center muffler - '82 FI

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:13 pm

I'm going to get a test pipe to replace my catalytic converter, and wonder if I should remove the center muffler as well? What is its purpose? Does it just "muffle" the sound more than the rear muffler by itself?

Will I see performance improvement?
Does anyone make a test pipe that includes a section to replace the center muffler?

After that, the next step is to change the rear muffler, but only one $$ hit at a time.

That keeps the wife at bay.

Thanks,
Brandon

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:32 am

removing the center muff won't improve performance, but will make it louder

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:48 am

So if I'm going with a test pipe and new ANSA rear muffler, I should just replace the center muffler (it needs to be replaced) with a stock muffler? It just seems like that would be a restrictive bottleneck.

I have a 4-2-1 manifold, so headers will be last.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:34 pm

many owners just weld a small glasspack in place of the center muffler

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:24 pm

Does that achieve the objective of keeping the car relatively quiet while maintaining hi-flow? Is that something your shop could build? (A bolt - in glasspack/test pipe combination), or is it more hassle than it's worth for you to build and ship?

PM me a price if it's possible. Shipping to Lafayette, Louisiana.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:37 pm

it would be best to have a local muffler shop do that to ensure the fit. I wouldn't put the glass pack in place of the cat, just a test pipe there and the glass pack back where the center muff fits

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:30 pm

by the time you finish messing around with a glass pack, and bending special pipe, welding, etcetera.....wouldn't it be easier to purchase and intstall the resonator pipe, which is already bent to the correct dimensions?

Brandon, I have a 2 litre, carbed with a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold/down pipe feeding a 'test' pipe. the 'test' pipe feed the resonator (center muffler), which in turn feeds the dual tipped ANSA.

at cruising speed, i hear no exhaust. this is great for conversations, or listening to the radio, or enjoying nature. at spirited acceleration, i hear the sweetest purr out of the ANSA you ever wanna experience.

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Wed May 09, 2007 10:06 am

I don't know much about exhaust, and still have no idea if the center stock resonator would be an achilles heel of a 4-2-1/test pipe/resonator/ANSA muffler configuration. Is resonator just another word for muffler?

Ideally, if it is high-flow enough to keep up, that is indeed the best solution. If I didn't have to replace it anyway, I would just keep it as is. Given there is a big hole in the side of it, I need to find a solution that will scale with the car's performance mods.

By the way, since when do Fiat owners talk about doing what's 'easiest'? Aren't we all just gluttons for taking the longer, more expensive road?

Brandon

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:53 pm

done correctly, i envision that the glass pac replacement for the center muffler will cost more and do exactly what the "correct" part replacement cost would be. that is, unless you have a welder, have pipe, have a bender and can weld thin walled stock

go to vick auto and buy the resonator pipe. yes, it is the center muffler.

you will not be displeased, and it is the correct shape to go from your cat flange to your new ANSA.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:11 pm

I've seen many owners have really bad experiences with replacement center mufflers/pipes. Poor fit, broken joints are only a couple of situations that arise. Any decent muffler shop can install a glass pack at low cost

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:15 pm

I spoke to a local import shop and they said they'll build and install a test pipe for about $50. That's a no brainer.

They mentioned that a glass pack will 'burn out' fairly quickly which just results in it not really adding value. He recommended just removing the center muffler and going with straight pipe.

Will that be obnoxiously loud? I have a stock rear muffler now, but will be adding the ANSA shortly.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Wed May 09, 2007 2:26 pm

It depends on what you consider obnoxiously loud. It will be quite a bit louder than what you have as stock. My 72 has two resonators and a one pipe Ansa muffler. It has a nice throaty sound that can't be heard when the dual carbs are opened up.

The 71 has one resonator and the dual tip Ansa. It sounds about the same as the 72.

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:44 pm

loud is a relative term. relative to the listener.

you are lucky, and have three opinions from three Spider owners, each with three approaches to your situation.

bran100 · Post by **bran100** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:48 pm

Malcolm Gladwell wrote a great book called the "Paradox of Choice" that talks about the power of giving choice to today's population, but also the negative effects it can have.

Remember how easy it used to be when you could go to the store and buy a pair of blue jeans? Now you go to the Gap and you have straight fit, loose fit, easy fit, boot fit, carpenter fit, baggy fit and relaxed fit. You also have sandblasted, faded white, dark tinted, medium tinted, distressed, indigo, tan, light gray, weathered, worn-in, ultra faded, dark rinse, vintage, stone washed, pale smoke, ultra white, blue crunch and more. All I wanted was a pair of blue jeans.

I'm in the position that Malcolm so expertly pointed out - I'm paralyzed by choice. When consumers are confronted with this, many times, they just choose not to choose.

I'll have to dig a bit deeper on this one, and hopefully a proper decision will come to light.

MIGHTY 8 · Post by **MIGHTY 8** » Wed May 09, 2007 7:37 pm

From the sound of it, you're in the same boat I was a few years back.

While installing the IAP 4-2-1 header, I opted to have the second "resonator" removed. All before asking anyone whether the sound would be "too loud?"

My reasoning being, "What would a vintage racer do?" Conclusion being, if nothing else, remove some excess weight!

Conclusion: it was removed. I can tell you that there is NO excessive noise associated with this part missing.

As far as performance increases: Well, I just don't have the graphs to prove eitherwise. But in the end, I don't regret it one bit, and even recommend it to anyone in the same barchetta