I don't want to hijack George's SS Late muffler thread, but it got me thinking... How hard would it be to mod the late 75/76 muffler to mate with early heat exchangers? Why? 1) because they look like they would be really quiet, or at least could be with the right muffler swaps, 2) have good places for mounting an O2 sensor and could even accommodate sensors on each port without drilling into the exchangers, 3) built to take a CAT for those so inclined.

How restrictive are they sans CAT? Would they flow okay if the inlets were lopped off and replaced with 2-in-1 collectors to mate with the early exchanger flanges?

No way, 75 - 76 have round flanges, you have to use 75 - 76 heater boxes with the stub pipes.

Nothing is impossible, I guess the question would be is it worth it. Lots of good systems out there.
Mine it a Anza / Monza. The twin pipes are Anza off my 72', and the mufflers are for a 75-76. Sits up high and is very quiet compared to an Anza.

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Understood that the flanges are different. I'm asking how hard/practical would it be to cut the flanges off a 75/76 muffler and replace them with 2-in-1 collectors and early flanges to mate with the early exchangers. I'm sure it could be done, but wonder about the pipe diameter and whether it would be too restrictive.



I agree there are lots of systems out there. I haven't found one I would call "good" for my somewhat peculiar demands. I don't like vroom, vroom sounds at all. I already know I'm cool and don't need to advertise it. Right now I'm running a Bursch Quiet muffler that comes sort of close, but still too loud. Some day I'll chop the muffler out and try to find something quieter. Honestly, I like the idea of being able to run a CAT too. I know that's heresy in most of this crowd, but I like being a heretic.

Maybe I'll ask another question, how does the sound of a stock 75/76 muffler sound compared to a stock 2.0L banana?

we actually at one time had a set of john's stainless steel heat exchangers where someone hacked off the flanges and welded on the 75 76 style! Crazy wast of time

Waste of time in what way? Too restrictive? No improvement in sound (and by improvement, I meant more quiet)? Other? Just trying to understand what they do or don't offer.

Contrary to popular believe, thinking "outside the box" isn't always the smart thing to do ...

Might as well turn in your man card and go full electric ASAP.

Quite a bit of effort went in to the passenger side heater hose bracket! That thing's not going anywhere.

A stock earlier 2.0 sounds better. Bolts on.

"Better" is subjective. The best sounding exhaust in my fleet is our Honda CRV that you can barely hear idling standing outside right next to it. Only thing better would be an EV "exhaust." BTW, @Superhawk996 I'm waiting for a call on a PHEV I'm hoping to buy at this very minute. Personally, I don't care for the stock 2L sound but might go there in pursuit of quiet. Wish I could listen to a late stock exhaust though. Anyone have a vid/sound clip?

You have to listen to stones bouncing off the bottom of your car three miles to the paved road and you’re worried about a couple decibels of exhaust note?

Yep. Had a guy ask me today if I was running straight pipes. Hard to hear the gentle sound of the stones bouncing off the bottom with that racket.

Tealky depends on the ride for me. I am in the category of wanting to hear my exhaust. In an aircooled car the wine of the engine with a nice después tone on the exhaust is a perfect balance.

Quiet is nice, when I got rid of the clay wheels my skateboard it was pretty quiet. My first ticket was for the "Boom Tube" on my VW bug. Ahh the 70's. For me every drive is a mechanical symphonic composition, who am I not to share.

@bbrock

A PHEV is like swimming in the EV pool with water wings.

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Personally, I think they are the best engineering solution to emissions reduction and still having a real world usable vehicle that can travel the vast distances that Montana has to offer between charging stations.

However, if you're going to give up the vroom vroom, and the zoom zoom, might as well go full EV which can be fast in a straight line.

Unless it was a guy on a Harley asking, it doesn't count.