What kind of exhaust set-ups are you guys running? I would like to know how to make the fiero sound like the "monster" it really is, or maybe fake having a V8. Right now I have a Flowmaster 40 series muffler with no cat, it sounds loud but not as loud as my friends firebird. I have no clue what he has but it sounds rough. Or is there no true way to fake that v8 growl?

I grew up around v8s and built my fair share of them. The 60deg v6 has a cool sound. With free flowing exhaust and the right tips it sounds awsome.

I run headers, 2" mandrel bent exhaust for each bank to supertrapps. Awsome sound. I will be switching to a 2" per bank feeding my T3 and 3" from the t3 to tips. should be perfect.

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If you think you can get away with it, lose the muffler too and just go straight pipes. That'll make some noise. Around here theres smog and noise pollution laws, so I wouldn't even bother myself. My Borla muffler sounds good even with the cat.

I have a T shaped exhaust, they used to be sold as a "true dual" exhaust. It has 4 glasspacked tips and no muffler. WAY LOUD! Other Fiero people love it, but it gets old pretty fast, especially on trips.
Really sounds cool @ 85+ mph, though.
I replaced the (modern) cat with a 15" glasspack with 2" core hoping to quiet it just a little, but it didn't make any difference. I guess I'll put the cat back on. May as well be clean if i'm going to pollute with sound!

Here is what I have, it is one of the loudest!!!
Exhaust:
Custom made total 2 ½" exhaust system consisting of; very high flow 2 ½" Random Technology cat , Muffler - 2 ½" dual Flowmaster 80 Series - this is the same muffler that the 5.7L Tunnel Port GM motor uses. This exhaust system is much better than the Borla system. 90 db loudness at idle !!!
The 80 Series performance street muffler is
specially designed for applications where the
muffler must be mounted transversely
(crossflow)behind the rear axle, either to
match an OE system or for increased ground
clearance. The 80 Series is a true crossflow
with single or dual inlet/dual outlet configurations
and produces an aggressive muscle
car sound.
Application Recommendations
•Crossflow applications.
•1982-2001 Camaro and Firebirds.
4” Thick - 9.75” Wide 21” Overall Length - 15” Case Length
Single 2.50”/ Dual 2.50” Part # 42583

I am in the process of installing a 2.5" as well.

Remember that if you want it really loud, you have to go short pipes and you will lose back pressure.

The entirely separate duals, with no crossover is the potentially loudest. I am not certain about performance with separated duals. It would be good for high end, but torque under 2500 I am not so certain about.

The 2.5" will generate some amplification by allowing the longer sound waves to dominate, provided you don't let a muffler or CAT get in the way. The longer soundwaves are the deeper sounds.

If not separate duals, I think a single pipe is louder than the duals on the Fiero due to not splitting your sound waves at the Y,the T, or the muffler. You can make your dual tips fake and just hang a straight pipe out under the bumper.

Otherwise if you want real duals, you need to do some careful planning.

Arn

Check for "lou-dias" postings on the forum. He installed the 80 series about three years ago, and it might seem to be the application you want.
Be aware that most muffler shops will hose you in $ for installation of the 80 series, because it's not a direct fit like the 40 series. I have the latter and I'm extremely happy with the sound and performance. But, I'm 56 and married, so I don't need to impress anyone!!

I did not like the 80 series , it was to loud for me.
I tried 2 of the small sonic turbos, still to loud. A friend of mine at the muffler shop got me 2 mufflers that look just like a sonic turbo but was alot more quiet. but I had to raise the floor of my trunk. I have a 3800 sc and where the collector flange is I put 2 mufflers about 45 degrees. It is not real quiet but enout for me to live with . It has a real deep sound.

What is louder, a glasspack muffler, a Flowmaster 80, or no muffler at all? You mentioned glasspack tips, who makes those? What is the loudest glasspack muffler?

[This message has been edited by ReX121 (edited 12-20-2003).]

I got an 80 series in my GT and it has one of the nicest tones to it. I posted pics of the install, do a search and find them.

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quote Originally posted by ReX121: What is louder, a glasspack muffler, a Flowmaster 80, or no muffler at all? You mentioned glasspack tips, who makes those? What is the loudest glasspack muffler?

Glass pack tips you can see at Pep Boys or most performance shops. They are supposed to quiet down a noisy exhaust not make it louder.

The loudest glass pack is an old glass pack because the glass fiber gradually burns down. I'd guess your standard cherry bomb is the loudest out of the carton.

All mufflers are designed to muffle sound. That is the reason a pipe is louder.

