Most custom exhausts that I have seen on 3800SC swaps (including my own) are all built using short pipes w a small muffler at the rear of the engine. The trouble is that these systems drone and tend to be loud if not deafening. My afterburner system is so loud that listening to the radio is about impossible. I can tolerate it for trips of 2 hours or so but on a long trip the noise just doesn't cut it. Has anyone tried building a custom crossover pipe and routing the exhaust around the engine as in OEM fashion. It might be possible to use a quieter muffler in the original position of the cat and route the pipes out back in the conventional manner but has anyone tried it? If so is the sound more tolerable? .
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Only one I seen is the westcoastfiero one, I really wish there was another alternative to have stock exit point.. But looks like that's what I will be ordering in a few weeks.
Only one I seen is the westcoastfiero one, I really wish there was another alternative to have stock exit point.. But looks like that's what I will be ordering in a few weeks.
If you are talking about their headers, they are well made, fit and look nice but the reports on them, are that they are somewhat restrictive. Check with those that have used them.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
So you think the WCF 1 5/8 primary headers will be too restrictive for my mild setup (VS cam, GenV 3.5) ?
I'm not quite the expert on all different types of headers as I have never dyno'd them but IIRC ZZ Performance says that 1 3/4" is the recommended optimum pipe size for 3800 headers. I would tend to go with what a noted expert on 3800 engines would recommend. With that in mind also bear in mind that WCF headers are the only ones specifically made for use in a Fiero. Other headers (those for GTP bodies) will require some trunk cutting. Ask around then decide.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
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08:40 PM
nosrac Member
Posts: 3520 From: Euless, TX, US Registered: Jan 2005
Most custom exhausts that I have seen on 3800SC swaps (including my own) are all built using short pipes w a small muffler at the rear of the engine. The trouble is that these systems drone and tend to be loud if not deafening. My afterburner system is so loud that listening to the radio is about impossible. I can tolerate it for trips of 2 hours or so but on a long trip the noise just doesn't cut it. Has anyone tried building a custom crossover pipe and routing the exhaust around the engine as in OEM fashion. It might be possible to use a quieter muffler in the original position of the cat and route the pipes out back in the conventional manner but has anyone tried it? If so is the sound more tolerable? .
You just NEED a resonator or cat and a good muffler. My SC setup sound was just right. You can also put in a removable silencer for cruising and remove it when you want to play.
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08:51 PM
Apr 13th, 2013
bmwguru Member
Posts: 4692 From: Howell, NJ USA Registered: Sep 2006
To eliminate any unwanted noise in my car, I used Dynamat on the interior firewall and roof. Everyone tells me that my car shakes the shop when I leave, but the interior noise is minimal. I run headers and a Magnaflow muffler run to the rear of the car.
This is what we made for adams fiero. We both use the stock muffler (GT) His car is so quite that at the drag strip I guy asked us if it was a "electric car". It is not THAT quite, but it very quite in the car driving around. BUT it needs the exhaust dump to really flow. I just got done doing the same thing for my SBC/headers set up. The little I have got to run it ( with the rod knock) , with the new pipes/cross over, it will be fine inside the car. On my car the key is the electric exhaust dump.
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09:02 AM
Dennis LaGrua Member
Posts: 16021 From: Hillsborough, NJ U.S.A. Registered: May 2000
This is what we made for adams fiero. We both use the stock muffler (GT) His car is so quite that at the drag strip I guy asked us if it was a "electric car". It is not THAT quite, but it very quite in the car driving around. BUT it needs the exhaust dump to really flow. I just got done doing the same thing for my SBC/headers set up. The little I have got to run it ( with the rod knock) , with the new pipes/cross over, it will be fine inside the car.
Nice plumbing job . How is the clearance to the water outlet hose? That's what I had in mind. I guess that I will need to order some mandrel bends and start piecing one together. Hoping to use a premade Y. I realize that a quiet setup can be had by cutting the trunk and using a 27" L Magnaflow muffler but I am one of those owners who want to retain what little trunk is available. If I make it to the 30th, I've got to take a small piece of luggage and a cooler with me. I am a diehard fan of the spacious Fiero trunk!!
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
My exhaust follows the OEM route from the headers back. I have no cat, afterburner muffler, and C6 tips and it's not what I would call 'too loud' at all, it's just right. I have no drone whatsoever. What size pipe are you running in and out of the muffler?
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07:04 PM
Dennis LaGrua Member
Posts: 16021 From: Hillsborough, NJ U.S.A. Registered: May 2000
My current exhaust uses the Afterburner crossflow muffler w 3" in and two 2 1/2" outlets . It is the short pipe system with all hookups in the rear. The system is loud and gives loads of interior drone noise. The 3800 install that I am now doing has a requirement for less noise hence the idea for OEM type exhaust routing.
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07:57 PM
Apr 14th, 2013
FFIEROFRED Member
Posts: 751 From: GULFPORT, MS Registered: May 2008
On the one we did for adams car we used the stock 3800 fwd manifolds. the rear one we cut off the stock out let, welded a plate over it. Than we got 2 stock 3800 cross over pipes. For the front side we took just enough of it so that with it turned about 90 degrees to points right at the stock 2.8 cross over pipe. With a nother 90 bend it turns down to the part of the fiero cross over pipe that has the O2 bung in it. Than we used the other 3800 cross over pipe with the front end cut off. This was turned so that it pointed at the top of the bend of the front pipe. We had a piece of pipe that went over the 2nd cross over pipe. We slid it over the rear cross over pipe, slid it out untill it was lined up with the bend. We ground and cut untill it was a good fit to the front pipe. Than we marked the bend, cut a hole, welded it up. Looks a lot better wrapped. We had to run the water pipe out, over it, than down. Adam used a piece of the SS water return pipes from a junk fiero to connect it. In 4th gear, with the windows up of down just cruzing, you can't hear the engine. It is that good. But we are fooled into thinking this is a good flowing, hipo exhaust. Thats what the dump is for.
