Muffler Replacement 3.8L Questions

[zielritter]

I am contemplating a new muffler(s) for my V6 Genesis. I am looking at the Dynomax VT because I want to minimize cruising/idle drone, but still have a nice, sporty sound under harder acceleration.

A few questions:
1) In another thread, someone uses part# 17156 (2.5" inlet/outlet). Is this an appropriate size for the V6? My measurements seems to indicate 2" inlet 2.25" outlet on the stock piping.

2) Would it be OK to replace just one muffler to start in order to gauge noise levels before replacing both (someone did these with Magnaflows in another thread)? I know exhaust velocities (i.e. back pressures) would be different on one side of the exhaust vs. the other. Will this cause problems?

3) If anyone uses the VT on this vehicle or another, how annoying is the idle "clank" that I've heard occurs when to valve opens and closes? If it makes my car sound like a clunker while idling, I think I'll steer clear or choose another option.

 

[Gs Dave]

I have the older Dynomax Hemi-super turbo's(RV Muffler), on my modded Regal GS(supercharged 3.8 V6). It sounds good. The REgal guys that have gone to the VT love it. Very little drone, and sounds very aggressive at WOT. I have not heard any complaints about the valve noise. On the blown 3.8s, they are using the 4.0+ltr models.

Good luck.

 

[zielritter]

I have the older Dynomax Hemi-super turbo's(RV Muffler), on my modded Regal GS(supercharged 3.8 V6). It sounds good. The REgal guys that have gone to the VT love it. Very little drone, and sounds very aggressive at WOT. I have not heard any complaints about the valve noise. On the blown 3.8s, they are using the 4.0+ltr models.

Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. I actually considered the new Regal GS (4 cylinder turbo) before settling on the Genesis.

It was pretty nice and really cool looking, but I got a better deal on the Genesis and felt kind of short changed with their decision to go FWD on a sport sedan (even though they have their fancy suspension that removes the torque steer).

I think I am going to go with the VT, but I may start with replacing only one of the two dual outlet mufflers to gauge sounds levels. That's what I'm looking on input for.

 

[stewdog]

I don't know if anyone has had successful sound from a v6 muffler change.

 

[scottdk]

I don't know if anyone has had successful sound from a v6 muffler change.

There are a few video's on YouTube with Genesis coupes' that have the 3.8 and have an aftermarket exhaust that sounds pretty good imo. Would like to hear a 3.8 Sedan with some sort of setup also.

 

[zielritter]

I've seen the V6 coupe videos and it sounds good, but I definitely don't want anything approaching a sports car sound. I've been there and done that with my RX-8 and Elantra in the past and I want something quiet now unless I'm really getting on it.

That's where the appeal of the Dynomax VT comes into play. I think I'm going to give those a try, but only replace one at first to see if that gives me the right sound/volume.

 

[scottdk]

I've seen the V6 coupe videos and it sounds good, but I definitely don't want anything approaching a sports car sound. I've been there and done that with my RX-8 and Elantra in the past and I want something quiet now unless I'm really getting on it.

That's where the appeal of the Dynomax VT comes into play. I think I'm going to give those a try, but only replace one at first to see if that gives me the right sound/volume.

Make sure to keep us informed and post a video once complete

 

[stewdog]

Very curious about the sound.

 

[maxmar04]

Sub'd. also very interested. if you do end up doing it can you take a video of before, 1 muffler swapped, then both mufflers swapped and you opinions, please?

 

[zielritter]

Will do guys. It will probably be the end of November or into December before I get around to this. Just had to replace our hot water heater so the car goodies have been put on the back burner for a bit.

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[Stoofpilot]

If you want it quiet what's wrong with the current mufflers?

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Sub'd. Wanna do something similar with the V8

 

[zielritter]

If you want it quiet what's wrong with the current mufflers?

Nothing is wrong with the stock mufflers most of the time. However, I want a bit of tone under acceleration, which is lacking currently. I know I won't get a VQ tone, but the Nissan G37 is a good example of the volume level I am going for under acceleration.

