B&B Tri-Flow Installed, 3.8 "seems" SLOWER??????

[HorsePower Junkie]

On my 2002 3.8 5speed, I installed a B&B tri-flow muffler with the big dual oval tips that comes with the B&B. I bought the B&B used & I think it may have been on a Z28 (forgot to ask if it was for a 3.8 or LS1, is there a different B&B specifically for a 3.8??)

I cut off ALL the stock exhaust where it attaches to the rear of the stock cat. I noticed the stock cat has a 3 inch inlet & a 3 inch outlet which then necks down to whatever size the stock S-Pipe is. SO... I cut off the pipe that comes out of the cat right at the end of the cat. The opening at the rear of the stock cat is now 3 inch since it no longer necks down in size to meet the small stock S-Pipe.

I then welded a 3 inch S-Pipe to the back of the cat & then welded that to a stock 2001 Z28 intermediate pipe, which I guess is probably 2 7/8 or 2 3/4. That goes back & over the axle & is welded to the B&B muffler & it all fits well.

I drove it home & did the "free ram air" mod, a lid & K&N. Then I proceeded to take it out & run the snot out of it! At first I didn't notice a whole lot of difference & wondered if I lost some torque??? After about 20 minutes or so it perked up a bunch, I guess the computer just needed a little time to "adjust" or "learn" the lid & larger exhaust, etc.

It runs well, but I'm wondering if it had a smaller exhaust size would it feel stronger or feel more torque?

I did the changes with hardly any miles on the car, so I'm not all that used to the feel of it & don't know how much gain (or loss) I really picked up.

ALSO, it sounds a bit "ricey" (AAARGH!) If I install a "Bullet" muffler (which is nothing more than a glass pack or resonator) "in-line" on the intermediate pipe, will that get rid of the ricey tone? And if so, should I get a 2.5 inch inlet/outlet "Bullet" muffler to reduce the size of the intermediate pipe to pick up some torque?

Would that work? Anyone know??? Anyone run into this "problem" before: Rice tone & possibly loss of torque???

Thanks & sorry for the long post. Your help is greatly appreciated! [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[97Pcam6]

Hey yea, actually when i got my z28 catback from my friend and installed it with his flowmaster muffler i was wondering," why does it feel slower" well after convincing myself that it was faster i left it. About a week later i got fed up and convinced myself that it got slower. i went back to the muffler shop and the guy told me that with this exhaust you lose low-end torque and gain high end which made sense.
Also yes letting your computer adjust to it might help. let it break in!!! after a few months the sound will slightly fade away from the ricey sound but basically thats what v6's sound like. What will give you a more deeper sound, probably what your looking for is installing some headers. decent gains off headers too.
i would not install a smaller exhaust, in the end your bigger more free flowing exhaust will be better.
if you did install a lid and free ram air then your car is taking in more air than the stock so thats good.
do not install the bullet muffler!
if you dont have 3.42's then you could purchase those or even 3.73's to gain some acceleration off the line.
In the end its well worth, i felt the same way as you did when i installed my system. i am glad i kept it!!! [img]graemlins/penguin.gif[/img]

[bluecmaro96]

you dont have headers do you? if it sounds ricey at all i bet you dont, get some headers and it will sound sweet. hey ive been hearing all this s pipe talk. my exhaust just has the headers going into a y pipe and the other end of y pipe goes in cat converter tyhen the intermeddiate pipe than the over the axle pipe into the muffler? what the heck is going on

[HAZ-Matt]

I assume you are talking about the Dynomax single chambered muffler.

If you want to dampen the sound a bit, especially at cruising speed, then install a resonantor or the Bullet muffler (which might as well be a resonator).

[shortdog273]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by bluecmaro96:
you dont have headers do you? if it sounds ricey at all i bet you dont, get some headers and it will sound sweet. hey ive been hearing all this s pipe talk. my exhaust just has the headers going into a y pipe and the other end of y pipe goes in cat converter tyhen the intermeddiate pipe than the over the axle pipe into the muffler? what the heck is going on<hr></blockquote>

The "S" pipe is a custom made pipe you might wanna get if you decide to go with a bigger I (exhaust)pipe. If you look under car, your pipe goes into a "S" form going into the cat. Most aftermarket exhaust(mandrel or non)pipes dont have that S form at the end of their pipes. Some muffler shops can make it for you.

