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Drilling holes in Muffler/Exhaust

13K views 28 replies 19 participants last post by  outbackforever  
#1 ·
So I was dead-set on getting a muffler delete my 06 OB xt, but being the 17 year old I am I had to ask for my Parents permission. Not surprisingly they vetoed that immediately. So, I've seen some videos online of people drilling holes in their exhaust or muffler and getting a deeper more aggressive sound.Is this something I could do to my car, and where would it best to do so. Any or all advice is appreciated.
 
#3 ·
Just put on different mufflers or leave it as is.

You start drilling holes then there's rust and deterioration to deal with.
Adding to this, holes in mufflers sound just like that - a hole in a muffler. If you're looking for a deeper tone, a new muffler is the way to go. Everything from aftermarket bolt-on to a local muffler shop can help with your goals.
 
#14 ·
I have not been getting notices on this thread.



My VDC with the 30D sounds like a small aircraft when I get on it. BUT, it's boosted and the extra flow through the exhaust makes it louder than an N/A car. People hear me coming from blocks away.


At 2:27 John gets on it. He couldn't make it hold 3rd. Haha.


This one is a Gen 1 with a SOHC and a UEL header, OEM intermediate pipe and a glass pack Bullet for a muffler.


There is a simple mod you can do I saw it on LGT forums, it's called the Hogzaust

What's that smell? 🦨


I bought car with 2 small holes cuted just before rear mufflers to give it some more basy sound, then i closed those and made myself new one with cover that i can open close when i want need.
If you drill hole it will be just hole and small too, if you cut small peace with angle grinder then you can put that peace back and weld it back if needed, or get more creative make cover for that hole that you could slide
Don't give the boy any oddball ideas.


You know, there's always this. But it would be better to add a pipe to get the exhaust outside the body of the car and behind the rear door. And, think earplugs.

It's an XV!!

 
#5 ·
You might be able to just unbolt the muffler if it isnt too rusty. Good way to see if you like it and you can always put it back on if the bolts dont break. Use plenty of penetrating fluid but again, if it's too rusty it might not be worth it.
 
#6 ·
I have been debating redoing my exhaust for a while. Something to keep in mind is your exhaust laws in your state. Some states say you not allowed to modify the exhaust in any way. At the moment I'm thinking about putting a smaller muffler on since I moved to a new state. But if any one has any better ideas to get a deeper growler id love to hear them.
 
#11 ·
Why did you even ask your parents. When I was your age I just did it! My best tale was when I was putting a cam in my car. My dad comes home and sees I have removed the intake on my car. What are you doing? Oh, it's got a bad lifter! I tore it down to the cam and quit for the day. The next afternoon, zip, zip, out with the old and in with the new cam. I pretty much had it buttoned up when he got home.

Fast forward a few months and my dad and I are going bowling. Much to my surprise he says let's take your car. About the 3rd red light he says it's idling kindda rough. I said no, it's fine. Then he says it's running like it's got a HP cam in it. I couldn't hold back, I looked at him with the biggest cheshire grin and said it does! :giggle:

Don't let my advise get you in trouble with your folks!
 
#12 ·
I bought car with 2 small holes cuted just before rear mufflers to give it some more basy sound, then i closed those and made myself new one with cover that i can open close when i want need.
If you drill hole it will be just hole and small too, if you cut small peace with angle grinder then you can put that peace back and weld it back if needed, or get more creative make cover for that hole that you could slide
 
#15 ·
Don't do it. Makes you look dumb And immature. Doesn't increase power significantly. I just spent $20 on a clamp and metal tape to plug a hole in my ‘05 outback exhaust. When it gets worse, I’ll replace w/ a decent aftermarket system that may be a little louder. Noise is overrated. Harder to hear the stereo. Granted, I once gutted a silencer at your age on a 71 yamaha enduro 125 w an expansion chamber, after seeing the power increase that resulted when I removed it altogether. However, I was on an Air Force base (Edwards), had to have a silencer. I did get stopped once because of the noise, but he let me go because I had a silencer, as required! Now one of my ears rings all the time (tinnitus). ear damage is cumulative....
 
#18 ·
This is the stupidest question I have ever seen on this list but understandable for a 17 year old. Noise polution is a big pet peeve of mine with many cars today. Many states including mine (PA) have inspection laws that stipulate that loud mufflers or leaky exhaust systems are illegal. But it is often overlooked by the authorities. First of I have to admit my own teenage abuse of this. I had a 55 Chevy Convertible and I completely restored it. I added dual exhausts and both were "glass packs" It was a 3 speed manual transmission and when you were going fast and let off on the accelerator it made a loud low rumble. I was stopped on the PA turnpike by state police and they gave me a ticket that stipulated I had to remove them and take proof to a state barracks. I did and I was really happy that I could again talk and listen to the radio in the car without the roar of the engine. Today 55 years later I live near a busy road but at least 250 feet away and the roar of some cars is unbelievable. The police complain they would need sound measuring equipment and mostly ignore it. Noise pollution is a big problem that is often overlooked. It is worse today than it was 50 years ago only because there are so many more vehicles on the road. I probably won't live long enough to see (rather not hear) it but once we have all electric vehicles this scourge of noise will be over. This is an ego thing, that if you have something that makes more noise it is more dominant. The car will actually run and perform better the way it was designed and your ears and others will all the better off.
 
#20 ·
He's 17 - and did the responsible thing by asking a question before ruining something on his car. I know we aren't the typical automotive forum here (where people are into "cars" in general), but there isn't anything wrong with making your car a bit "cooler" as long as its done reasonably. Deleting the muffler or drilling a hole in it isn't reasonable, but an aftermarket muffler that adds a bit of tone isn't unreasonable. To me, anything that can help get someone younger into the car hobby is a good thing.

Some of y'all would hate my garage 😁
 
#21 ·
Maybe look for an exhaust on craigslist or something? I drilled a 3/16ths hole in my muffler because it didn't have a weep hole and it sounds definitely worse making me want to seal it up. I was expecting water to come out because I drive short trips and I was afraid condensate was accumulating in the muffler. Nothing came out except an unpleasant puffing noise when the engine is running.

 
#24 · (Edited)
i tried on mine all kind of things, removing rear mufflers was kinda best sound for me
for ej25 engines i would do front UEL headers.
, then i made custom straight pipe from there to end and it was sound bad somehow with it, then i made this little trick and using that to this day. it can sound oem very silent and then it can sound like that too
that mode mainly for when i go alone to have fun , to some tracks, off road and such. its just 1 min fast drop under car and close that and have again silent sound when needed.