Some of you have linked to the sound of your new exhausts and they sound excellent.

For me, however, they are on the loud and 'bratty' side. I do not wish to offend you guys. I've had that sound with real Pontiac V-8'*, open and closed headers, and any number of turbo mufflers with and without crossover tubes. I KNOW what loud exhaust and the sharp rap sounds like!

I've also noticed that you've mentioned the lack of a cat or resonator.
I imagine that has a LOT to do with the sound.

On my '92 SSE, I want a nice low and mellow sound without the rasp. :P


I plan to order some exhaust parts, namely the late model Camaro/Firebird muffler and a pair of dual resonator tips, and show up at my favorite exhaust shop with a smile and some cash and have the guy put 'em on.

There are two ways to go, and I'm still checking on the prices.
1. Hooker Aero Chamber with Hooker tips. LEAST EXPENSIVE.
2 Magnaflow and ANSA Turbo Krome tips.
Only one place I've found the ANSA'*. I've had these on two of my Pontiacs, and they do mellow the sound out. On the SSE, I imagine that they would sound very nice, and look good as well. EXPENSE UNKNOWN.
I'm checking with the WALT'* here locally for the price on the Magnaflow.

Gimme some feedback on what I might expect with these systems, or something like them that will give me the sound I'm after. Low. Mellow. No rasp. A growly burble, if you will...

Check with you later.
I gotta go drive a Bus, now.

After hearing many of the posted wave files of other owner'* exhaust I have to say mine is the most mellow. Its what I went for when I decided to get my exhaust done as well.

I went with a Dynomax and muffer rectangular stainless steel tips that fit perfectly into the rear bumper cover moldings. Plus from the resonator back is new piping. Come spring I'll finish up with the CAT back. Its a very mellow sound that you don't hear much at idle, but to turn heads you just romp on it and it sounds like....like....well, performance damnit!

I got a price on the MagnaFlow for the SSE. $139 through Walt'*. The guy got a CD sent from MagnaFlow with 'sounds' on it, and he invited me down to give a listen.
He seems to think this is a superb choice and it won't give a nasty rap sound.

Fill me in quick on the inlet/outlet sizes on the stock muffler.
My math sucks.
I came up with something like 8" around on the inlet and about 7" on the dual outlets.
What'* that translate to in diameter...?
These figures will help me determine which part# to order for the MagnaFlow.

The ANSA Turbo Krome dual resonator tips?
I contacted a distributor in FL, but, as a wholesale outlet, they require a minimum $300 order.
I'll go back and see what else gets my attention on their site in case somebody dies and wills me a $hitload of ca$h.
Maybe they'll work a deal.

We'll see!

8" around should be 2.5" diameter
7" around should be 12.25" diameter.

Just divide by pi (3.14)

"Just divide by pi (3.14)"

Oh, yeah, I forgot...

Thanks.
I'll check that against the system I have on the Le Monster, which is headers and 2 1/4" all the way back.
I had that system installed by Walt'*, too. Crossover and DynoMax Super Turdballs.
I hate those freakin' mufflers. They sound like a helicopter on acid.
The drone at speed really sucks. They'll be replaced.

I might head down to listen to the MagnaFlow CD tomorrow.

One word.

Dynomax.

For those who want performance without the 'giveaway' sound and the dull roar in the cockpit at takeoff. I've had my share, and they were great on every car.

BUT.....before you go for broke, run your ideas through Hector. He'* got some pretty hard bonnie data to back up his exhaust recommendations.

Alright, I am going to take some time on this post. So here we go...

You can go with Dynomax'*, but there are a few problems. Think of the Dynomax Ultra-Flo'* as a really really cheap version of Magnaflows. That'* why they usually sound crappy, and very raspy at higher rpm'*. They are not built well like Magnaflow does. But alot of people go for them because they cheap (mainly because of that) and that they "flow well". They flow better than a Flowmaster muffler, but they do not flow better than a Magnaflow muffler. People claim that they get a "throaty" and performance like sound from these. They are just evading the truth, they are raspy. You do get what you pay for.

