminded me of his Jeep Cherokee in high school that only had a cat/ resonator and side dump....hmmmm ideas.
I thought long and hard and got this idea.
Weld a standard 3 hole flange end to whats left of my exhaust. Then add a long tube muffler from whatever the parts store has (think cherry bomb shape) that's an OEM replacement and put a mating 3 hole flange to that. Get generic hangers to mount it. Then finish it off with a turn down/ turn out tip that remains mostly hidden so it attracts no attention. It will end right around/ in front of the rear wheel.
Should be quiet enough. I figure I can have a 36 inch muffler under there. Save money in the process.
What says everyone?
Alternative ideas?
Sounds like a solid plan to me. Lots of the RWD Volvo guys do a similar setup. As long as it's not just dumping out directly under the car it should be tolerable.
This is what a 2" pipe with a ~18" glasspack at the end sounds like. Its kinda loud, with a turndown, cat, and longer glasspack, it should be reasonable. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S04oGz7wo3Y
any input for quiet mufflers or just pick a tube style one from Summit racing?
Any of the generic "turbo" mufflers are quiet when paired with a cat, and should flow plenty for your Tracker. I would agree, dump out the side, not under.
Like so:
http://www.summitracing.com/dom/search?SortBy=DisplayPrice&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=turbo%20muffler
Or on sale, chambered style mufflers
http://www.summitracing.com/dom/parts/xyz-77441/overview/
I hut a thrush glass pack aka a cherry bomb knock off and was going to use it on somthig but it never hapoened. Then the muffler on the expedishion went and the thing turned out to be a bolt in replacement. Ok a sazall was needed but it made my expedishion sound like a supoer modified.
Look at amazon for these it was somthing like $ 27.00 delivered to my door.
Appleseed wrote:
MoTec System exhaust.
And Mishimoto ZX tires.
To the OP I like your idea, dooo it.
I had a pair of Thrush Turbo mufflers on a Cat deleted 3100 '94 Grand Prix that had the factory "dual" exhaust.
The Thrushes were the absolute cheapest mufflers with the inlet/exit in the right spot and sizes. The Cat had been removed because the insides broke up & was clogging up. You might have notice a trend of CHEAP, on that car.
Turbo style muffler would be my choice. On the Grand Prix, it wasn't noticeable unless you were revving the snot out of it then it would get loud, but when not driving like a hooligan it was pretty mellow to a little more of a growl than stock. If perhaps your Tracker is a V6, I'd expect similar results.
