P38 Centre muffler replace or bypass or bite the bullet?

[Hammer H]

Hi All my centre silencer is on its last legs, I'm not sure to replace or bypass.
I've heard bypassing will improve performance marginally and increase the v8 note which is my preference but I'd hate to end up with an annoying drone while cruising.

I've looked around online and found only one bypass for sale but it was a lot more expensive than a replacement muffler. Could take it to the muffler shop but prefer DIY where I can.

Something else I read was better to keep the centre muffler and replace the rear muffler as this will also improve ground clearance.

or do I bite the bullet and replace the entire system with an after market system , if I do will the increase in performance be worth the bucks.

cheers

Hammer H

[Pete38]

Can't comment on the centre muffler but I removed the rear. Sounds much more like a v8 but definitely louder. Likely still legal loudness mind you. It doesn't drone much on highways or get annoying in any way in my opinion. And I hate droning exhausts and shopped around for ages for my 200sx exhaust because I hate the constant drone.

[Keithy P38]

Why not do both ;-)

I've got a straight through barrel as my centre muffy and a hot dog on the rear. It's a nice note, family friendly but loud enough to let the traffic (and neighbours) know that QE II is setting sail.

Cheers
Keithy

[Striker]

I'm keeping a close eye on this thread, as my exhaust is stock, and I'm desiring a slightly meatier note.

--Striker.

[Pete38]

I'm keeping a close eye on this thread, as my exhaust is stock, and I'm desiring a slightly meatier note.

--Striker.

Well definitely meatier with just the rear removed. Main reason I took mine off was because of my rear bar modifications made the rear muffler look really out of place. It was only a matter of time until I punched a whole in it as it scraped quite a few times off road.

[TheTree]

I too removed the rear muffler on "Voldemort" and the note was much nicer and not annoying. My current beast has a hot dog on the rear and it sounds good as well

As far as performance goes, just changing the exhaust makes very little difference but does provide a platform for future enhancements to make a bigger difference

Steve

[davidsonsm]

I ended up replacing the stock with a twin pipe system, with free flowing cats and an enhanced twin (2 in to one, out to two) centre muffler. The first incarnation was straight through at the rear - but was definitely too loud and droned on the highway. I had two "hot dogs" installed on the two exit pipes to stop the droning.











Mine is still quite loud for some tastes. But boy, it does put a smile on your face when it barks.

[Hammer H]

I ended up replacing the stock with a twin pipe system, with free flowing cats and an enhanced twin (2 in to one, out to two) centre muffler. The first incarnation was straight through at the rear - but was definitely too loud and droned on the highway. I had two "hot dogs" installed on the two exit pipes to stop the droning.

Mine is still quite loud for some tastes. But boy, it does put a smile on your face when it barks.

Hi Sean

Any performance increase noticeable?

[davidsonsm]

[QUOTE=Hammer H;2267813]Hi Sean

Any performance increase noticeable?[/Yeah - reckon there was. Maybe 5%. ]

[Striker]

I too removed the rear muffler on "Voldemort" and the note was much nicer and not annoying. My current beast has a hot dog on the rear and it sounds good as well


Which had the nicer note, and which had more/less drone?

--Striker.

[TheTree]

Which had the nicer note, and which had more/less drone?

--Striker.

Well I think no rear muffler at all was the nicest note but the hot dog is pretty close and just that little bit quieter

Steve

[dingsy]

I have a high flow straight through muffler and no rear resonator - sounds terrible - very droney - the sound with just the rear resonator removed and standard muffler is nice.

Edit - this is on a disco 3.9 but I imagine the setup is much the same

[benji]

I've got a standard centre muffler and straight through at the rear. It barks under load, sounds great up in the revs, but is quiet on the hwy - no droning.

The replacement muffler I put on through want a baffle type like the original I took of though. It was a straight through pipe with large holes into the muffler filing.

I've always wondered what a larger diameter system would do though.

Sent from my GT-I9305T using AULRO mobile app

[mtb_gary]

A few years back I had both cats replaced with high flows after one of them developed an annoying rattle, at the same time I also had an aftermarket exhaust system fitted. I stuck with standard diameter, however the centre muffler is the high flow straight through variety as is the rear muffler. No noticeable improvement in performance or economy. But it certainly sounds like a V8, especially under acceleration. Because my old centre muffler had a few holes in it the cabin noise became far quieter with the new exhaust ;)

Gary

[glenhendry]

I have done both, first I chopped off the rear resonator, and I liked the sound, but I had a problem with it on the highway with drone. Then I put it back on, and dropped the BIG centre stock muffler and put a sports muffler on, it was too quiet, back to stock, so I dropped it for a straight pipe and I love it now. Straight pipe in the centre and the stock resonator on the rear.

[Hoges]

I have done both, first I chopped off the rear resonator, and I liked the sound, but I had a problem with it on the highway with drone. Then I put it back on, and dropped the BIG centre stock muffler and put a sports muffler on, it was too quiet, back to stock, so I dropped it for a straight pipe and I love it now. Straight pipe in the centre and the stock resonator on the rear.

No highway drone?
Does one simply buy the pipe from a muffler supplier? What then, couple of slits with an angle grinder to allow clamp to compress plus some exhaust pipe goo to properly seal it? EDIT: or do you retain the flange arrangement?

[Striker]

Straight pipe in the centre and the stock resonator on the rear.

Hrm. I'm sure I have a very large muffler at the back, not a resonator.

--Striker.

[Hoges]

Hrm. I'm sure I have a very large muffler at the back, not a resonator.

--Striker.

Hi Striker, the largish muffler slightly aft of the petrol tank tucked in under the RH side of the wheel well is what the chaps are referring to as the resonator.

[Hammer H]

Range Rover P38 Straight Through Exhaust Centre Section 4 0 OR 4 6 Stainless | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Range-Rover-P38-Straight-Through-Exhaust-Centre-Section-4-0-or-4-6-Stainless-/151478587082?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2344d3ceca)

Might have to buy me a welder, bit expensive for a piece of pipe

[Striker]

Hi Striker, the largish muffler slightly aft of the petrol tank tucked in under the RH side of the wheel well is what the chaps are referring to as the resonator.

Thanks Hoges! Glad I'm not going senile just yet ;)

--Striker.

[Scouse]

Range Rover P38 Straight Through Exhaust Centre Section 4 0 OR 4 6 Stainless | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Range-Rover-P38-Straight-Through-Exhaust-Centre-Section-4-0-or-4-6-Stainless-/151478587082?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2344d3ceca)

Might have to buy me a welder, bit expensive for a piece of pipeAlso, the video he uses for a sound demonstration is showing a RR with 2 tailpipes which means it's going through 2 resonators.

[TheTree]

My local muffler place removed the resonator and replaced it with a straight pipe for $50.00 ... it was steel not stainless though

Steve

[glenhendry]

No highway drone?
Does one simply buy the pipe from a muffler supplier? What then, couple of slits with an angle grinder to allow clamp to compress plus some exhaust pipe goo to properly seal it? EDIT: or do you retain the flange arrangement?

I went to the muffler place at Indooroopilly Hoges. Midas I think.