My '73 2.0 sounds like a, well, Volkswagen. How do I go about making it sound better? It is a stock engine with FI intact. The existing muffler seems to have a couple small leaks. I would like to retain the heat as well as use the single outlet setup. The power train is coming out this spring so I can paint the engine compartment, so that's would be a good time to tackle the exhaust.
Any suggestions to make the car sound like a sports car would be appreciated.

If you want to keep the single outlet, then you're pretty much limited to either a new - non-leaking - OEM style banana muffler from Dansk available at Porsche dealers & other Porsche suppliers; or a custom from Tangerine or some others.

You might also luck out to find an older NOS or good condition used factory/OEM sport version of the banana 1-outlet muffler, which had a throatier sound & a bit better flow, due to less baffling.

Not having a swiss cheese stock muffler will make it sound quite a bit better, but still like the original street T-IV 914 2L sound. The hole allow too much leakage, so you're basically probably only getting a loud "pfffft!" right now!

If you can go to more than 1 outlet, then that opens up customization of the banana to dual outlets, Bursch mufflers, Trident, etc.

Cheers!
Tom
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I took a Bursch and replaced the muffler itself with near identically sized Magnaflow, i.e. i grafted the Bursch collector and tip to the Magnaflow. Sorry, don't have the Magnaflow part number handy.

Sound is deeper and more throaty than the Bursch but not loud.

VW-sounding? Well, not sure you'll ever escape that completely, but it's a great improvement.

I'll see about getting a sound clip posted tonight and find the part number.

We now have an off the shelf product for the 2L heat exchangers.

Tangerine EVO IV

Triad makes a really nice muffler that has one pipe that has an outlet in the stock location and another that dumps out down on the paasenger side but it doesn't require modifying the sheet metal. it improved the sound of my 2.0 with D-Jet car and the motor ran and sounded great.
John

917 engine recording , MP3 player, big amp and bad ass speaker system in the rear trunk.


I have a pretty healthy 2.6L type 4 in my bug with an A1 header and magnaflow muffler.
My kid says it sounds like a transport truck engine.

Loud as fuch, I hate it, I'm likely going to figure a way to quiet it down.
Same with my new /6 build I have another similar exhaust for it, I'm thinking I'll be doing something to quiet it down as well.
I'm getting old, I don't like the droning roar much anymore.

My taste is probably not yours, so what's "best sounding" for me probably isn't for you. So there is no one "best".

Your options that I know of:
- New stock or stock-type muffler
- Tangerine stainless muffler
- Triad muffler
- Bursch muffler
- Sebring muffler

All of those bolt up to stock heat exchangers and have (or have an option for) a single outlet in more or less the stock location.

The Bursch and Sebring have collectors that merge the four pipes into a single one, then a muffler on that. The Sebring has, I think, a flange that lets you bolt on alternate muffler elements if you find ones that fit and have mating flanges welded on.

A new stock-type muffler will probably sound less Bug-ish due to not having holes.

The Triad muffler that I have heard (I think it was dual-outlet) was louder than I like.

I have not heard the Tangerine muffler, but I'm tempted to buy one anyway because anything that Racer Chris makes will be a functional work of art...


Note that SSIs are noisier than the stock exchangers, likely due to using thinner material.

--DD

Thinking of putting a magnaflow to replace the Bursch muffler on mine too, looking forward for the info for that.

I put a Triad dual exhaust on my '75 2.0 and I love it. Definitely a deeper throaty sound but I've received nothing but compliments on it where ever I take it. And Dave at Triad was top class to deal with. I would recommend his service to anyone. Click to view attachment

I run a Triad also. Been running it for years now and am totally satisfied. The sound difference is amazing.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=162691&hl=

I have a Triad, Dave as everyone said is completely awesome to work with

here is what my car sounds like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl2Fg-B0hRM

Thanks, the Triad sounds great.

You can call Dave at 360-280-6855, he's busy getting ready to watch the Hawks pound the Patriots into submission right now. But he's a muffler making dude. The one with an outlet that goes in the stock location and one that goes down is a solo 2. If you order the one that has two outlets below the valance then Dave sends you a pattern so that the cutouts match.

Minor correction: The Bursch is actually a 4-2-1 arrangement, it merges four pipes into two into one. Whether this is really effective I can't say. I used a Bursch for several years and was satisfied with it. I always wanted to try another muffler on it, in place of the one Bursch supplies, but never did. At one time Bursch offered a model that included a bolted flange connection for the muffler or a straight through stinger outlet, but I haven't seen that listed anywhere in a long time.

the best one iv ever heard was a gutted stock muffler. I dont know how it sounds from inside the car but sounded great outside not too loud just a nice sound. I think every car is different you just have to keep trying different setups till you get one you can live with.

Follow up post regarding replacing my Bursch muffler with a Magnaflow using the Bursch collector and tip.

I used a Magnaflow 11124 from Summit Racing for $87 -

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-11124

The Magnaflow size was very close to the Bursch, only issue was the tip now protrudes an inch or so less which is fine - always thought the Bursch tip was too long.

Also I'm running a 2056 with dual Webers.

A few not so great phone videos - sorry, no YouTube account, hope this works:

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Sounds great. Is there any disadvantage of doing the triad with the single exhaust tip? Any change in sound over the dual? Love this and I think I'm going to change my stock muffler out for the Triad.

Had a Bursch on my 72 and it had a great sound. Glass pack from what I remember but that was 25+ years ago. Not even sure it was street legal in Ca but cool just the same. It was reasonably priced as well.

Put in a six.

Oh man, that's the STUFF!

when i first got my '75 it had a bad monza on it - 4 tip, really was LOUD!.
The triad is much better- i have no insulation pad on the back firewall and really dont think much of the sound even at highway speed. , its got a great growl with no bad 3000rpm drone. a throaty rather than tinny sound. I have the dual tip, with the SS tips mounted. looks great - also i got a second rust free rear valance that i had the right sided modified for the tip on that side and it wasl well done by another member here for me. He had the template from the other side and flipped it over did the other side, really turned out nice. Looks totally stock, .

anyway in the future i will spring for a Foley SS dual tip but this is working fine for now.

Just keep drilling holes in your muffler until it sounds right.....

If you're keeping the stock steel headers, consider the Sebring. It's a direct bolt on and sounds good. I got one for my '73 autocross car from Pelican and really like it. The price is right too

Sorry but does anyone know how to contact and order a Triad? Did a search but did not see. Thanks

As per post #13: You can call Dave at 360-280-6855.

I think you order from him "the old fashioned way," which is what I'm going to do in the not too distant future for my 2056.

Sounds bad ass when ya step on dat pedal.

Triad's link:

http://www.triadwestperformance.com/

Thanks, I sent him an email.

Chris you need to attach some sound clips to your page

Until the roads are clear and dry around here I can't do any drive-by sound recordings.

We're getting another foot of snow today.

I had Dave at Triad add the chrome tips before he shipped it. Clean look and the install as shown on my earlier pic was flawless. Everything matched up perfectly.