Straight pipes

ive got a 90 buick lesabre limited. The muffler fell off the other day, and sounds really cool. Instead of replacing the muffler, im thinking of just getting two straight pipes out the back welded on. If i don't have a muffler, will that be too little restriction and make the engine run like crap? It seems to be driving fine now.

you'll be fine.

There are no such thing as too little restriction.

Originally posted by SaabJohan
There are no such thing as too little restriction.
Indeed. Internal combustion engines function best with as little backpressure as possible.

i've also heard today that if you don't have a muffler, when you shut the car off cold air can rush up the exhaust much easier (no restriction) and warp the exhaust valves keeping the engine from running? Is this true or just a bunch of bull?

Originally posted by Racincc85
ive got a 90 buick lesabre limited. The muffler fell off the other day, and sounds really cool. Instead of replacing the muffler, im thinking of just getting two straight pipes out the back welded on. If i don't have a muffler, will that be too little restriction and make the engine run like crap? It seems to be driving fine now.


just get a straight trough muffler...its about as resctrictive as a straight pipe and you won't violate any noise ordinaces

Originally posted by Racincc85
i've also heard today that if you don't have a muffler, when you shut the car off cold air can rush up the exhaust much easier (no restriction) and warp the exhaust valves keeping the engine from running? Is this true or just a bunch of bull?

Unless your exhaust pipes are very very short (an area less then the displacement of one or two of your cylinders) I really don't see how this would be possible. Plus, you have the same 'cold' air entering the cylinder everytime the intake valve opens. It is basiccally a bunch of bull

Originally posted by Racincc85
i've also heard today that if you don't have a muffler, when you shut the car off cold air can rush up the exhaust much easier (no restriction) and warp the exhaust valves keeping the engine from running? Is this true or just a bunch of bull?

Yep, that's a bunch of bull. You will have to be extra careful not to suck a throwout spindle, though.

my friend's muffler fell off a while ago on his 90 accord ex. it does sound pretty trick, but theres a slight side effect. around the seams in the body panels you can see carbon build up, hehe looks pretty ghetto. hes a lucky bastard though his dads picking up all bills on the car.rrrrr:thefinger

just get a straight trough muffler...its about as resctrictive as a straight pipe and you won't violate any noise ordinaces
Very much so. You probably lost a little bit of HP. I doubt you lost much though. It won't make your engine run crappy, but the police won't like it too well if they are behind you at a stop light. Heck leave it the way it is if you like it. Nothing is too loud you know.

thanks a lot for the info. I picked up a thrush glasspack today and will be putting it on shortly. Just for kicks and laughs, i was thinking of putting a "y" pipe on the end of the glasspack and run a sidepipe exhaust exiting right before the rear wheels. It's set up perfectly for it, except for one small problem-- the gas tank is right above where i would have to run the pipes. I'm a little nervous to run pipes that will get pretty damn hot under something that could easily blow up. If i cant run the pipes any other way, how dangerous would is be to run the pipes under the tank?

another question....ivymike, what's a throwout spindle?

another question....ivymike, what's a throwout spindle?