I have a Magnaflow, the reason I went for this is first is because it will be the least restrictive muffler other than just going open exhaust. I don't even know how they got this certified as a muffler. It'* just a straight pipe with fiberglass packing around it.... Always interesting to open mufflers up. Second, sound is good since it is made well and will not rasp. It only has a drone at 2100-2200 rpm. This means that say you are crusing at 65mph, your engine should be able to maintain speed at 1900-2000 rpm which is out of the drone frequency of the Magnaflow muffler. If you go about 2200 rpm, it goes quiet until 5000 rpm it will come back and you will hear it go about as loud (with the windows up or down) as the drone. But if you are pulling 5000 rpm on the freeway, you are going ~80-85 mph and if you can hear it w/ the windows down, then you know people outside can hear it. But I always get looks on the street and on the freeway for the sound of my muffler and intake combined... It'* interesting.

There are plenty of other mufflers out there but I assume these are the two kinds you are looking at. I am suprised you haven't asked me for better prices for all the exhaust stuff you are looking for. I get Magnaflow and I can find ANSA tips for you or we can find other ones if you wish. I am still working on the Bonneville Website and it will have exhaust parts like mufflers, tips, etc for better prices. Get me part numbers for the Magnaflow muffler you want. I can probably get it down to $100 shipped to your door and then you do not have to worry about tax. Same for tips and other parts you buy from me. I try to do my best in prices and service. And that'* all I have to say about that.

I'm still a newbie; I didn't know I could ask anyone here for parts. Fill me in on that.

I stopped by Walt'* this AM to check on the MagnaFlow installation.
I'm thinkin' if I show up with a muffler I asked about having them install, they're just going to up the install price to make up for it.
2.50"/2.25" Dual p/n #12266

The ANSA Turbo Chrome tips, though, I don't think they can locate as readily as someone else. It may fly if I have those and just pay them what they want for the muffler, as they are an approved dealer.
p/n #04TK5128
Resonating 2 1/2" Double Exhaust Tip
8 3/4" Long Black w/ Red Ring & Chrome Tip
2" Weld On Inlet (...exhaust would have to be stepped down to fit the tip...)

OR
p/n #04TK5768
Resonating 3" Double Exhaust Tip
20 3/4" Black w/ Chrome Tip
2 1/4" Weld On Inlet (...could be CUT to fit with room to spare for adjustment...) My choice of the two. I've had ANSA tips on two previous Pontiacs and love 'em.


I looked into the muffler on their display stand and was surprised at the high quality construction and being able to look right through the mandrel bend to the other side. Nice work.

It occurred to me that this may be a rather noisy decision. More than I'm willing to live with, especially since you mentioned the RPM range the muffler has a 'drone' at.
That'* right about where I'd be cruising on the freeway and I'd be pretty pissed if I spent good money for a good product, only to get droned to death...

I'll ask a couple more questions, too.
This is a '92 SSE, and the exhaust parts book showed the headpipe being 2.5" and the outlets being 2.25". NO RESONATOR in this system! ONLY a cat.
The '92-93 had this setup. '9497 had a resonator and a cat.

Without a resonator, and with a straight through muffler, I'm gonna get more noise than I'm after, aren't I? Even with the ANSA dual resonator tips? OR, will the lack of the resonator make much difference?

Next question. I mentioned using the HOOKER Aero Chamber muffler and HOOKER Euro style dual resonator tips, too. (hope the pics show here)
.....P/N 21721HKR
.....1993-99 Camaro/Firebird

21407HKR inlet: 2-1/4 outlet/tip: 2-1/2 length: 14 slashcut: SL
21407HKR (stainless) 2-1/4 2-1/2 14 SL

This would be less expensive, but...I wonder how these would sound, or how long they would last?
Anybody have any info on these products? Are they made south of the border, or what? OK? Terrible? Forgettaboutit? Buncha commercial hype? I need to know before I spend the $$$ and end up disappointed.
Thanks for tolerating this post.

No matter what the exhaust system is going to make more noise than stock. The factory system is designed to not make any noticable noise. There really is no way of avoiding it. Just depends how aggresive you are going. What kind of sound are you looking for, soft and mellow with better flow for performance or better sound with less performance. You have to sacrifice one or the other. I have heard Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers before and they are pretty good for the price. They are all metal so they last a long while. Personally, I like the Hooker tips more than the ANSA.

i dont know anything about exhause but im gettin it put on tomorrow.. turbo exhaust with glass pax and a 4 inch tip.... does this sound ok?