New here, need exhaust opinions

Hello everyone, I stumbled across this forum in a google search after purchasing a 2001 Aurora 4.0. I would like to hear some opinions from people who have put aftermarket mufflers on their cars. I did a search, and read the threads, but I'd like to hear a little more.

I really like the sound of the corsaperf.com STS system, but the wife would kill me if i put something LOUD on (maybe I had the speakers up too loud, lol), not to mention the hefty price tag. I will be swapping the mufflers, but how much difference will removing the resonator really make? I removed the resonator on my old 95 tbird and the difference was minimal (with aftermarket muffs).

Any input at all will be greatly appreciated. I was considering Hooker Aerochambers because i've heard they are quiet and still flow well, but . . . suggestions???

Thanks
Joe

By the way, great forum! There isn't very many places to learn about these cars

About the resonator, it really won't give you a lot of extra flow to remove it. However, if you do it might give your wife a headache. The resonator will not affect the out-of-vehicle noise too much. It usually deadens the in-vehicle noise; so in this case, with your wife's opinion, I would recommend leaving it on. You won't loose too much of the noticeable good noise and it will hopefully keep the wife-annoying noise down a little.

A big cost saver you might want to look in to is buying your mufflers on eBay or another online website and just taking them to a exhaust shop. The labor to have them install them is usually not too expensive. I do not recommend buying an exhaust "kit". They are usually very overpriced and not worth the money. You could also order your tips on eBay as well.

Anyways, I hope that helps... good luck.

Striking a deal with a muffler shop is good if you are concerned about noise level. If you go to the various performance exhaust companies sites they all say the same thing,..."not too loud". This is BS. Make your satisfaction the shops responsibility. Pay a little more for the parts, but if you don't like the sound/volume, off they come and try something else. Like tire shops, most places will agree to do this. I still have the stock system but have done this with other cars. Magnaflow slightly better than Flowmaster on interior noise. My wife didn't appreciate me opening up the airbox because of the noise(music) at WOT, so now I'm scared to touch the exhaust.

Yeah, the main reason behind removing the resonator was to go to a larger size pipe. I have read that just replacing the mufflers yields a nice gain, so I'll probably go with that and see how it works. I could always have the exhaust shop remove the resonator temporarily and if it's too loud put it back on there.
Thanks for the advice on the Magnaflows. I've used flows on several other cars, but they're too loud for this one. I'll post pics and maybe a sound clip once I decide on something. I also plan on doing the airbox mod, I'll just have to try to stay out of it when the wife is with me ;) Thanks guys.

Yeah, the main reason behind removing the resonator was to go to a larger size pipe. I have read that just replacing the mufflers yields a nice gain, so I'll probably go with that and see how it works. I could always have the exhaust shop remove the resonator temporarily and if it's too loud put it back on there.
Thanks for the advice on the Magnaflows. I've used flows on several other cars, but they're too loud for this one. I'll post pics and maybe a sound clip once I decide on something. I also plan on doing the airbox mod, I'll just have to try to stay out of it when the wife is with me ;) Thanks guys.

Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers are an excellent combination of flow, sound and price. I am going to be popping some of these on my 97 shortly. Only $35 from summitracing.com.

I had Flowmaster 50 series Delta-Flows put on my 97 Aurora and they sound great.You can barely hear them inside the car at idle but when you walk to the rear of the car they sound great on the outside. On the highway with the cruse set at 70mph you get that great sound that is far from being overly loud. I have three kids and didnt want anything that would droan them out when they were seated in the back. Under wot they sound really great, just like a v8 should, music to my ears. I had some magna flow twin tips put on and it looks as good as it sounds. Ill try to get some pics tomarrow and post.


BKVic

Sweet I'll be looking forward to that. I was curious about aftermarket tips that will fit and look good in the factory cut outs. So the Delta-flows are decently quiet? I haven't tried them, just the 40 and 50 series original. Any chance on a sound clip??? ;)

You're not going to find a "silent until you jump on it, then race car" muff. Every performance muff is going to be heard inside the car to some degree. Removing the resonator will make it worse. Exhaust has probably been the most popular thread topic here overall. Yes, having a sweet note is nice. It's an adequately powered family car. Most new import V6's will smoke our cars, regardless of chips, intakes and muffs.

It's an adequately powered family car. Most new import V6's will smoke our cars, regardless of chips, intakes and muffs.

That may be true, but it was still made here, still has a v8, and IMO has a lot more 'soul' (so to speak). Faster or not, no import v6 can make music like an American v8.

Weird, I'm 'old-fashioned' and I'm only 22. . .lol

When those RPM's come up and the cams "come on" it is a great feeling. Unfortunately because they ARE made here with non-rebuildable V8's, most all of them will be in the boneyard while those import V6's will be running 10 years from now.

Yeah, I couldn't believe it when I read that they are non-rebuildable. Throw-away heads??? What is up with that? *sigh, no wonder Olds is gone.

Sweet I'll be looking forward to that. I was curious about aftermarket tips that will fit and look good in the factory cut outs. So the Delta-flows are decently quiet? I haven't tried them, just the 40 and 50 series original. Any chance on a sound clip??? ;)


Im not sure how I can get a sound clip onto my computer. My digital camera takes short movies so Ill see if it records sound also. My video camera doesnt have a digital out put so I cant use my USB or firwire ports to get it in. Ill experiment with the camera tomarrow and see what comes of it.


BKVic

Yeah, I couldn't believe it when I read that they are non-rebuildable. Throw-away heads??? What is up with that? *sigh, no wonder Olds is gone.
Actually the Aurora was designed by Cadillac. And although olds is gone, GM is still using the engine, Cadillac and now the new Pontiac Bonneville GXP.

Yeah, I knew it was a derivative of the Northstar. Fortunately for Cadillac they have a strong customer base (compared to Olds) and a very clear image. Everyone knows Caddy (and their luxury cars). Olds lost their image, their direction, and never recovered.

Wow, they use this engine in the new Bonneville? I just assumed they were still using the series II 3.8 supercharged. Wonder how closely related their motor is to ours???

Just started wth the 2004 model GXP, before that it was the supercharged 3.8. It is the 275hp 4.6l lifted directly from the caddy