[mw02]

Maybe its not slower but you think it is.

I felt the same way when my catback was put on, but then I realize I was used to the sound of the stock exhaust so if felt slower due to the difference in sound of the exhaust. Then I took my best bud for a ride and he told me that it felt a little faster...
:D

[HorsePower Junkie]

Do you think changing my muffler to a DynoMax would change the sound all together or is that just how a 3.8 V6 is going to sound? Does the DynoMax sound deep or what? I know it's hard too describe but anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated!

Also, has anyone put a bullet muffler (looks like a glass pack, straight through design) in-line to tone down their exhaust sound?

Thanks!

[Infernal]

You won't lose torque, you'll gain torque. The high flow exhaust really modifies the torque curve, but theres more area under it, trust me. Your car will feel different, but take it to the track and you'll see that it's making more power (or a dyno if you have one close).

As for the sound, it's a V6. You wont get it to sound much better than it does with a broken in B&B Triflow.

[scottblack]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Infernal:
You won't lose torque, you'll gain torque. The high flow exhaust really modifies the torque curve, but theres more area under it, trust me. Your car will feel different, but take it to the track and you'll see that it's making more power (or a dyno if you have one close).

As for the sound, it's a V6. You wont get it to sound much better than it does with a broken in B&B Triflow.<hr></blockquote>

Yes you will. I had a triflow and i HATED it! Despite what everyone said it sounded ricey up high. Spintech doesn't!!!! It's resonators cancel it all out. I drive and just wait for it to get ricey as i accelerate, but it never does! It's a hair louder than the triflow also. Can't wait until i put headers on and gut the cat, that is going to be wicked.

Scott
[img]graemlins/fluffy.gif[/img]

[shortdog273]

I was reading the modifications encyclopedia and it states with a 3" I pipe, it feels like you're losing torque because of the smoothness of the flow, but you're actually gaining torque. I know you can't believe everything you read but, take it under consideration.

[HorsePower Junkie]

When I go to Mod Encyclopedia & click where it says "click here" to read about exaust modifications, it just say's "File Not Found".

Any other way to get to that info? Thanks...


Anyone heard a B&B and also heard a DynoMax? At idle it doesn't matter too much, & I guess they sound similar...but driving down the road or punching it is where I need HELP!!!

I hate rice! I never cared much for it at dinner, but now I'm having to listen to it too?!?!??!!! LOL!

[OneQuickSix]

HP Junkie-

When I had my B&B installed on my 3.8L, I noticed a power/torque gain. I think that becuase your system was for the LS1, you will not get as may gains. There is a specific B&B system for the 3.8L. That could be your problem right there!

Good Luck!

Joe ;)

[knowledgefreak]

READ this ten times if you have to.

A high flow muffler will not MUFFLE the resonation. It is designed for a HIGH flow volume of exhaust and due to the volume of exhaust out of a v6 you will get resonation unlike what you get with the volume being pushed from a v8.

If you use a muffler with out resonators then guess what you will get that BUZZ that RICE sound. SO why cant people understand how mufflers work? YES put on a resonator one of those bullet mufflers inline and you will get rid of that nasty sound. WHY?? spend the money on a highflow muffler when you can open up your exhaust simply with either headers, highflow cat, or increase the size of your intermediate pipe. Dynomax superturbo sound decent on a v6, as do the spintech mufflers. I do not personally know of others that kill the rice sound other than a stock Z28 muffler on a v6.

YES you will LOSE low end torque. WHy? because you are pushing it up in the higher rpm range and guess what? YOU dont stay in that high rpm range very long like you do in the low-mid range.

Exhaust changes should be done moderatley when you have an other wise stock engine ie, not forced induction.

[ January 19, 2002: Message edited by: knowledgefreak ]</p>

[shortdog273]

How do those bullet mufflers work? Do they replace the regular muffler? I hear alot about em.

[bluecmaro96]

scott black doesnt have headers either thats why it sounded like crap. i bet the spintech doesnt give anywhere near the hrsp the triflow gives, prove me wrong get it dynoed