I have been catching up with life since I returned from my Corvette adventure. I started, well, "deep cleaning" today. If only I could figure out how to prime the atomizers on my carpet shampoo and aluminum brightener spray bottles! I dropped the spacesaver spare to clean things up before I stow it back. While rolling around on the floor, I had still another look at the 4 holes I saw in the exhaust system. I am pretty sure that they are no worse than I noted 2 weeks ago way over in Charlotte, North Carolina. I found out that once I removed the rolling suitcase loaded with ground cloth, tarp, tools, and cool weather clothing, that the exhaust is fairly noisy. For 3700 miles all this stuff did a great job soaking up the racket! I know the damaged components need to be replaced. I am noticing that the components I want -- mostly stock configured Walker parts, are tough to line up -- I am seeing "out of stock" a lot. It would be easier to give up and just do an aftermarket "cat back" system like those offered by Borla, MagnaFlow, and others but I am concerned that these will be aggressively noisy, and I don`t want that. At least some of you might have suggestions... What do you think I should do? And... with the rest of the car in such good condition, why do you suppose the system rusted through like this? I am wondering if the previous owner lived close enough to his work that maybe he didn't get things warmed or therfore dried enough in his drive cycle.
I have been catching up with life since I returned from my Corvette adventure. I started, well, "deep cleaning" today. If only I could figure out how to prime the atomizers on my carpet shampoo and aluminum brightener spray bottles! I dropped the spacesaver spare to clean things up before I stow it back. While rolling around on the floor, I had still another look at the 4 holes I saw in the exhaust system. I am pretty sure that they are no worse than I noted 2 weeks ago way over in Charlotte, North Carolina. I found out that once I removed the rolling suitcase loaded with ground cloth, tarp, tools, and cool weather clothing, that the exhaust is fairly noisy. For 3700 miles all this stuff did a great job soaking up the racket! I know the damaged components need to be replaced. I am noticing that the components I want -- mostly stock configured Walker parts, are tough to line up -- I am seeing "out of stock" a lot. It would be easier to give up and just do an aftermarket "cat back" system like those offered by Borla, MagnaFlow, and others but I am concerned that these will be aggressively noisy, and I don`t want that. At least some of you might have suggestions... What do you think I should do? And... with the rest of the car in such good condition, why do you suppose the system rusted through like this? I am wondering if the previous owner lived close enough to his work that maybe he didn't get things warmed or therfore dried enough in his drive cycle.
We have muffler shops around here.
They stock aluminized pipe, and some do work with stainless steel.
They also stock mufflers of all sorts, quiet to aggressive/loud, I have seen Magnaflow and Turbo's at a few.
You are probably correct about the "short drive cycle" having something to do with the failure of the exhaust system. When back in Minne-snow-ta my wife had a fairly short drive to work and mine was much, much longer. I was replacing exhaust system parts on her daily driver on a much shorter time cycle than on my vehicle.
Black Shark's recommendation of checking with a local exhaust shop is a good one. You may end up spending a few more pennies going that route but there may be a warranty of some sort that will help offset the cost of a future replacement. Another added benefit is you won't be rolling around on a creeper cussing like a longshoreman when pieces either don't want to easily come apart or fit back together as expected. Unless you enjoy that kind of frustration.
Don't know where you have been getting the "out of stock" results but check with Bair's Corvettes, our most loyal sponsor, or any of the other Corvette parts places that are out there. I would have to believe that one of those would have parts available.
Most of the aftermarket exhaust system outfits have a variety of options for performance and sound. Many have sound bites that you can listen to for an approximate idea of what they sound like. That's how my wife picked the mufflers we put on "BLKBRRD" during its rehab project. Over the years have gotten lots of compliments on the sound from folks.
Another thing you can do to make the cabin a little more comfortable, sound-wise, is to pull up the carpeting behind the seats and lay down a sound deadening layer. You wouldn't think that thin layer of material would make much of a difference but it sure did it "BLKBRRD".
Jim Olson
Okay. I found parts I need at Rock Auto, but the mufflers are Walker Sound FX. I am hoping that they won't be too loud. I'll let you know! It looks like I might be going back to class next quarter, and soon I will have access to the college's lifts and the databases. Should have Annie straightened out in time for the earlier shows next spring.