Muffler options
 

I have a 2003 3.4 Alero. What is a good replacement muffler that sounds good but doesn't drown everything out? I don't want the fart can sound. Just something a little more aggressive than stock. Possibly a resonator delete as well. Also is a warm air intake better or worse than stock?

Get a chambered muffler. "Turbo" or Glasspak mufflers will soond ricy around 3000 RPM's or so

Flowmaster is good, there are a few options with those. But the resonator delete can produce a droning sound inside the car around 1800-2500 RPM, annoying when cruising up a slight grade.

Any suggestions?

I like my flowmaster 80

How's the cruising exhaust note sleepy? Any performance gain or just the cool factor?

Im sure there is with a full exhaust. But wouldnt see much of a gain from a muffler swap.


I personally love it at cruising speeds.

That's cool sleepy. I had an Xlerator muffler on a 95 Bronco I had and I loved it. Thought about getting one for the alero. Straight through design.

It would probably sound way different on the alero, and just cause it sounds good on one thing doesnt mean it will sound good on something else, just beware of that.

Good point. Just want something nicer looking and better than stock. I do have to keep in mind I sometimes have my baby girl in the car so exhaust can't be loud. A single inlet single outlet would be cool with a dual tip in the bumper cutout. That would look nice. I could do it myself but probably have an exhaust shop do it

Im sure a flowmaster 80 will be fine for noise if its just a muffler swap, if you were running headers i wouldnt suggest it. Its pretty loud on my car with headers, 2.5 in piping and dual out.

Yea I wouldn't be touching the manifolds at all. Just muffler and tips. Is there a single in single out muffler that works or is it difficult to cut out the bumper for duals

It's not difficult, guys have done it themselves, but it's hard to get it right and most likely will look like crap.

I have dual Flowmaster 44's on mine. They are in there straight, not transverse like an 80 would go in. They do make an 80 with single in single out on the same side, which is what you'll need.

The 44 is the most aggressive muffler, and it's a little easier to fit in there straight than a 40 because it's a little smaller

Thanks redog. I will look into that single in single out muffler with a nice polished dual tip. I will also have an exhaust place do it. I want it done right and welded. I can weld but lack a welder and clamps don't work well

Any thoughts on the walker sound fx muffler? It's direct fit and has the tips I want

I cut out a section for my current setup on my bumper. Looks okay really....


And im not sure. Never heard it!

The Walker Muffler you speak of it a glorified OE muffler

That is fine as long as it's throatier than the stock one I have now which is dead silent. Some exhaust rumble at idle and when on the gas is what I am looking for but I would like it to be civil when cruising

I used a raptor muffler on my lumina for a few years, it's a little loud when it is cold but got quieter when it had some heat in it. Just loud enough to notice but not something that would give you a headache on a long drive. I have always been a fan of dyno max mufflers my self except the super turbo on my grand am doesn't sound mean enough with the cam lol

Here is the raptor (flow tech iirc) on my lumina with the 3500 full 2.5", cat, no resonator. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yAQ4U2TsfVM

Here is wot about 1/2 track but I think most of what you hear is the wai

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6cd4TCmdM

Thanks. That's basically what I am looking for. Noticeable but not obnoxious. Much cheaper than other options which is nice too