Hey Fuzz! Is this better?

**GregCavi** · 01-16-2006, 09:58 PM

Well I caught some well deserved flak for the state of my muffler on my zaino thread. I just seemed to overlook it all winter long, and it didnt fare to well with winter so far. So after fuzz mentioned it I decided it was time for a change.

BEFORE: ICK

Here is what I did:

Cleaned with Automagics APC
Cleaned with Meguiars Wheel Brightener 3:1
Automagic APC with 0000 Steel Wool
Small Areas buffed by hand with Mothers Metal Polish
Larger areas buffed with makita and polishing pad that came with the buffer
I buffed at about 1000-1500.
Sealed with FK1 #2180

Muffler Cleaning paraphernalia

Afters:

my favorite

Questions/Comments/LOL`s Welcome

Greg

**harry444** · 01-16-2006, 10:02 PM

WOW that looks great! :yes:

**jaybs02** · 01-16-2006, 10:03 PM

Greg, it looks much better

But now people will get on you if you don`t keep it that way

"J"

**Bob** · 01-16-2006, 10:07 PM

It loks good but in a week it will look like it did. I recommend some high temp. clear paint on it if you want to keep it that way.

**edschwab1** · 01-16-2006, 10:19 PM

The muffler looks good. Maybe you should look into a performance muffler since you are doing thios kind of work to keep it looking new.

Do you have any more pictures with better lighting?

Eric

**GregCavi** · 01-16-2006, 10:21 PM

Its snowing outside right now, when i wash it next or maybe tommarow if it doesnt get totally crappy I will take more. I looked at a new muffler but they were all the 6" coffe can. I want somethign like mine but that is highly polished.

reccomendations welcome!

Greg

**maximv1** · 01-16-2006, 11:52 PM

great job on the muffler. i still think flat black with chrome tip for the hot rod

**Don** · 01-17-2006, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by GregCavi

Its snowing outside right now, when i wash it next or maybe tommarow if it doesnt get totally crappy I will take more. I looked at a new muffler but they were all the 6" coffe can. I want somethign like mine but that is highly polished.

reccomendations welcome!

Greg

Summit Racing has a stainless steel, universal-fit turbo muffler that might be what you`re looking for. Or you could go with one of the cheaper, aluminized turbo mufflers and paint it. In their Sport-Compact section, they have mufflers with only a 4-1/2" tip...still kinda big, but nothing like a 6"

**JaredPointer** · 01-17-2006, 08:59 AM

I think it looks fine Greg. Nice job!

**Brenton** · 01-17-2006, 10:52 AM

Shiny things are pretty. I like shiny things.
Don, is there any performance and efficiency difference with that upgrade?

**Bob** · 01-17-2006, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by PEI Detail

Shiny things are pretty. I like shiny things.
Don, is there any performance and efficiency difference with that upgrade?

Usually a tiny bit. You won`t notice too much except for the sound though. Heck, the turbo Muffler you might not even notice a sound change on a 4 cylinder.

**Luster** · 01-17-2006, 11:37 AM

I use Hi-Temperature Engine Paint to paint my entire exhaust system twice a year... (when I have the car up on jackstands to change out the summer/winter wheels and tires.....)

I just mask it from the undercarriage by shoving a large piece of cardboard above the muffs and the exhaust pipe.

Very easy to clean the mufflers that way.

Silver or gray are the best choices IMO.

**Don** · 01-18-2006, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by PEI Detail

Shiny things are pretty. I like shiny things.
Don, is there any performance and efficiency difference with that upgrade?

Originally Posted by Bob

Usually a tiny bit. You won`t notice too much except for the sound though. Heck, the turbo Muffler you might not even notice a sound change on a 4 cylinder.

You have to remember though that even small changes 4 cylinders are more noticable. That`s the nice thing about the turbo muffler, you may not get much sound difference, but it IS a lot more free-flowing than stock, so like Bob said, there should be some improvement.

**tubafeak** · 01-18-2006, 09:11 AM

I was always partial to the switchable muffler they have at Summit Racing. It`s got a switch-like thing that changes it from muffled to straight-piped. I think it was a matte powdercoat but it looked very nice.

**Autogeek** · 01-19-2006, 02:21 PM

Greg,

The muffler came out great! Good job...

Two things you might want to look into - painting/clearcoating or powdercoating. If you prep it good, you can toss a few coats of clear on it to prevent corrosion/oxidation. Another route would be something similar to POR-15 or professional grade Rustoleum.

When I painted my new 12-bolt rear end, I did a few coats of the gloss black Rustoleum and a few coats of clear, and it is holding up very well. Many guys use POR-15 on underbody components, and from what I hear, it will hold up to pretty much anything.

Good luck!