Aerochamber muffler 5yrs later
Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:55 am
I believe its been about 5yrs since I installed my aerochamber muffler. I have stock piping including the cat and resonator, and it sounded great. Then, about a year ago it got louder and started to drone inside my vehicle. I never really looked into the issue until a few weeks ago when I put it on a lift to do a fluid and filter change on the tranny when I saw the gaping hole in the front side of the muffler. I thought I had purchased a stainless muffler, but apparently it wasn't.
I do appreciate how good a vehicle my Bonneville has been, but she looks rough. Almost every body panel has a dent, and I don't have the money to sink into cosmetic problems. Heck, since my front bumper got smashed I fitted a bumper off a 4th gen Mustang that someone was throwing out- amazed how well it fit in the headlights and wheels. I digress, back on topic. My point is that I didn't want to spend money on a new muffler so decided to go straight pipe from where the aerochamber was back. Fortunately, since I work as a maintenance mechanic at a factory, I was able to scavenge some 2 1/2" sanitary stainless tubing from the scrap bin. I welded together an L shape, made a sleeve to go over the stock 2 1/4" pipe so I can clamp the new tailpipe to it.
My biggest surprise was how quiet it is on just the resonator. It is quieter than the rusted out aerochamber, although I believe that the hole in the front sent sound into the cabin making only seem louder inside. It is not the same sweet low note I originally had, but it is decent and throaty. For a $0 fix, I am quite pleased.
I do appreciate how good a vehicle my Bonneville has been, but she looks rough. Almost every body panel has a dent, and I don't have the money to sink into cosmetic problems. Heck, since my front bumper got smashed I fitted a bumper off a 4th gen Mustang that someone was throwing out- amazed how well it fit in the headlights and wheels. I digress, back on topic. My point is that I didn't want to spend money on a new muffler so decided to go straight pipe from where the aerochamber was back. Fortunately, since I work as a maintenance mechanic at a factory, I was able to scavenge some 2 1/2" sanitary stainless tubing from the scrap bin. I welded together an L shape, made a sleeve to go over the stock 2 1/4" pipe so I can clamp the new tailpipe to it.
My biggest surprise was how quiet it is on just the resonator. It is quieter than the rusted out aerochamber, although I believe that the hole in the front sent sound into the cabin making only seem louder inside. It is not the same sweet low note I originally had, but it is decent and throaty. For a $0 fix, I am quite pleased.
