EXHAUST PIX and some more disCUSSion...
 

:twisted:
I finally got these pix developed and adjusted. These were taken the day of installation.
If they come through, you'll see the old exhuast that came with the car; the new exhaust as installed; and the area I'm wanting to install the 'pre-muffler'.
(EDITED: OK, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'LL HAVE TO CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE THE PHOTOS... :roll: )
To review what I did:
Magnaflow Stainless Firebird muffler and ANSA Stainless resonator dual-tips.
The muffler is a little 'farty' at about 2000-2500 rpm, especially when cold.
The routing of the muffler to tips forces the exhaust gases to the outer portion of the tip. This is evident by the stains being almost soley in the outer section.
What I intend to do is have the Cherry Bomb glasspack I purchased installed in the area shown in one of the photos (see green arrows). The muffler will need to have the tips cut off right up to the muffler body to barely fit into this section. The muffler body is 18" long. There is barely 18" to splice into, but, I think a professional installer can do it.
The tips may have to be cut off and a deflector shield placed correctly to split the exhaust gases to flow evenly through the tips.
I'll be going back to the shop that did the original work to discuss having this project completed. If they are unwilling to do this, I'll keep shopping around until I get it done the way I want it... I think they'll comply and it is the answer to finishing this project.
The 'SOUND' clips I've been trying to get done are still in the works, weather and schedule permitting, but, they'll eventually get done for a comparison of the 'before and after' of the modifications I've been doing to get a good looking, free flowing and nice sounding exhuast for the 3800 Series engine in a Bonneville. :)

PLEASE TELL ME YOUR IDEAS REGARDING WHAT HAS BEEN/WILL BE DONE.
Good intel is always a plus! Thanks.

STOCK(?) EXHUAST:
[img] http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/...ImageUnq=12569 [/img]

NEW EXHAUST LOOKING BACK FROM UNDER THE CAR:
[img] http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/...ImageUnq=12568 [/img]

NEW EXHAUST LOOKING FORWARD FROM UNDER THE CAR; ARROWS INDICATE 'PRE-MUFFLER' INSTALLATION AREA:
[img] http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/...ImageUnq=12567 [/img]

That looks really nice. Can't wait to hear the sounds.

Your stock exhaust had some non-stock tips. You probably know that, but the question mark behind "stock" made me wonder if you did or not.

My buddy welded those on for me until I got the exhuast done, 'cuz there were NO tips at all when I got the car.
They were Chinese chrome tips from NAPA. Yuk.

looks good, cant wait for the sound.

I can dig it! Very nice!!

Love it! I'll be getting that same muffler soon. How 'farty' does it sound? Is it bad? Was hoping for a deep sound. Anyway, it looks nice and the tips are a definite improvement!! How much did it cost you in the end?

I listened as my wife drove away today and the car sounds pretty good, but a bit louder than I want it.

It's not 'little tin can farty' or 'muffled bees farty'.
It's BLAT farty. Especially first thing in the morning when cold.
No resistance farty.
Some backfire farty.

The tone is not exactly deep, but at idle is low. It sounds very good.
Upon acceleration the tone begins to get higher.
At about 3500 rpm it sounds superb.
On revdown, below 2000 and especially around 1500 it sounds like I wanted it to, a deep, low growl.

If you stomp on it at idle, and let off quickly, you'll hear the exhaust sound like it peaks and pops and runs out of air...if that makes sense. Then as it comes down, you get the farty sound.
I don't want ANY RICE in my exhaust.

I'm hoping to get the backpressure restored to an acceptable level with the Cherry Bomb, albeit it, too, is a straight-through perforated tube.
It may still give the free flow with enough sound absorption to alleviate the fart and pop sound.

So far, the dollar amount is approximately $425.00 for the parts and labor to install them.
Now, I've got to go back and find out how much the install of the 'BOMB' is going to be, plus the deflectors, if they'll do it.

I still stand by my choice of the MagnFlow unit.
It's built like a fukking tank. Great engineering and construction. Solid.
The ANSA tips are also top quality, nicely done, although one is a teeny-tiny bit misaligned, but so are a great pair of natural tits... :twisted:
The missing component is the 'resonator' or 'pre-muffler' to tune the exhaust note as well as the way the power/gases exit the motor.
I'm hoping for less raspy noises. Smoother, more deep tones across the RPM range.
If I were to add the MagnaFlow free-flow cat later, I might end up with a totally different tone altogether...
So, the 'BOMB' goes on first with both of the tips on each side doing their resonator thing, and we'll go from there!!!

That's a lot of description, isn't it? :D

Thanks for the info! I want that "low growl" that you're tallking about. I'll probably get some tips from JCWhitney, dual round stainless steel. How much was the muffler alone?

$103.00 or something like thatfor the muff. Both tips for about $105.00.
I got both the muffler and tips from Husker High Performance Exhaust.
Nice people to deal with. Good service. Good prices.

http://www.exhaustproslinc.com/mag5x8camste.html

http://www.exhaustproslinc.com/ansa.html

The muffler shop said it would've been more from him. Much more.
Good luck shopping.