Gutting an OEM Lib GT muffler for maximum airflow - 2009

[BYE911]

I thought that I should let you know that I didn't end up gutting my mufflers or a second hand set.
Because the car is so new I couldn't find any second hand one's anywhere, even down to 2007 models.
To purchase new one's was going to be over $1000 and i was not going there.
I went and had a chat to my exhaust guy, who I have been using for many years.
He said let's drop the mufflers off and 5 minutes later, no mufflers and the perfect sound for me.
Next to no idle noise and a nice sound when revved.
We decided to fit the same size pipe and add similar tips, with no mufflers.
Just doing this kept the low idle noise but the higher rev sound was terrible. Too higher pitch and not like the Subaru's that I had heard before and a shocking drone.
The one good thing was the throttle response, I could not believe the change in the car.
This is how it should be from the factory in my opinion.
What to do now, well we fitted a 9 inch round straight through muffler (hotdog) on each side and it is what I was after.
A slight idle noise, nice note when at higher rev's and the throttle response is even a little bit better, so much so my wife even commented on it when she drove it. All this for $350.00.
Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.
Sorry for the long winded post, but thought it might assist someone else along the way.

[GTSPECB STI]

well thats an awesome story, cutting mufflers out is likely to be illegal but I doubt the cops will even be able to tell considering the design of the year bumper of the MY10. I would however suggest you keep a good look out for potential melting of the bumper if comes in close proximity with the straight pipes.

[BYE911]

Don't worry, the clearance is the same as standard and even looks the same.
The tips I used are slightly bigger but the same shape.
The original mufflers are sitting on a shelf and can be bolted back on within about 10 minutes if need's be.

[cruisn]

Pics would be good.

$350 for 2 hotdogs welded in is a bit pricey though.

[cpitts]

If you can do that for $350 and have it look 100% stock, there's no point gutting mufflers, just go hotdogs.

I didn't think I'd be able to get that sort of setup made for that little and retain the pure stock look. Noise ultimately has to be the same cos it's the same setup! (pretty much)

[BYE911]

Take into account that the mufflers had to be taken off, new pipes bent and welded to flanges and tips welded on.
Then they had to be taken off, pipes cut and hotdogs cut and welded in plus tips welded on.
1 to 2 hours labour plus 2 hotdogs plus 2 decent Tips = $350.00
I am more than happy with the result, which when all said and done is the main thing with doing this.
Now, to hack the nav unit, but that is another story in another thread.

[nytrojen]

Take into account that the mufflers had to be taken off, new pipes bent and welded to flanges and tips welded on.
Then they had to be taken off, pipes cut and hotdogs cut and welded in plus tips welded on.
1 to 2 hours labour plus 2 hotdogs plus 2 decent Tips = $350.00
I am more than happy with the result, which when all said and done is the main thing with doing this.
Now, to hack the nav unit, but that is another story in another thread.

Hey, if you're happy, then that's what matters. It may not be another person's first choice, but if it works for you, then it works for you I might take my lib down to my local exhaust shop and see what he can do for me. I just don't wanna end up with the same situation as on my Silvia... you could hear that infernal machine from the other side of victoria!

[Wasbxt]

Nice going BYE911.....pics and sound clip plz.

Are you planning to do a full TBE in the future?

[castek]

Take into account that the mufflers had to be taken off, new pipes bent and welded to flanges and tips welded on.
Then they had to be taken off, pipes cut and hotdogs cut and welded in plus tips welded on.
1 to 2 hours labour plus 2 hotdogs plus 2 decent Tips = $350.00
I am more than happy with the result, which when all said and done is the main thing with doing this.
Now, to hack the nav unit, but that is another story in another thread.

thats actually a good price, most places want $100 per tip, so then thats 150 for hot dogs and pipe.
probably the 300 mark would be good. but if someone just wants the noise and keep their tips, then its a cheap exercise

[Hotwire]

Question (and this seemed the best place to ask):

Is there any internal construction difference for the 04GT mufflers to an 09 2.5i muffler?
i.e. is inlet the same, and same number of baffles etc?

I have the option to get a set of MY09 2.5i mufflers that have some nice quad tips added, and was thinking of gutting them BUT I'm concerned they will have more baffles/smaller inlet and cause a flow restriction.

[cpitts]

Internal construction on the GT mufflers flows much more air and has less baffling from what I've seen.

As for inlet size, not sure. Grab a set of vernier callipers and measure

Look at the power outlets of the cars, clearly the GT needs to flow more air and it will. NA needs more backpressure than a turbo car so will have a different structure.

[castek]

i'm in the process of doing mine.

just driving with no mufflers until i can gain access to the workshop at my dads work to tig the covers back on.

[Blameless]

can anyone who has done this mod please please post a sound/audio snap???

also what was the verdict on the middle factory "resonator"??? does it have CAT internals? has anyone messed with the lot?

[castek]

i've just bolted mine up, lets just say lucky i didnt have to pay for anything.

dad works at an engineering place, so i got them welded there, however because the muffler is made by two .45mm sheets, its a prick to weld, one muffler took an experienced welder 4 hours work. so i just got some stainless, tacked the original cover, used heat resistant silicone and pop riveted it back on, on the other.

sounds? stock standard on an NA car. idle is slightly deeper sound, but cant hear anything when i rev the car.

i'll get a clip for you soon

[cpitts]

Sound clips:

http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?p=64111#p64111

More sound clips n stuff (on my ADSL link so don't expect blinding speed)
http://www.corptech.no-ip.org/upload/MY07%20Liberty%20GT-B/2009-03-27%20Lib%20Muff%20Gutting

But scout around under here for a few other MP3's, it's all pretty well self titled:
http://www.corptech.no-ip.org/upload/MY07%20Liberty%20GT-B

Pictures inside the centre muffler:
http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5362&start=0&hilit=gut+centre