Custom old-school Exhaust

[vr5speedv6]

That Red VX in the video is "253 Kingswood Thong clap" all the way.....

I guess exhaust sound is all very subjective, cruising in your ssv would likely sound like being in a 6 to me. I like to know it's a v8, even at low rpm.
Same thing with the twin 3'' difilipo sytems which are regarded as the best bolt-on for vt-vz's, only a very small merge in the system.
The stock system on a c63 (a car that's pretty revered for exhaust sound) for example has a very small H pipe setup, would likely sound too ''thong clap'' for you as well

[vr5speedv6]

The second part sounds like the Xforce merge; that raspy note was what disappeared after changing it for me.

No that vid is all with the H pipe. To me it chopped up the note and improved the in-cabin note more than the outside IMO, sounded like a 6 cruising at low revs with the x pipe.

[IJ.]

This is my minimal setup I built for my Track car, 3" Spiral Mufflers and a H Pipe, no idea how it'll sound as it's still a few months off running.

[VBhero]

I have 4-1 headers, 100cpi Ballistic cats, and 3.5 single Sureflo system in their "Medium" sound level. My LS1 has a smallish Cam, and I reguarly get comments on how nice it sounds.
No "thong clap" (Love that term LOL) and the volume is perfect.

The only thing I would change is increase the size of my primaries. Oh and a manual transmission would also be nice....

[vr5speedv6]

I have 4-1 headers, 100cpi Ballistic cats, and 3.5 single Sureflo system in their "Medium" sound level. My LS1 has a smallish Cam, and I reguarly get comments on how nice it sounds.
No "thong clap" (Love that term LOL) and the volume is perfect.

The only thing I would change is increase the size of my primaries. Oh and a manual transmission would also be nice....

Yeah I tried a 3.5 single on the vx ss prior to the xforce. Thought I'd give it a go since I'd always used single 3'' systems on my 5L's. But due to the different firing order the sound is just too smooth at low rpm inside the car, to the point where it just sounded like a v6 to me .

[RED R8]

I guess exhaust sound is all very subjective, cruising in your ssv would likely sound like being in a 6 to me. I like to know it's a v8, even at low rpm.
Same thing with the twin 3'' difilipo sytems which are regarded as the best bolt-on for vt-vz's, only a very small merge in the system.
The stock system on a c63 (a car that's pretty revered for exhaust sound) for example has a very small H pipe setup, would likely sound too ''thong clap'' for you as well

the thing that attracts me to the Manta system is the decent H pipe.....fortunately mine now has a nice deep v8 note everywhere. The ultrex fatback I tried prior has the merge and yes it sounded like a 250 cross flow XF Falcon with a crappy cat back. The H pipe in the Mantas is sweet.

[vr5speedv6]

the thing that attracts me to the Manta system is the decent H pipe.....fortunately mine now has a nice deep v8 note everywhere. The ultrex fatback I tried prior has the merge and yes it sounded like a 250 cross flow XF Falcon with a crappy cat back. The H pipe in the Mantas is sweet.

Yeah if you're using a merge, H is the way to go IMO for sound. I initially tried a H pipe on my VE with VF bimodal catback, and it did improve the note quite noticeably compared to the factory X pipe.

[Hqmonaro496]

Just helped my brother take the rear box mufflers off his CV8Z that has a small cam, HPC 4into1's and the factory Holden Monaro system. It's not staying that way, he's just experimenting a bit. I think he is going to try out a few options; like putting the rear boxes back on and removing the front muffler for either straight pipe or an X/H pipe. He's not looking for the same note as me and will probably end up fitting a pre-fabbed kit, but is just seeing if there some useful bits in the factory system and some money to be saved.

I didn't know that the factory system on the CV8's had 5 mufflers, seems a bit excessive to me but anyway. The overall note that it has now all but confirms to me that my idea of having straight though middle mufflers and no rear resonators will give me the sound I want. Obviously my brothers car only having the dual in/out muffler and two of those tiny milo-tin resonators makes it a touch too loud, but it was a good indicator for what I might get out of the system I make up. I do now see why some have said to put an X/H pipe in as the note might be too obnoxious for daily use and more importantly, the boys in blue.

Has anyone ever mucked around with taking bits off the factory systems, or made modded versions with different mufflers? Or has everyone taken the easy way out and just used an off-the-shelf kit?

[white lie]

Are you sure it's not 2 cats, 2 middle mufflers and a rear resonator?
5 mufflers sounds odd

A lot of people don't bother chopping the factory system as its quite restrictive in places. Squashed and the bends are far from great

[Hqmonaro496]

No the cats are bolted directly to the collectors on the headers. Then there is a dual in/out muffler which is the only part that joins the two banks together, which feeds into some tiny cylindrical, round-type mufflers. Then obviously the big rear box mufflers just behind the rear bumper. The CV8Z has an outlet on both sides so it has two rear mufflers, which obviously is different to an SS or an HSV. After having a look at the factory system, I did see where Holden flattened a section of tail pipe to give clearance for the rubber drive shaft coupling (don't get me started on those stupid abominations), so I see what you mean.

I really find it strange that no-one has experimented with different ideas and components on these late model cars. I'm always learning new things when looking at 70's muscle cars, there is so many different ways to build a particular component and love seeing how someone has adapted a part from a different car to fit their own. But don't seem to find any of that with the later stuff. I would have thought that considering that they are only 10/15 years old that there would be mods and adaptations being done all over the place.

[white lie]

Plenty of people run custom systems but the vast majority are happy with the notes of off the shelf stuff, which is why they're so popular I guess