Went to start the 442 after a long winter and began cranking… for a while… no start. Went to the engine and realized the coil wire was still disconnected, snapped it back on and went to crank. KABOOOOOOM! I need new mufflers…

FINE! Whatever... old ones were too noisy even when they weren't exploding.

After browsing the forum I decided on Walker dynomax super turbos. Then, I ran across Porter Mufflers. I’m intrigued, wanted to see if anyone has tried them, what they were like for noise? Maybe someone has an audio sample of some on a 442 they could share?

Also,

I know that a longer muffler will be quieter and that noise levels are subjective but I am set up to clamp 14’’ mufflers back in and go. Wanted to see what some seasoned Olds guys thought about noise levels for the 14’’ Dynomax? As stated, I am looking to quiet things down a bit. Is it worth the effort/cutting to make space for longer mufflers? The rest of the system is basically new.

pertinents: ’68 442, 455 swap, stock intake, c heads, manifolds not headers, 2.5 inch pipes.

 

If its any consolation I run the Dynomax mufflers and enjoy them. They have a nice mellow sound cruising and when you push the fun pedal they open up nice. A lot on this forum recommend them.

 

Was there much excrement?

 

I think the Porter mufflers are going to be louder. I would like to hear from somebody that has tried them. I looked at them when I was at Honest Charley Speed Shop a couple years ago. They are very well built. Most everybody like the Dynomax mufflers.

 

LOL, For several blocks I'm sure!

My own stupid fault: I had worked on a lot of projects over the winter and disconnected the coil at some point, should have given the car a much better going over before firing it up. The engine not starting should have been a dead give away as well, this motor has always started well.

Probably going with Dynomax, half the price of the Porters, and without any indication that they would live up to the hype, I don't feel like spending the extra dough.

 

My brother had to replace the Flowmasters on his Rallye due to the annoying droning/resonating felt inside the car whenever it was driven. After looking into multiple mufflers to find one that would sound like an OEM muffler and without the droning, it came down to the Dynomax Turbo and Walker Quiet Flow. He want with the Walker mufflers and is very happy with them. The noise level and sound is equivalent to the original factory mufflers, and best of all, no more annoying droning or resonating inside the Rallye. Making a much more enjoyable ride for everyone.

 

I have the dynomax on my current Cutlass. It's a nice sound. A bit of drone around 50+, but pretty mellow.

I do get compliments on the sound when I open it up though.

Overall, it'd recommend them. It's probably the only thing the last owner did right on the car.

 

Ended up going with the Dynomax 14'. Overall very satisfied. Still pretty loud, but much quieter in general. Though I haven't taken it for a spin yet to see what the noise is like at speed.

Good to know, If my tolerance for noise and drone continues to deteriorate as I age I'll probably end up throwing a nice long set of the quiet flows on in another 10 years!

If I had a nickel for every time I'd said that!

Advice: If you find your old mufflers are seized on to your pipes, as mine were, I'd recommend getting the cutter out right away. Everything else (4 lb sledge, 2x4, twisting+WD40) was a waste of time. I found that making two cuts a third of the way around the muffler tubes and using a chisel to open them up got them off in a hurry and wasn't too hard to do on my back.