Exhaust Upgrade Ideas

No it won't; go with Kirk's. My VS came with that VW Mexico one (I believe VS modifies them to fit Speedster replicas). I switched to the new one which is a modified and aluminized Trl Mil and it sounds great and handles larger displacement engines due to the larger diameter (i-1/2") pipes. It also looks really close to the original. The other option is the stainless steel unit for Speedster replicas made by Vintage Speed but it's noticeably more expensive:

 

http://store.vintagespeed.com....uemart&Itemid=80

Impala - Thanks for the response.  So you are saying the Kirk's exhaust will sound deeper and be quieter than the one that I currently have correct ?

 

Which exhaust do I tell Kirk I want.  Do I call it the aluminized Tri Mil ?  Its the one with the two chrome exhaust tips and the single glass pac muffler ?

 

Thanks, Grant

Impala - this is what the one from Kirk that you are recommending looks like right ?

That's the one. It will definitely be throatier but not quieter than the VW one. It's loud but nice loud like a real 356.

That's the one. It will definitely be throatier but not quieter than the VW one. It's loud but nice loud like a real 356.

This is the one I have on my VS Speedster, I love it, it is much more quiet than the one on my wife's JPS Coupe. I'm well pleased with it.

 

Chuck

Hello Chuck - The Tri Mil is the one that came with your car from Kirk? 

GTman,

 

   No, when I bought it it had the VS "Special" exhaust on it. This was a two muffler arragement that required removal of either muffler two adjust the valves. Then each

tail pipe exited behind the rear wheel. It didn't look authentic to me.

 

Chuck

Chuck,

 

My VS came to me with a similar exhaust system called a 'German Exhaust' from Classic Speed Parts. The mufflers are cylindrical canisters that mount snug  to the valve covers. Though I'm able to unbolt the covers and barely finagle them clear, the mufflers obstruct both vision and working space for valve adjustment...it's a PITA working by 'feel' using a modified open end wrench...but easier than dismounting the mufflers since they're welded to the J pipes.

 

From Al Shapiro I obtained neat oval Magnaflos that came off his Ruby, and if a mechanic friend with a mandrel bending machine and a walk-under lift can spare me some time this winter I'll show up at Carlisle with a very cool 'throaty' exhaust system!!  

i've heard from numerious sources that these rob a fair amount of power.

 

have you considered a merged header with a big muffler or a dual muffler setup?

Hello Mango - I am open to all options at this point.  I just need to replace my 12 year old rusted and blown out exhaust, and would prefer to upgrade to an exhaust that helps get away from the VW sound.  Any performance advantage would be a plus.  Do you have any recommendations?

 

Thanks, Grant

Carl:

 

The used IM I bought from Henry this year has the entire exhaust system hinged to allow it to swing down out of the way when the valves need to be adjusted.  Perhaps you and your mechanic friend can come up with something such as this.  My system has the mufflers snug to the valve covers also, but the swing down exhaust solves the problem of doing the valves.

 

FWIW

Bob- Would you be able to post a pic, pehaps?

I'm using a sebring exhaust (pictured here) that Tiger at A1 Exhaust built for me -- sounds pretty nice! It is currently with Carey Hines, but from what he tells me, the quality is excellent. It is going on a 550 Spyder, but I thought I'd share.

 

The entire system is hinged??...Now that sounds unique!

 

But I'm having trouble imagining it. Photos could clarify the details.

I've been looking in my files for a shot of the underside, but I'm not sure I have one, and I don't know how I would take one.  I don't have access to a lift right now.

 

I'll keep looking.

 

Perhaps some one else may have a picture of something such as this.

I'd like to see this too.

a lot of the VW sound comes from the carb too.  you running a stock 34 pict 3?

Mango - I just got the car and rebuilt the 34pict so it finally idles.  I am planning on 3 upgrades. A new exhaust. A duel carb setup. And possibly and electronic 034 distributor.

are you planning on pulling the motor?

 

It's a slippery slope of power, but if i have one suggestion it is this:

 

do it once.  do it right. 

 

buy quality.

So would I, Ron.  But I can't crawl under the car enough to get a shot, and as it has started snowing here today, the car won't be moving.

 

 

 

Arajani- Are the pipes going into it all the same length (or close)? What size motor and exhaust tubing? I love the look and am told the sound is fantastic, but it would be interesting to see how the performance compares to a more conventional merged exhaust.