Nothing overbearing, but a little performance growl under acceleration without the annoying drone while cruising would be ideal. I'll keep the stock muffler so I can go back if it's not to my liking, but I want to at least experiment a bit.

 

[zielritter]

I just got back from the exhaust shop and shot an after clip.

The Dynomax VT I purchased ended up not working because the center inlet/offset outlet, which is the closest I could find to what I thought would work on the Genesis, would not cleanly fit in place of one of the side mufflers.

After talking with my exhaust guy I ended up removing the center resonator and replacing with two straight pipes. I left the huge stock mufflers. Good news: Absolutely no drone when accelerating or cruising. Bad news: I'm don't know if I'm in love with the sound I'm getting under heavy throttle.

I uploaded a clip to youtube that contrast my stock sound to what I have now. Take a look and give me your opinion. Keep in mind that it does sound good while accelerating hard, but there is some raspiness getting off of the accelerator.

2012 Genesis Sedan 3.8l V6

 

[Potty_Pants]

Thanks for posting your spot on with your review. Appreciate the time to record and post


Ppp

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Thanks for the update

 

[Rey]

I have written several posts on my personal experience with Dynomax VTs on a 2011 4.6 V8. I have since sold the car to a good friend who likes the sound. Drone is so reduced as to be almost unnoticeable.

First, there is no "flap closing noise" whatsoever, whatsoever. Period. I hope this is the end of the subject.

The spring that holds the exhaust flap closed is within the muffler. Exhaust gas flow forces the flap open, and less gas causes the flap to close. So far, my application has 25K miles on it with no problems.

These mufflers can be fitted to the pre-12 V6 & V8s, which use basically identical exhaust systems from the cats back. It is not a slip-on fit by any means. It requires some cutting/welding and an accomplished exhaust specialist who can visualize what needs to be done. My result had the muffler canted a bit; and you could see part of the muffler viewed from the side of the car; but once I painted the muffler flat black it was almost invisible. Also, the chrome exhaust tips did not "fit" well, so I used a larger exhaust tip with a very slight cant to center-fill the openings in the rear bumper cover.

The 2012 Genesis, all models, is a much more difficult fit as the exhaust exit is so precisely located in the bumper cover.

 

[zielritter]

I have written several posts on my personal experience with Dynomax VTs on a 2011 4.6 V8. I have since sold the car to a good friend who likes the sound. Drone is so reduced as to be almost unnoticeable.

First, there is no "flap closing noise" whatsoever, whatsoever. Period. I hope this is the end of the subject.

The spring that holds the exhaust flap closed is within the muffler. Exhaust gas flow forces the flap open, and less gas causes the flap to close. So far, my application has 25K miles on it with no problems.

These mufflers can be fitted to the pre-12 V6 & V8s, which use basically identical exhaust systems from the cats back. It is not a slip-on fit by any means. It requires some cutting/welding and an accomplished exhaust specialist who can visualize what needs to be done. My result had the muffler canted a bit; and you could see part of the muffler viewed from the side of the car; but once I painted the muffler flat black it was almost invisible. Also, the chrome exhaust tips did not "fit" well, so I used a larger exhaust tip with a very slight cant to center-fill the openings in the rear bumper cover.

The 2012 Genesis, all models, is a much more difficult fit as the exhaust exit is so precisely located in the bumper cover.

Thanks for the comments. Yes, this is what my exhaust guy and I were running into - with the precise exhaust exit on the 2012 we could not get the muffler to fit correctly. I'm going to see if I can tolerate the resonator delete because I think the sound (strangely) has already changed a bit since yesterday with the rasp lessening some. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get some acceleration/decceleration video clips uploaded for you guys.

Do you have any clips of the VT you could upload?

 

[OneFunGenesis]

Yea, clips of VT please? lol

 

[zielritter]

Shot a few more clips of my Genesis in motion this morning. The clips show hard launches, slow take offs, and cruise-bys. As you can see/hear, the exhaust has a nice sound to it when you're not really getting on it. Under hard acceleration it's not quite as pretty, but I still think it's a little better than the whisper quiet stock sound.

2012 Genesis V6 launches and fly-bys