Glasspacks?

[RjKlement15]

Im debating getting a high flow cat, and replacing the resonator with a glasspack. That way I have a true Header back exhaust. What do you think? Cat may have a little power gain, and the glasspack could either sound great, or ricey. Ive seen them go either way. Any suggestions?

[thestone11]

Personally i will leave both the cat and resonator in the car. I hate my exhaust being too loud, kinda annoying especially when the rolla is not a fast car at all. Just like people with their super loud ricer honda, you laugh at them too, don't you?

i pay respect to ferrari, and lambo with their loud exhaust....but not a family car.

[hairball]

I haven't heard of anyone using glasspacks since the late 70's and early 80's. Back then everyone had to have Cyclone Purple Hornies or Cherry Bombs. They still make those? Then Thrush came out with their Thrush Hush turbos, which became the hot craze. Myself, if I had my choice of any muffler on the planet, it would be a Flowmaster! Gives a low, throaty sound to ANY vehicle! But no matter what car I owned, I would never use a glasspack on it. To me, they sound a little to "low budget". There are several choices besides those. Believe, after attending literally thousands of car shows in my life, I know what people laugh at and what they drool over.

Just my opinion. Not meant to slam your choice in mufflers.

[LeanBurn]

You may actually lose power, especially low end torque by reducing the back-pressure.

[hairball]

Originally Posted by LeanBurn

You may actually lose power, especially low end torque by reducing the back-pressure.

By reducing back pressure, you increase power in virtually ANY 4-stroke engine.

Yes, you might lose a bit of low-end torque, but you'll most certainly increase mid-range to top-end horsepower the more you open up your exhaust. I'll be sure and let you know next time I see a top-fuel dragster or an alcohol funny car with cats and mufflers.

(Of course this wasn't meant to ridicule you. Your comment just caught my attention.)

[LeanBurn]

I don't "live" in the mid-upper RPM of the engine in my Corolla, I bought it for a different purpose than that....but hey, to each their own.

Not sure how the VVT-I and open exhaust interaction would behave considering that it hasn't been done on these 10th gens yet either. Purpose built race cars are a slightly different animal.

[hairball]

Originally Posted by LeanBurn

I don't "live" in the mid-upper RPM of the engine in my...

Me either. Which is why I'll always leave my exhaust stock. Sure, it would be nice to get rid of the cat, but hey, it still passes emissions after 20 years so I'm happy with it.

Another note about "upper RPM's"... 98% of the small foreign cars I see around town with those huge oversize mufflers in back SMOKE. Why? Too many high RPM's for an engine that wasn't really designed for them. When you take your little 4-banger (or even V-6) to it's redline every day, it's going to slowly wear out parts (mainly inside the cylinders) and sure enough, it will start smoking. I see sweet compact cars all day with awesome 16" wheels and lowered and tinted with bumpin' stereos that have left their exhaust factory original and they don't smoke at all (or draw attention). But those same cars with aftermarket mufflers in back, 9 out of 10 of them smoke. This should give people a clue. Unless you're building the crap out of your 4-banger and include aftermarket pistons, rings, bearings, cams, headers, and intakes all designed to work together, it's best to leave your exhaust alone.

If you keep your factory exhaust, it won't "sound" like a hot rod and therefore won't be driven like one, in turn saving you costly engine repairs down the road.

(Sorry, I'm not as young as I used to be, so my taste changes. But give me a V-8 car and the first thing I do is alter the exhaust!)