I was considering sawing off the 21-year-old rusty muffler pair on my 305, and just leaving the Maremont-brand cat as the muffler. All the posts indicate that this action would result in an extremely loud car.
My 1985 Dodge van (225 slant 6) happens to be quiet with just the factory cat and a pipe out the end of the van. It runs a tad leaner, though, because the mixture is not computer adjusted.
So the question is: "Why would the Firebird be so very much louder than the Dodge?
While we are on the subject of exhausts, back to the Firebird. I still have an annoying, intermittent noise from what appears to be the exhaust. This noise is not metallic, just a typical exhaust leak noise of a lot of gas quickly pulsing through a tiny opening.The noise appears about 5-10 minutes after a cold-start, then disappears after some more driving. Needs between 1500 and 2000 rpm to be loud enough to really hear. Gear or neutral. T.V.S. on heat riser (e.f.e.) working or plugged.
Are these e.f.e. thingies ever prone to intermittent noise? I might attempt to drop the 'y' pipe tomorrow (using plenty of Liquid Wrench), if this nasty rain ever stops. Don't know if I'll find anything. This noise is going to send me to the looney-bin. I need to find it. I cannot find black streaks near any exhaust components, and yet I cannot believe that the noise would be from a rotating engine or tranny part. Help me. Please.