I received a few requests about a year ago to hack open an OEM muffler so we could see what it looked like. I finally got around to doing exactly that today. I didnt have my sawzall or any useful tools so I used a flathead screwdriver, hammer and some tin snips. Three bloody knuckles later this is what we have...






This probably should go in Parts/Performance but I figure posting it in the general forum will allow more to see.

 

Interesting pics. Thanks for sharing and sacrificing your knuckles for us.

 

Thanks for the pics. This is the right forum for this.

 

Cool Find!

 

So that's what is in a muffler. And all along, I always thought there were gerbils inside running a fanned-wheel against the flow of hot gasses.

 

Which is the in and which is the out?

 

looks like a sardine can...................nice work,now we all know.

 

Was there fiberglass-packing inside ? Was it just all metal like shown in the pic without any other material ?

 

Yep, thats all that came in them. No packing material

 

I cant remember since I cut the tips off over 18 months ago. I have to go find my second setup and which is which

 

is this the same muffler in the 2nd gen?

 

Im pretty sure the outlet has the long piece running through the muffler and the inlet has the metal surrounding the pipe.

 

Look under your TL and see what end has either a center or off-center exit/inlet etc..

:-)

 

Good point. When I leave work, I'll take a glance.

 

So how does that thing work? gasses build up in there and it burns the emissions clean?

 

^-exhaust goes in through the inlet and then finds it way out via the outlet. its not the most efficient way of getting the exhaust out...thats why we are seeing gains on the aftermarket systems. I'd really like to open up one of the mufflers comptech is using. Its fairly straightfoward with Magnaflow...

 

Doesn't have anything to do with emissions, only sound. It's all about waves. The pipes are certain lenghts and also the chamber size, etc and the sound waves bounce around and some cancel each other out. I imagine it is way more complicated than that, but that is the basics of how it works.

Will

 

Damn.....no Jimmy Hoffa

 

 

oh thats right, I was thinking of the catalytic converter.

 

The best way to visualize the sound canceling is to look at the cutout of a Delta Flow Flowmaster muffler. They have both the actual muffler on display as well as a diagram to show you how everything works. Its pretty interesting and seems effective.

 

not straight through at all, just replace the mufflers alone will yield gains, i guess thats why comptechs catback dynos so high.

 

are the mufflers on the TL stainless steel?

 

.

 

Neat to see the inside. Thanks, OP.

 

^ thread is over 5 years old...

 

its funny I was saw this a long time ago and searched for it again today.. was debating of keeping the stock mufflers and just replace pipes.. now not so sure.. need to figure out what happens if I run dual 2.5 pipes and keep the stock mufflers

 

off topic but, i remember cutting a muffler open and welding in an s-pipe back in shop class for my buddy's truck.

 

the mid muffler reduces a significant amount of noise and is pretty hefty if you've ever held one that was cut out.

I put mine back in cause i couldnt handle the drone it created. It was ridiculous. My axle back mufflers are not stock though, they're magnaflows.

 

thank you for sharing this with us.

 

Damnit now so much for leaving stock mufflers..time to spend more money !

 

anyone open the midmuffler?

 

This is why im deleting my rear mufflers !

No sound deadening material and not straight through is useless when you add PCD's & J pipe