Rufus Sanders

See that nice 3” Stainless RMB in the Avitar photo? It’s history.

Last Summer, my original muffler finally turned into rusty Swiss cheese and fell off. I ordered a new one from Devek, but they didn’t have the exact match. So I went with a muffler from an ‘85, with the true duel exhaust. For the 100.00 I paid for it, I could convince a muffler shop somehere to try to put it on. (Thnaks Susan)

When I got to the muffler shop, they had a really nice custom stainless system they were doing for a street rod and I got the bright idea to have them run a pipe right from the resonator, giving me a custom RMB on my ‘82.

After half a season, I was being driven insane by the noise, vibration and “pop” sound on deceleration. The sound at idle was awesome, but as my friend Don said. “it sounds like some kids hot Camero”.

So last week I had it cut off and had the new muffler put on. They cut off one inlet, and capped it and just hung it like normal with the remaining inlet. Wow. What a difference. I remember having a 928 that was smooth and super torquey and now it’s back!

So if you’re considering a RMB on your pre ‘87, Don’t. I don’t know how much High end power you could gain. (I felt none), but you will certainly lose some noticeable low end torque, and to me that’s what the 928 is all about.

Has anyone else had this experience, even on an S4?- Ruf

heinrich

Ruf am I understanding correctly, did they cap off one of the two inlet pipes on your rear stock muffler?

Rufus Sanders

Yes that's right. The interior of the muffler showed that both inlets joined together inside the 1st chamber, so flow was no more restrictive (it seems anyway) with one inlet or two. - Ruf

bcdavis

Actually, it may be more restrictive, and that may be what is giving you the extra torque...

Rufus Sanders

Yes, the thought did cross my mind, but hey, it's easy to undo, and easier than 3 degree cam advance...- Ruf

drnick

i love my RMB but it could be louder! havent noticed any change in power delivery with it either.

Steve J.

When the intermediate muffler fell off my '81, I had a piece of pipe welded in it's place and kept the stock rear muffler. Nice increase in loudness and burble. But at idle, the sound was more of a "bloop bloop bloop" rather than "wug wug wug".

Bryan

I personally think it's hard to get something for nothing with exhaust systems, especially on cars like these. Because the factory spent a lot of time and engineering resources on their development.

For example, pre-S4, there's a slightly different rear muffler for Swiss market cars. I believe it's a tad quieter to meet their noise regulations. So it sure seems like the factory must have optimized the stock system for the best performance characteristics and the most reasonable sound levels the buyer and public are willing to accept if they are willing to put a slightly different muffler on cars for different markets.

So when you alter the exhaust system, you're going to shift things around - sound at idle, sound under load, powerband. And it's hard to know what changes are going to occur.

When I put the factory Euro twin-pipe system with resonators back on my '85 Euro S, removing the ~'84 US single-pipe cat system, the change was noticeable in all departments. The exhaust was louder overall - quite loud for a factory system actually - and there was less low end torque. But the engine would wind out with ease with searingly intense power delivery at higher rpms. Where it would just hit a wall with the old system.

I find the Euro system more enjoyable. The engine is just revvier and has an edge to it. Which I find more fun to drive. Plus the transmission tunnel and footwells don't get roasting hot...

But the stock factory system is generally the best for all-around performance and noise level. In my opinion.

Bryan

Don '85S3

After removing the PO's custom straight pipes from the cats back (anoyingly LOUD!), I feel that the stock system is the best all around way to go. An RMB (or other variation) makes a refined car sound too much like a 19 year olds Camaro. JMO.

ViribusUnits

Boy, you guys would really hate the exauste one of the POs put in my car.

Steel pipe back to a steel box that is advertixed as a muffler, but is in reality more like a steel shoe box. Ouchie, right?

Jim bailey - 928 International

removing the rear muffler on any 78-early 86 928 is TOO LOUD for most people . The RMB for 86 1/2 - 87 > when the cat is intake and both large resonators in place is NOT LOUD at all . The RMB as used on the dual exhaust in my opinion just makes the 928 sound like it has 300 + hp. The stock exhaust for the GTS make it a "whooosh " mobile .........

hacker-pschorr

What would you say about my car that had straight pipe's after the CAT? I say it's still to quiet.

When you have a buddie with an aluminum L-88 427 Corvette running custom headers going to a 6" side pipe (meaning zero muffler) on a 65 grand-sport replica. NOTHING is loud. Guess I've been de-sensitized to car noise.

Rufus, I'm not sure if you've seen my car, I'm pretty sure you won't like the exhaust sound. Don't worry, after headers and CAT removal, it will be a lot louder!

Chris Lockhart

Jim is right on the money when it comes to the '87-'95 models with an RMB. It makes the car sound like it should have from the factory. Just enough of an increase to let you know that you have 300+ ponies at your disposal, but not enough to be obnoxious, to either yourself (in the car) or other folks (outside the car).

Now that being said, I love a loud exhaust on a 928!!!!!!!!! To me there is loud sweet music exhaust, and loud crappy noise exhaust. Most 928's that I have heard with exhaust mods that make them louder, have always sounded great (to me at least). The biggest compliment I usually get from the average "Joe" on the street is: "Your car sounds awesome!!!!!!!". That's good enough for me.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Chris I too like loud exhaust ..... as I posted early car less muffler "too loud for most people" . The old very brown 1980 which I "track" is fitted with test pipe (no cat) and a single rear Borla "muffler" at the rear it is obnoxiously loud at 6,000 rpm ......I love it

Rufus Sanders

Erik,

I'm sure I'd love your car's exhaust note. i just wouldn't be able to drive it myself for 50 mi. a day like I do mine. Don't get me wrong guys, it took me most of the summer and all of the fall to decide how I felt about the sound. I just finally had to see if it made the differences I imagined (or remembered.

But everytime I pulled up next to a Saleen Mustang or some other tuner car, I ws glad tohave the sound, It was impresive, jut to harsh for me over time. - Ruf