Muffler - help, please!

[NYScott]

Hi, all:

I need a new muffler & tailpipe, and both Midas & Monro say they can't find the proper parts... I searched this forum, using the word "muffler," and spent the last hour reading post after post, and I honestly still have no clue what to do! Most of them were about performance upgrades, or parts no longer for sale, etc., and others seemed to die w/out any resolution.

If anyone can give me some advice, I'd appreciate it (and if you keep in mind that I'm not a gear-head, that would help a LOT):

2001 - no mods - OEM exhaust/muffler/etc.

I really don't care about big performance upgrades, or anything that's louder than normal; I just want a new muffler... this week... and if I have to order one online & have it sent via 2-3 day shipping, that's fine - I just want to know what will fit w/out any problems, and where to get it.

If you have any suggestion, I'd be grateful.
email: NYScott at gmail

T h a n k
Y o u !

[tom4bren]

Well, it's almost a certainty that you will NOT be going OEM. Too pricey.

I'm suprised that none of the muffler shops even recommended an aftermarket.

Basically any will work as long as the muffler shop can adapt to the existing pipes. The trade offs will be: sound, backpressure, longevity and price.

Many members have put on PowerVault products but the preference seems to be the PV1 which is no longer available.

My 2 cents worth of advice is to tell the muffler shop that you want to use what they have available & will fit. Minimize back pressure & go with Stainless Steel if you can afford it so it'll last longer.

[NYScott]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I really have to emphasize that I'm not a gear-head... To me, "minimize back pressure" means "lift with your knees."

Are you saying I should call the guys at Monro (where my VX is currently located) and ask if they can find an aftermarket muffler & tail pipe that will fit, preferably something in stainless steel?

Or should I go get my VX, drive to Pep Boys, or NAPA, or Auto Zone, and see if they can dig one up? Also, if it would be better to search for one online (even if I'm searching the site of one of those auto parts stores I mentioned), is there anything I should be looking for (a certain size, or dimensions, etc.)?

[Gussie2000]

Hi scott.

I'm bit confused as how/why a muffler shop wouldn't "find" a single muffler to fit into your VX along with the pipes.

Beside the OEM muffler actually ANY muffler within a reasonable size can be added to the VX.
The OEM muffler brand new goes from $300 up from a dealer & i bid you aren't willing to put that amount for a regular muffler.
Off course the size of a muffler & the diameter of the pipes will increase/decrease the VX performance once installed & alter the torque either in low or high RPM's but you can definetly find a muffler that comes very close to the OEM muffler's specs.
Because you aren't into big mods or no mods at all it's much easier for you to have that job done instead of wondering which high performance muffler to go with.

You can call merlin @ st charles isuzu & ask for some advise as which kind of aftermarket muffler you can go with and/or wait for fellow members to help you out though looking thru the many options you can choose from.

[NYScott]

Well, I'm not opposed to a high-performance muffler, it's just that I don't want to spend a ton of money on this, and I don't want something loud (not my style).

Honestly, all I'm looking for is something that will fit w/out a problem, something I can get my hands on ASAP (I have a few days off, so this is my time to get things done), something that isn't going to cost a bajillion dollars, and isn't going to wake my neighbors.

[Gussie2000]

Hey scott!
It's time for you to have some home work done.
Take few hours & go google to look @ customer's review on every single bran,plus you can use youtube to see/listen to videos about mufflers
All muffler brands offers products suitable for our toys and the rest is up to you choosing the right one.
Go to the shop & explain them what are you looking for,something very similar to the OEM muffler which will not cause any huge difference on the VX's driving performance & not cause any disturbance to the neighbor.

[PittVXr]

For what it's worth, I replaced my stock muffler with a Dynomax Super turbo muffler. It cost about $60.00 shipped from summitracing.com. I think with the stock pipes you should be able to get a new muffler put on for about $100-$150.

The muffler has a little more "growl" than the stock muffler, but it is not much louder. After about 500 miles of driving it seemed to get a little quieter. I like the sound personally and would recommend it for someone who doesn't want to wake the neighbors with their exhaust note.

I have noticed better gas mileage since putting it on. (about 1MPG improvement in the city) A little more "pep" when stepping on the gas too.

[NYScott]

PittVXr: Thank you!