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Arn Brown, 1985 Fiero GT, 15.474 ET stock
Mods underway.

quote Originally posted by Solo2: Here is what I have, it is one of the loudest!!! Exhaust: Custom made total 2 ½" exhaust system consisting of; very high flow 2 ½" Random Technology cat , Muffler - 2 ½" dual Flowmaster 80 Series - this is the same muffler that the 5.7L Tunnel Port GM motor uses. This exhaust system is much better than the Borla system. 90 db loudness at idle !!! The 80 Series performance street muffler is specially designed for applications where the muffler must be mounted transversely (crossflow)behind the rear axle, either to match an OE system or for increased ground clearance.

Not quite as loud as mine...........
Totally custom made Manifolds ( Headers ), 2" pipe. Flowed 3 pipes into 1 on each bank of cylinders. No Crossover pipe. A true separate system. Into 2.5" pipe. 2 Hand made silencers 14" in length, and 5" in Diameter.
Exits into 4.5" x 3" rectangular upswept pipes.
114db at Idle.
138db at 2500rpm.

The link below shows some pics on the UK forum, as i dont know how to post pics anymore now things have changed.

Edit. Forgot to mention....... It almost sounds like a V8 while driving in 4th gear at around 1500-2200rpm. Once its starts getting up to 3000 through to 5000rpm its very loud and raspy, almost racing car like.

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Regards,

Paul Taylor, England.
85 GT Notchback, 2.8 V6, 4 speed manual. Custom made Tubular branch exhaust manifolds with true twin 3in exhaust system. No CAT, No EGR. No Crossover pipe. ADS Road Race SuperChip & 160 deg stat. Poly bushes all round. Lowered 2 inches. 16" alloys with 225/45 rubber. 0-60mph in 5.5 sec.

www.fieroforum.co.uk/Paul85gt.htm

[This message has been edited by Paul Taylor (edited 12-20-2003).]

I have Hooker tips, they look great out of the box, but the black coating soon burns off and the chrome plated steel will rust if not waxed every week.
I would advise using another brand, one made of chromed brass or polished stainless. They are both available though I can't recall the brand names.

Jncomutt had his car over here this summer and he has a Borla exhaust. I don't think he has any cat on it either. I can testify that that car was extremely loud.

It can be tricky to get a good sound and not be loud.

While you ponder your options... ponder where you drive or think you may drive in future...

Allot of places are getting really tough on noise. "College" towns and high tourist areas are some of the worst. Here, Newark has been on both the student population and truckers for noise and other issues. Almost anything above certain noise levels can get you a ticket, especially after dark.

The point is a car that makes too much noise can become a ticket magnet really quick.

beyond that... I've had loud vehicles... I have to agree they get pretty old fast. The noise can increase fatigue of a moderately long trip to amazing levels. If you have to deal with heavy traffic it gets old even on short trips.

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Be alert. The world needs more lerts...

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

I plan on going with either 2.5 or 3 inch exaust with no cat and a borla muffler soon.

well this was taken with a digi cam. The sound isn't the greatest, but u get the idea..

NO cat (obviously) and a borla muffler.

http://members.cox.net/pbodymechanic1/Fierowhitefireballs.avi

My 85 GT is 99% original stock. the 1% non-stock is the Rodney Dickman high flow cat that I put on this summer. It is connected to the stock exhaust set-up. It really gave the 2.8 a nice growl. It is louder than a stock set-up, but not to the point of being obnoxious.

Everyone who has heard it both ways likes the "new" sound of my exhaust. Agressive but not overbearing.

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"Peg"----------- PFF: THE ORIGINAL AND THE BEST!----------- [Signature graciously provided by Naskie 18]
www.cardomain.com/id/wingnutmd- Updated 11.16.03

quote Originally posted by Jncomutt: well this was taken with a digi cam. The sound isn't the greatest, but u get the idea.. NO cat (obviously) and a borla muffler. http://members.cox.net/pbodymechanic1/Fierowhitefireballs.avi

Hey man how'd you get the fireballs like that?

I have an 86 GT with 95 3.4 pushrod---no cat---it is way too noisy! I have to hollar to my wife in the seat right next to me. Course it sounds real raspy--I think it has manifold leak but not sure. I had Ed Parks look at it and he replaced a few of the manifold bolts and said it was ok. Hard to tell cause they are wrapped with cloth.
It is loud though--if that's what you're into.

im running a flowmaster 40 with 3" resignated monza twin tips...it sounded pretty meaty that way once i put the crx intake and the 84 decklid on it became a completley different animal the big hole in the center of the deklid lets alot more sound out....

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no, i dont race anything that has more cubic inches in the exhaust tip then the engine!

quote Originally posted by Jncomutt: well this was taken with a digi cam. The sound isn't the greatest, but u get the idea.. NO cat (obviously) and a borla muffler. http://members.cox.net/pbodymechanic1/Fierowhitefireballs.avi

Sweet....fireballs

I bet the cops love that. They have no sense of humor.