Exhaust Questions

[Snow]

I have heard 2 and 2 1/4 fit the SHO stock exhaust system, which one is it?

 

[Sagabu]

Looks like all points have been covered . The new Delta Flowmasters 40/50/70/ series have less cabin noise (thicker casings?).
If you want that loud 70s musclecar sound use 40s w/no cat and res . Leave the cat an res for a 80s Mustang kinda sound (mellower but very noticable) .
The 23" 50s will give that low rumble kinda compairable to the sound of the Trans Ams of the 90s .
I have and am using all three of these combos . Removing the cat and res is a trade-off in sound and power but no loss . These engines seem to like the back presure for everyday/spirited driving .
The 2"-2" offset is best but the 2 1/4" is general stock usually .
I prefure the cat and res left in for proformance and sound . Opening the muffs is enough relief . Just my experience .

 

[Too Ez]

This is what I've come up with. I'm going to keep the cat and res on and get flowmaster 40's!!! Will this have a nice rumble/noticable sound?

 

[Sagabu]

A very nice sound indeed . That is my favorite combo so far . Sweet Flowmaster sound , no loss of throttle feeling , not obnoxious and not too loud , and enough rumble to gain respect in any situation .
I drove behind the 96 ES I sold that had the same muffs w/out cat and res and I personaly thought it was toooo loud .

 

[99V8SHO]

You really CANNOT (at least I) feel a performance difference. I know a GTech is unreliable, but it is all I have short of going to the track. I made a few runs with the cat in, then made a few runs with the cat out. NO difference. And it pulls harder up top to boot. Trust me, Steve, the sound is worth it. Get rid of AT LEAST the resonator.

 

[SHOman167]

Hi, I have the borla catback system and I love it. also I removed the third cat and the renonator from the catback and now sounds lovely, pretty deep and no raspy at all.

Ok, i have looked long and hard for an exhaust system for a 99 SHO. How have you found one? Can someone please tell me what i am missing are more people getting mufflers or the entire system... cause i cannot find systems....

 

[SHOZ123]

JC Whitney or eBay is the place for flex pipes. Cut and paste in regular pipe if you are taking out the OEM 3rd cat and resonator. Also cut out the OEM muffs. Hard to be the OEM pipe though.

You can still get a Borla cat back for mucho dinero if you look around. It is actually good for 10 hp or so.

 

[DavidT]

This is what I've come up with. I'm going to keep the cat and res on and get flowmaster 40's!!! Will this have a nice rumble/noticable sound?

That is how my quest to unleash the v8 sound began.
This is good pretty much only at idle and low revs (at least from withIN the cabin)
I went a step farther and removed the res. and installed an exhaust cutout (electronically controlled) in its place. Removing the res. did nothing for sound IMO. The cutout however lets it get nice and loud when I desire. With the push of a button, I am back to a good mellow v8 tone.

When I heard Rick Glass pull up to the garage at the '04 Nashville Camfest, with his silver v8 sho (NO res, NO 3rd cat., and Flowmaster 40's), I was SOLD.
It truly sounded like a muscle car. The 3rd cat is definitely toning things down a bit. Thats why I went with the cutout... I am still under warranty

 

[Mr Anonymous]

For those thinking about going with the Flowmaster original 40's (P/N 42443), remember that they take a good 5000 miles or so to "break in" and really produce the ideal exhaust note. A lot of people forget this, and think that they are too quiet after installing them, and start pulling out resonators and such and find out down the road as the mufflers break in that they have an exhaust a lot louder than they intended. Rick Glass was one of those. Once his mufflers broke in, the noise was overwhelming and he recently re-installed his resonator.

Oh, and don't waste your $$$ on the Delta's thinking they are some kind of good compromise for interior noise. They are quiter both inside and outside the car and we've never had a customer who liked them. The original 40's with the resonator intact are just barely perceptible in the cabin when the windows are up and the sunroof is closed.

 

[Too Ez]

Thats all I'm going with is the Flowmaster 40's. Thanks for the notice on they break in after about 5,000 miles. Or else I would of start cutting stuff off. I can't wait!