I'm on summitracing.com, and I found the Dynomax Super turbo mufflers, but there are 84 of them... This is a great example of what I mean when I say I'm not a gear-head. If I knew, for example, that a "2 1/4 in. Inlet -- 2 1/4 in. Outlet" is the right or wrong size, I could narrow it down. Same with "14.000 in. Case Length," and "18.500 in. Overall Length," and so on.

I have no problem doing my homework--I'm eager to learn, and I want to make an informed decision, but holy crap, I feel like a fish out of water here.

[NYScott]

Thanks, Gussie!

I just picked up my VX from Monro, and spoke with the very nice, and very apologetic, manager for about 30 minutes. He told me all the things he did to try to locate the appropriate parts (called suppliers, researched other models that would have the same fit, called a couple salvage companies, etc.), but found nothing. I asked about aftermarket, and he said that's certainly an option, and would probably be cheaper than OEM, but I may not like the loudness. He said he's online quite a bit, and he knows a lot of sites to do some more research, and said he'd look around & get back to me.

Addressing your "homework" suggestion: you're absolutely, 100% correct. I have done some homework, will continue to do more, and I've viewed a few videos on Youtube. But here's my problem: if I don't know specifically what to look for, I may buy the wrong thing, or bypass the right one... When I go to a site that has the "choose your vehicle" option, they either don't have VehiCROSS listed, or there are zero results. When I go to a manufacturer's site, I see tons of options, but I have no idea which will fit. And as for Youtube, from the few videos I've seen so far, it seems to me that if someone's posting a video about their muffler, it's because it's loud. Don't get me wrong--they sound great, but that's not what I'm looking for. I have a neighbor who has a newer Firebird, and every time he drives by, I think about how nice it would be to strangle him. It would be the height of hypocrisy if I tortured my neighbors, too.

On my way home, I stopped at a couple auto parts stores. All they did was punch the data into a computer, and then looked back at me & said: "No luck, sorry." When I asked about aftermarket, the guys in both places said they had nothing for me.

So I'll continue to sift through the "muffler" posts here, but if anyone has any specific info (brands/models, links), I'd owe you one.

Thanks!

[rowhard]

Hey NYScott, I know John, aka Travelin2 would normally jump in but he and his lovely wife Gloria are off on vacation. Anyway, the VX he bought had a something or other and it was too loud, so he went with this which I think is the same as Roy, aka newthings. Think it might solve your problem. http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=15346

[JULIAN911]

Midas installed flowmaster 50 series muffler on mine and it was not that expensive... I think < $200

[NYScott]

Thanks, everyone, for all the help.

It looks like the Dynomax Super Turbo 17747 may be the one to get. But the tailpipe question: is it a big deal? I mean, is it something I should also purchase, or can the muffler shop handle that?

Also, I saw this on the Advance Auto Parts site - I assume this is the Dynomax Super Turbo 17747, but it's hard to tell... The part number says 17747, but there isn't any additional info. Plus, it's listed for sale at $39.99, which is about $20 cheaper than I've seen anywhere else. But when I do the "will this fit my vehicle" thing, it says "No." WTF?

Thanks again., everyone. I'd be lost without your help...

[newthings]

If it is the "Dynomax Super Turbo 17747", it is the right one. It will not list the VX as a fit, it just is a fit. (20" body) That is a very low price. Give them a call to verify the maker and model.
Any shop can bend up a tailpipe on the fly. You may not need one if the tube is solid. Bigger mean less back pressure. (2" vs. 2 1/2") Weld your tip on the end.

Roy

[Ldub]

There have been other threads in the past on this topic, & it just flat out amazes me that NOBODY who works in a chain muffler shop, or auto parts store, is even slightly inclined to think outside the box...

If it's not in the database, there is nothing that can be done.........
I realize I'm painting this picture with a pretty broad brush, & there may be a few exceptions, but seriously... It's a MUFFLER.........
The dumbing down of this once great nation continues...

[NYScott]

If it is the "Dynomax Super Turbo 17747", it is the right one. It will not list the VX as a fit, it just is a fit. (20" body) That is a very low price. Give them a call to verify the maker and model.
Any shop can bend up a tailpipe on the fly. You may not need one if the tube is solid. Bigger mean less back pressure. (2" vs. 2 1/2") Weld your tip on the end.

Roy

Thanks for the information.

I'll call to verify if the "17747" on that page is the one I'm looking for, but in the meantime, I found it on Amazon, too, for $42.65, so there's another option...