single muffler

claude brousson

New member
Jan 20, 1999
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Well OK guys, actually I guess I'll have to 'fes up and admit that I
actually was just having a little fun and pulling Gene's leg.I guess I
asked for it and brought you all out of the woodwork!!

But anyway now that you all have responded, and seeing we all will have
to admit that noone has any real facts on this, and therefore it is
quite possible that the whole idea is mythology, I'll add my bit of myth
and opinion to it.

Presuming that one already had headers, two low back pressure mufflers
going into a three inch tail pipe, I would presume that changing to one
single muffler at the back would create more resistance to an equal
amount of exaust than two mufflers at the front. Further, the resistance
of a muffler at the rear where the exaust is at a lower temperature than
if it was up at the front might have less of a scavenging effect, and
therefore more resistance to the flow.Afterall don't the header coating
guys claim that by keeping more heat in headers, they get the exaust out
of the motor more efficiently creating a scavenging effect and creating
more horsepower. Perhaps the same would hold true for the muffler
situation.

Next, if you listen to the noise of a motor, it is heard at the end of
the tailpipe, not especially at the muffler. So why should it be any
quieter with muffler at the back? The mufflers are well behind the
driver seat area anyway, being somewhere under where the table is, so
noise level should be almost identical. The same holds true for
temperature in the motor area- why would it have any affect on
temperature in this area at all-except mayby if one is stopped with the
motor running and when heat from the muffler area may rise up into the
motor area. Any time when one is running down the road, the wind will
carry the heat toward the back of the vehicle.I can see, however, there
will be less heat penetrating the floor area in the front living area.
And I suppose its cheaper to replace one muffler than two- but even that
is presuming one will last longer than two would, so even that is
uncertain.

Now also if the muffler is at lower temp. at the back, and suppose one
runs the motor for short periods in the yard etc. it will get more water
and acid sitting in it than if it is further up the pipe line toward the
motor, so presumably it will deteriorate more quickly.

I have heard it said that the GMC does not in fact have enough
backpressure to necitate a change to a 3" exaust system.Short of actual
testing, who knows.I did it any way and also put on headers. Did it
give me any more power? I really don't know, I never noticed any
difference. But then maybe I didn't need to stomp on the gas as much to
get equal power. I like the headers,as since converting to them I have
had no further problem with leaks at the manifold in about 8 years.

So that's what I think--at least for today--who knows what it might be
tomorrow. Can you show my rationality to be wrong, confused or whatever?
I'm waiting and listening.

Claude.

PS.-Gene, I'm sure when you get all those extra measuring gauges you
will post them up on your site!!

Still having fun. CB.
 
Anyone have a spare Dyno I can borrow? Our
coach came with dual glasspacks (about 3-1/2 inches in diameter. I am
listening
intently to see what others are doing so I don't wake the neighbors at
4:00 am
when I head to the Adirondacks to go fishing.
Ron,
I don't have access to a chassis dyno but I have always believed in how
it really works vice what it says on paper. I made the switch to a
single rear & have noticed the following: Much reduced floor heat,
virtually no increase in exhaust noise, a pleasant note if anything,
better throttle response, zero vibration transfer due to the increased
size of the exhaust pipe through the frame bushings. Also, the real
proof: before installation I could not climb the hill/street where I
live, couldn't get a run at it either because of a large dip at the
bottom of the hill, now I have to hit the brakes at the top. Also, the
aluminized tubing most good shops use now is forever vice the corrosion
prone steel tubing used as OEM.
HTH,
Steve
 
Sounds really good. I may go that way. I am looking forward to Mr.Penrods
results as further confirmation.

Ron

> Anyone have a spare Dyno I can borrow? Our
> coach came with dual glasspacks (about 3-1/2 inches in diameter. I am
> listening
> intently to see what others are doing so I don't wake the neighbors at
> 4:00 am
> when I head to the Adirondacks to go fishing.
> Ron,
> I don't have access to a chassis dyno but I have always believed in how
> it really works vice what it says on paper. I made the switch to a
> single rear & have noticed the following: Much reduced floor heat,
> virtually no increase in exhaust noise, a pleasant note if anything,
> better throttle response, zero vibration transfer due to the increased
> size of the exhaust pipe through the frame bushings. Also, the real
> proof: before installation I could not climb the hill/street where I
> live, couldn't get a run at it either because of a large dip at the
> bottom of the hill, now I have to hit the brakes at the top. Also, the
> aluminized tubing most good shops use now is forever vice the corrosion
> prone steel tubing used as OEM.
> HTH,
> Steve
 
I keep seeing discussion on how many mufflers and
where. During the hot rod years of my youth the
obvious mate to headers were dual exhausts and glass
packs which greatly reduce back pressure and increase
performance. So whats the deal, has anyone put duals
all the way to the rear. Is there a design reason like
the generator being in the way, which preculdes the
ability to put dual pipes on our units. I have not
even stuck my head under there with that in mind yet
but now I am thinking.
__________________________________________________
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Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
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Can't be done. The other side of the frame houses the gas filler hose.
There isn't room on the right side for twin pipes. A single 3" will flow
as much as twin 2.5" pipes, so unless you are going twin 3" you won't
accomplish any thing. Dumping the exhaust in front of the rear wheels
doesn't help either as it creates a safety hazard with the co2 and other
gasses being drawn in. JMO. Darren

> I keep seeing discussion on how many mufflers and
> where. During the hot rod years of my youth the
> obvious mate to headers were dual exhausts and glass
> packs which greatly reduce back pressure and increase
> performance. So whats the deal, has anyone put duals
> all the way to the rear. Is there a design reason like
> the generator being in the way, which preculdes the
> ability to put dual pipes on our units. I have not
> even stuck my head under there with that in mind yet
> but now I am thinking.
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
> http://im.yahoo.com

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
Ok guys-
I've finally figured out what your problem is-- You don't need 5 ton
air conditioners, big fans in front of, behind and beside your motor and
mufflers at the rear,-- you are living in the wrong areas of the
country- where it is hot, sticky, dry, and miserable. Why don't you all
move up to Victoria, where the cooling sea breezes blow from three sides
to keep us at just the right temperature. Thats what the smart
Californians do- they all come up here and enjoy themseves in the
summer, and we go south in the spring .

Claude