Re: my 85 urQ (exhaust)

[DeWitt Harrison <de@aztek.com>]

On Wed, 2 Apr 1997 10:33:18 -0500 (EST), Bryan Gunn wrote:
> [ ....  much previous discussion ... ]
> All a matter of taste I suppose.

>I think it's all a matter of muffler choice. I use non-chambered "glasspack"
>style mufflers a la Scorpion. I read some advice by Adam Marsden of AM Cars
>in the UK who said that chambered mufflers are bad because if one of the
>baffles comes loose from corrosion or manufacturing defect or whatever, it
>can basically slam the exhaust system closed and wreck the turbo. I'm
>inclined to believe this. The problem is that the glasspacks are LOUD! The
>guy who set off the car alarms with his ur-q had no resonator and a glasspack
>in the rear. Hence the noise. If you use a good chambered box, the results
>are apparently more pleasing. When I get the full Scorpion system on my
>car, we'll see what the sound is like with a full glasspack system. 

Borla makes an excellent line of stainless steel mufflers (and systems but,
sadly, no Audi apps). If you have a decent custom exhaust shop in your
area, its not that big a deal to select an appropriately sized model and have
your shop hook it up with stainless pipe. These units have a pleasing throaty
quality. The "hemi" model I installed is almost straight through. The inlet
and outlet tube ends are offset creating just enough of a jog (zig?) in the
perforated through pipe that you cannot see directly through it.. Perhaps this 
slight impediment is enough to allow the perforations+chamber+absorbtion
filler to achieve sound attenuation. I also suspect there is some art in the
perforation pattern and fill.  I've also heard a "turbo" model on a 90 20V
and it also produces a pleasing sound. On the other hand, your Aunt
Bertie might wonder if you have a hole in your muffler. (BTW, this is
with stock cats in place. Your actual milage may vary.)

DeWitt Harrison    de@aztek.com
Boulder, CO
88 5kcstq