It may sound like a dumb question to some but i have heard different stories. If your muffler is disconnected or not working properly, will it increase fuel economy and power? Or if there is fairly large hole in the muffler. Would any of those account for gained power and fuel?

I would think that your gas mileage will go down. I also Do not think that you would have any more power. Since you should not have as much back pressure then you would have with the muffler. The + side would be that the sound of the car would sound a lot better.

I am not sure on this. I hope that some one would give you the correct info. But like I said that is what I think.

------------------


http://www.iamanascarfan.com/

I am the signature virus, please put me in your signature so I can spread

backpressure is sorta a myth, as in you dont want any backpressure. But you don't want it so unrestricted that atmospheric pressure is going back to the engine. You want the flow to keep out atmospheric pressure. Same basic meaning but termed a little different.

------------------
"DRIVE IT LIKE A FIERO"
'84 Fiero, engine to be determined
'87Blue GT 3.4L Swap Completed!!!!!!!!
http://www.lasvegasfieroclub.com/

i just read a really good write up on this last week on one of the "rice" forums. of course now i can't find it... anyway the guy was saying its not so much the back pressure as it is the speed at which the exhaust exits. if you put install 3 inch pipes with no cat and high flow muffler you will notice a decrease in power because the exhaust is not being forced out away from the manifold.
stock exhausts are set up to give you a good combo of torque and high end speed. open it up too much and you loose torque, too much restriction you loose high speed? man wish i could find that post, it was explained in a lot more detail than i can do. as far as holes in the muffler go are you "making" holes in the muffler or just rusted out? i think you can get a high flow muffler for about $50. hope this helps.