ALB,

Thanks for the compliment!

 

Not sure about the lengths -- excellent question. I am such a rookie at this -- just reading and learning from all of the pros who post here!

 

The motor is a 2160 cc Type 1 built by Pat Downs. The tubing is 1 5/8, I think!

 

This exhaust should be installed pretty darn soon -- so I'll have Carey fire it up and I'll post a clip.

 

Cheers,

Anand

Sounds great; I'm sure it'll rip! Looking forward to hearing how it sounds. Al

I'm also interested in how in looks installed and sounds.

While a 356 GT with a 4-cam is different from the Type I motor that will be in my Spyder and many Speedsters here, this YouTube video is a nice demo on Tiger's A1 exhaust...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-NHYTtt8ZE

 

Cheers,

Anand

                     

A quick update since my last post -- Carey at Special Edition installed the sebring exhaust on my Spyder! It has since been sent to ceramics. Thanks again to Carey Hines for doing all of his incredible work -- he created these nice custom headers for me and did a spectacular job, as always.

 

The exhaust is $1000 in raw steel, $1250 in ceramic (this is the price for a Beck Spyder).

 

I'll post pictures of it when it is completed along with some video for those interested in the sound.

 

I use one of these...sounds good, measurements are almost identical to the OEM 356 exhaust.

 

http://www.cip1.ca/ProductDeta...roductCode=C23-35171

Arajani- Do you have a pic showing how the exhaust tubing comes off the motor? 

Al,

Yes sir 

 

Cheers,

Anand

 

Id go with the A1 Sidewinder exhaust setup. IM uses them and has a few different configurations.  I am sure you can get the sound you want depending on what muffler you use.

Let the rebuilding begin !!

Engine is out and now I am staring to get the parts I need to build the engine. Its currently 1775 cc/Dual carbs

Being in Nebraska I my car is really a summer car. So I don't need any of the "heat stuff". The exhaust seems fine no rust...  However I just want something cleaner and "throaty" that will maximize the work on the car. I am a new 356 owner so I am still learning. I have engine experience, primarily building motorcycle engines etc.

I have bee following this thread.... So whats the cleanest exhaust/muffler combo?

 

 

I've decided to dump my old, custom merged head and stupid-loud muffler, for an A1 Sidewinder.  I can't think of any system that is cleaner looking.  I'll probably order the header and have the rest of the system built for me, as I find a single muffler exhaust systems too loud. 

As Ron said, A1's sidewinder is a good package; everything fits under the car (nothing hangs out like in a more conventional merged header/muffler combo) and Tiger will build it with any size tubing you require.

 

How big are you going to go? Do you know what heads and cam you're using? What power output and rpm peak are you shooting for? Al

I have enjoyed my Sidewinder but would like to quieten things down a bit for long slogs on the highway, particularly when the top's up.  I would think that a good exhaust shop could cut off the outlet on the Magnaflow I have and reroute it toward the other side of the car, enabling a second muffler to be fitted in front of the valence panel and exiting on the other side of the car.  My question is how do I choose the appropriate secondary muffler so that performance isn't affected significantly, a pleasant exhaust note ix retained, but the car is quieter.  Ideas?  Suggestions?

Lane, just copy what Ron is doing. Maybe something similar to what Marty has on his Suby/IM?

Good idea.  Ron, please keep us posted on what you do.

As long as the pipe and muffler flow the same or more CFM than the first muffler, you won't hurt performance. Easiest method is of course just to use the same size pipe and an identical muffler as the first.

 

It will be quieter/mellower with the second muffler anyway, but the actual note has more to do with the pipe size and muffler design. I'm not sure you'd have enough flexibility in pipe size to really make a difference, so if you don't like it now, I'd be looking for different mufflers to change the sound.

I'm going to order my A1 sidewinder header of John at AirCooled.Net.  I'll go with the ceramic coating and V band.

My plan, which is always subject to change, will be to go with a 2" or 2.25" pipe and two mufflers inline.  I've not decided on the brand, style, or length of muffler yet.  I suspect that the difference in noise and flow between the leading brands is minimal.  I'll probably go with a Magnaflow, Dynomax, or Borla.  Flowmaster, I think, is on the loud side.

Lane, have you considered buying the same muffler?  With the added pipe length and extra muffler it should give you a quieter ride, with minimal (if any) loss if flow.