Topic: California Legal Exhaust

[TrackVino]

I know its been talked about here quite a bit, but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Here goes

I want to do my own exhaust for my 4runner with its 4.3L Chevy V6

I have the stock maniforld and want to put a good, cheep cat, and a good cheep muffler.

I want the exhaust to be quiet and smog legal in California. Any suggestions?

I thought about getting a cat and muffler from Autozone, they have cheep aftermarket parts there. What do you guys suggest?

[4DEES]

I love loud exhaust so I got a FLOW. just curious though,why do you want it quiet? are you gonna be drivin your runner on the street alot?  auto-zone does sell cheap exhausts but pretty much,you get what you pay for,cheap. magna-flows aren't that expensive,it will change the tone and it would'nt be too loud.I think that would sound nice with the V6. good luck 

[BLACKDOG]

magna flow has good sound, and it isn't too loud. Decent price too, if I remember right.

[TrackVino [OP]]

I want to wheel this thing a lot, and I dont want to go to the trail and make lots of noise the whole time im crawling, I want this thing as quiet as possible.

[donkeykong]

Magna flow a free flow cat and pipe with minimul bends.
Good sound not loud, but sounds real nice when you get on it

[TrackVino [OP]]

Kragan carries Magna Flo, just looked on the Magna flo web site

[BigMike]

Hey man,

Do yourself a favor and build a decent exhaust system. Don't go super cheap-o at Autozone. The only thing I buy from Autozone are light bulbs.

Get a Dynomax, Magnaflox, or if you don't mind it being a bit louder and "toney" then get a Flowmaster.

If you want a good flowing muffler that will be quiet, then check out Dynomax's Super Turbo line. Here: http://www.dynomax.com/superturbo.stm I ran a 2.25" on my MR2 when I went back to an NA engine and it had a nice sound and only came alive when you got on it.

BigMike

[Willy Mammoth]

Flowmasters are too loud. I had a 2 1/2" Turbo flow muffler on my 4.3 in a single and it sounded good not too loud, but had a deep rumble. Do you have the cross over pipe? I would go from that back. Keep it simple so you don't have all those extra pipes in the way. JC Whitney has mandrel bent pipe, this makes it eash to form your own exhaust.

Hope the link works

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2009635/showCustom-0/p-2009635/N-111+10201+600001731/c-10101

[MiniSimp]

I've got a Hooker on my 4.7L and it's only loud when its in the floor.

[TrackVino [OP]]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I will continue investigating into this.

[Ferg]

Hey Dave, come by and listen to mine

[germ]

Another suggestion (not about mufflers) is to make your Cat bolt in. Then take a piece of pipe the same size to bolt in the Cat's place. Take the Cat out for everyday use, then when it's time to get SMOG, just bolt the cat back in, and it's like brand new.

I'd make sure and run 2.25" pipe to get the best flow. (I know this works for Toy motors, not exactly sure about the cheby V6 however)

Erik

[TrackVino [OP]]

 

[BLACKDOG]

Another suggestion (not about mufflers) is to make your Cat bolt in. Then take a piece of pipe the same size to bolt in the Cat's place. Take the Cat out for everyday use, then when it's time to get SMOG, just bolt the cat back in, and it's like brand new.

I'd make sure and run 2.25" pipe to get the best flow. (I know this works for Toy motors, not exactly sure about the cheby V6 however)

Erik

thats what I have, and it works great you gotta watch the noise though, my exhaust is kinda loud with the cat off

[Cheesemaker]

Hey, Vino!  I'm right there with ya on the quiet exhaust.  Where I live, we don't have smog regulations yet!    But nothing pisses    me off more than hearing some really loud exhaust while having a enjoyable drive in the hills!!  Have you checked out Jeg's or Summit?  They have some high flow cats for around $60, and a cheap turbo stocker muff for less than $20.  I just had to replace my muffler here last week, just got a cheap turbo.   Have ya checked with your local muffler shop to see what their prices would be? 
Well, I'm going to be down next year, hopefully for the Dusy run, while LaDawna, my wife and kids go to Dinneyland!  I would love to see your runner in action!  Dean was supposed to bring his up last summer, and backed out.  I was really bummed out when they showed up in the S-10 and the motorhome!  I want a toyota, but not sure how I want it set up. This way I can get ideas. 
 
Like I said before, Your runner is bitchin!        Cheesemaker!

[TrackVino [OP]]

Thanks cheesemaker, I actually picked up a muffler from Dean, now Im working on the rest of the exhaust. Willy gave me a good link on bent tube, so I think I will be going that route.

Im not really trying to save money here, but I also dont think I need to try to get more power at the expense of noise, and lots of money. Lets remember, this 4.3 is quite a bit of power as it is, so really Im just trying to make it simple here.

I really like everybodys suggestions. I have been looking around, so hopefully, I can pick something up before the weekend, and start putting it together.

Thanks Folks 

[Willy Mammoth]

TrackVino, The mandrel bent tubing is nice cause you can cut and turn it in the bends and weld it back together cause it is round all the way through the bend. You probably only need two or three 90's and some straight pipe. Get the straight pipe from a local muffler shop or parts store, too big to ship cheap.

[TrackVino [OP]]

Actually willy, just went to Kragen on my lunch break for some light bulbs, and found they too carry the bent tubbing. Each piece is about $6. I figure all I need is a 90 degree, a 45 degree and a couple of streight pipe. As for the Cat, I just checked to see what they have for stock chevy of the correct year, and they also carry a universal fit cat for only $59. I think this is the way Im going to go.

[kneedownnate]

just curious though,why do you want it quiet?

CAUSE IT'S A V6!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing sounds worse than loud exhaust on a v6(two cats fightin in a tin can), unless you drive a 350z, somehow nissan got it right and they sound great.  I've heard old odd-fire buick v6s that sounded ok too.