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I recently purchased my wife a 05 convertible, we both agree that the factory exhaust is pretty lame. We don't want to spend $1000's of dollars on a exhaust system, we just what it to sound like a sports car. Are there any mufflers that we can just swap out?
I had the same situation - I bought a pair of stock GM NPP mufflers from a salvage yard that were on EBay for our 2012 Grand Sport. The mufflers were sold by Olmstedautomotive $520 plus $150 Shipping, for me it was an excellent experience doing business with them, and being factory GM the were a perfect fit.
Axel back systems are going to run you 1200 to 1600. Corsa sport or Borla S Type II are good ones. I have a vert and went with the Borla. I suggest you join a local corvette club and listen to different exhausts. Another option is to listen to exhaust sounds on manufacturer sites or you tube.
Basically one cuts a hole into the exhaust muffler case and then drill a larger hole into the piping inside the muffler case.
Some even remove the "fiberglass" sound deadening.
Then weld the access hole close that you opened.
Can be done without removing the mufflers from the car.
If you do this, try to save and then post a before and after sound clip, or at the very least tell us if this mod satisfied your need for tone.
Basically one cuts a hole into the exhaust muffler case and then drill a larger hole into the piping inside the muffler case.
Some even remove the "fiberglass" sound deadening.
Then weld the access hole close that you opened.
Can be done without removing the mufflers from the car.
If you do this, try to save and then post a before and after sound clip, or at the very least tell us if this mod satisfied your need for tone.
Good luck.
Add one thing...you really don't have to weld. If you drill the hole in a flat spot, and make it 1" or 1.25", you can easily find press fit caps that just push into place, and stay in place until you want to remove them.
I recently purchased my wife a 05 convertible, we both agree that the factory exhaust is pretty lame. We don't want to spend $1000's of dollars on a exhaust system, we just what it to sound like a sports car. Are there any mufflers that we can just swap out?
Most C6 exhausts are Axle back. Which is basically mufflers and a little pipe. Typically cost around $1,500.00 but worth it IMHO. I suggest Corsa Sports.
Most cars $1,500 would get a full cat back system, but not Vettes...
We don't want to spend $1000's of dollars on an exhaust system, we just what it to sound like a sports car. Are there any mufflers that we can just swap out?
Another option is to only replace the mufflers. You could go to a custom muffler/exhaust shop and ask them all your questions. Be sure to tell them you want a bit more aggressive sound without the dreaded "drone."
Your can buy either 2 1/2" or 3" mufflers off of a car with NPP or Dual Tone (they have the vacuum activated valves). Your car is 2 1/2" and the smaller size might bolt right up. I bought 3" that came off of a Z06 and had a muffler shop cut the input pipes from the Z06 mufflers and cut the input pipes off of the stock mufflers. They transferred the stock 2 1/2 pipes over to the Z06 mufflers. Worked like a champ. Cost me $90.00 for the work. I just left the valves on the mufflers open all of the time, but if you want there are some venders that make a vacuum unit (NPP in a box) you can hook up and switch back and forth between quiet and wild with the push of a remote. Nice to have when you want quiet and no drone for trips. If the 2 1/2 pipes wont work on the mufflers you buy, have the muffler shop move the ones over from the stock 2 1/2 you have now. Not my photo, this came off the forum.
You can see the valve and the vaccum unit in this picture.
Valves should be installed in the center (inside). Non valve pipes on the outside.
Add one thing...you really don't have to weld. If you drill the hole in a flat spot, and make it 1" or 1.25", you can easily find press fit caps that just push into place, and stay in place until you want to remove them.
Correct.
Start with a smallish hole inside. You can always go bigger.
"Another option is to only replace the mufflers. You could go to a custom muffler/exhaust shop and ask them all your questions. Be sure to tell them you want a bit more aggressive sound without the dreaded "drone."
As RetroGuy said /\. Should only cost a few hundred $.
The npp is not for everyone. Tips are entirely to small and the valve clutter is a little to much. I’d save money and buy a nice system with 4 or 4-1/2” quad tips.
Here is my story. I bought a 2007 C6 last fall. The previous owner had a set of z06 mufflers with the cut out valves. The car sounded ok under power \ high rpm but I just didn't care for how quiet it was as a whole. In the meantime I bought long tube headers high flow cats and x-pipe. 3 inch exhaust all the way back.
I still thought the car was too quiet. I then did the z06 mod on the mufflers and welded them back up.
That was an improvement but they now sounded a little tinny.
The next weekend went to the muffler shop had them make straight pipes back from the x-pipe and put some nice polished tips on.
Sounds awesome, pops a bit much but gonna leave it that way for now. I can always put the z06 stuff back on later.
Here is my story. I bought a 2007 C6 last fall. The previous owner had a set of z06 mufflers with the cut out valves. The car sounded ok under power \ high rpm but I just didn't care for how quiet it was as a whole. In the meantime I bought long tube headers high flow cats and x-pipe. 3 inch exhaust all the way back.
I still thought the car was too quiet. I then did the z06 mod on the mufflers and welded them back up.
That was an improvement but they now sounded a little tinny.
The next weekend went to the muffler shop had them make straight pipes back from the x-pipe and put some nice polished tips on.
Sounds awesome, pops a bit much but gonna leave it that way for now. I can always put the z06 stuff back on later.
I too have welded straight pipes to the tips. One suggestion to help with the popping on deceleration, if you have an M6 is to coast to a stop or slow down in neutral. If it's an auto, I guess you're stuck with it. I hear the popping most when I decelerate in 2nd or 3rd gear. My neighbors probably appreciate it when I slow and stop in neutral.
07-08-2021, 06:19 PM
New to Corvette's/ muffler question