 

[spragers]

Just as FYI - I spoke with a guy at my local shop this morning, I asked him for a recommendation on exhaust options on my SHO (at least he knew what I was talking about when I said SHO lol...) I told him I was thinking of going with FlowMasters. In his words, the only vehicles he's heard Flowmasters sound good on are V8 Mustangs. He said he put some on his '97 Camaro, and ended up replacing them soon after. On the other hand, I've seen a few clips of V8 SHO's with Flowmasters on and they sound pretty damn good

He's going to call around and see what other shops have been doing on these or similar engines. He did mention Magnaflow and Borla as well, so at least my shop's guys have some idea of what they're talking about

Steve, I hope those Flowmasters work out great -be sure to post a sound clip when you get them on

 

[lancSHO]

I'm going to go with the Flowmaster Super 40s; sometime before summer.

 

[DavidT]

Oh, and don't waste your $$$ on the Delta's thinking they are some kind of good compromise for interior noise. They are quiter both inside and outside the car and we've never had a customer who liked them. The original 40's with the resonator intact are just barely perceptible in the cabin when the windows are up and the sunroof is closed.

No wonder... I got the Deltaflows... isn't that what Rick had??

 

[somedude_001]

my buddy just put deltaflows on his 99 SHO and they sound really good iside and out, IMO they are too quiet but they don't drone on the highway and he said that is what he really likes.

I can get some moving sound clips/video if you would like.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Just as FYI - I spoke with a guy at my local shop this morning, I asked him for a recommendation on exhaust options on my SHO (at least he knew what I was talking about when I said SHO lol...) I told him I was thinking of going with FlowMasters. In his words, the only vehicles he's heard Flowmasters sound good on are V8 Mustangs. He said he put some on his '97 Camaro, and ended up replacing them soon after. On the other hand, I've seen a few clips of V8 SHO's with Flowmasters on and they sound pretty damn good

Don't take his word for it. See if you can find a local V8SHO owner who has them so you can listen to them first hand. Actually, this would be good advice for any aftermarket mufflers. Hearing them in person is the best way to get a real taste of the sound. Unfortunately, sound clips on the internet aren't usually a good representation.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

No wonder... I got the Deltaflows... isn't that what Rick had??

It's a common mistake. Rick has the original 40's. As the Deltas are "newer" (and cost more), a lot of people figure they're going to sound better than the originals. It also doesn't help that the part numbers are close: 42443 for the originals, and 942443 for the Deltas.

Interestingly, I was cruising eBay for some for a friend in Florida last night, and the prices on both the originals and Deltas have gone up about 15-20% since the last time I looked there.

 

[SHOZ123]

Don't take his word for it. See if you can find a local V8SHO owner who has them so you can listen to them first hand. Actually, this would be good advice for any after market mufflers. Hearing them in person is the best way to get a real taste of the sound. Unfortunately, sound clips on the internet aren't usually a good representation.

I bought my mufflers on the recommendation of another V8 SHO lister and am very pleased with the sound and their durability.

Took them to the local Midas to have them welded on and the guy told me it would sound like a buzzbomb with straight through mufflers. He didn't want to put them on at all. Sound have seen their eyes when I fired it up and left.....

 

[spragers]

I stopped at my local shop this morning before work and told the manager that I was planning on getting the original Flowmaster 40's put on. This wasn't the same guy I had spoke with last time. They also said they'd be able to remove the air silencer for me (I know, I know, it's a DIY project, but I just don't have the setup to work on something like that at home. Besides, if they rotate my tires, they'll both a.) have it up on the lift and b.) have the wheels off for easy access). Should be quite the project day come spring

Of course, then I had to take a look at the state laws for Wisconsin. How literally do you think this part of the state lawbooks would be enforced?

347.39(2)pdf icon
(2) No muffler or exhaust system on any vehicle mentioned in sub. (1) shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device nor shall there be installed in the exhaust system of any such vehicle any device to ignite exhaust gases so as to produce flame within or without the exhaust system. No person shall modify the exhaust system of any such motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and such original muffler shall comply with all the requirements of this section.

 

[Mac98SHO]

No 3rd Cat, or resonator, and has Flow Pros (a Flow master knock off)... I love the sound.. and loosing the third cat in my car improved 3k to 5k acceleration(My opinion). I also retain the stock tips(for looks).. which restrict things tad.

She makes me so proud.. it even has the flo master cackle when cold