2002 OEM Muffler - EXPOSED!
#4
You can see the "hammer marks" on the muffler. It required a LOT of force to rip back the 2nd of 2 layers in the muffler. The outer layer, is rather thin and is easy to cut through. The inner layer is twice as thick and was in perfect shape.
Doing it over again, I would have repaired the broken pipe (near the flange between the mufferl and mid-pipe) and replaced the stainless tips with a 2.75 stainless tips (got them from JC Whitney).
In the end, keep the OEM muffler!
Doing it over again, I would have repaired the broken pipe (near the flange between the mufferl and mid-pipe) and replaced the stainless tips with a 2.75 stainless tips (got them from JC Whitney).
In the end, keep the OEM muffler!
#5
That is a very cool post, sir. Thanks for taking the time to take pics and show us the internals.
P.S. I do miss the bit of torque the muffler helps with, but I have yet to miss it since I got my WS2 muffler.
P.S. I do miss the bit of torque the muffler helps with, but I have yet to miss it since I got my WS2 muffler.
#8
Great thread! I like the arrows too. I was always curious to know how the stock muffler functioned. As for the stock muffler's quality? If it's as good as the stock one on my wife's '91 Maxima, it should last a long, long time. Her's recently lost it's outer skin so I just cut it off. I figure it should take another 20 years to get through the inner skin seeing that it's twice as thick as the outer skin.
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
#9
Very cool! I have read about the "valve" in the muffler and now I fully understand how it works. No wonder they cost 250 bucks. Performance seems to be a priority for our cars, even down to the muffler.
#10
#11
Nice job! I've also always wondered about the famous 'variable capacity' muffler. I even installed one of my beater '93 Altima about 5 years ago and felt a noticeable difference in low end tq and liked the sound it produced vs the regular Altima muffler.
So you're liking the Walker even better? My Max muffler has developed a rattle that's slowly getting louder and it's internal so I'll probably be replacing it down the road w/a larger diameter catback setup...
Jeremy
So you're liking the Walker even better? My Max muffler has developed a rattle that's slowly getting louder and it's internal so I'll probably be replacing it down the road w/a larger diameter catback setup...
Jeremy
#12
In our 5th gens, 3k is where it builds enough pressure to utilize the second tip, which is what n3985 is saying. So both are true, I guess. So the rate of the spring is designed to be strong enough to hold before <3k and open when at >3k
#14
Overall, I am happy with the Walker.
* As quiet as stock
* Fitment is an issue, tends to rub on the rear axle. Will fix that with some kind of shim.
* Overall quality is excellent. Has one less restrictive kink in it than stock. Worth at least 0.025 HP
* Looks great with JC Whitney Stainless tips on it (see first picture above).
* As quiet as stock
* Fitment is an issue, tends to rub on the rear axle. Will fix that with some kind of shim.
* Overall quality is excellent. Has one less restrictive kink in it than stock. Worth at least 0.025 HP
* Looks great with JC Whitney Stainless tips on it (see first picture above).
Great thread! I like the arrows too. I was always curious to know how the stock muffler functioned. As for the stock muffler's quality? If it's as good as the stock one on my wife's '91 Maxima, it should last a long, long time. Her's recently lost it's outer skin so I just cut it off. I figure it should take another 20 years to get through the inner skin seeing that it's twice as thick as the outer skin.
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
#15
Only indirectly. RPM + load = resulting pressure at the muffler. Regardless of the RPM the throttle angle will determine how much airflow through the engine there is. 5000 RPM @ 25% throttle, for instance, won't get it done.
#17
#18
If I had to do it again, I would have gotten the OEM muffler ($270+) and a Cattman b-pipe or Walker b-pipe. Not looking for additional HP, just reducing the noise of a broken mid-pipe for the past 2 months. Cattman had no mid-pipes fabricated so I didn't want to wait another 2 months.
But overall cost was cheap (~ $275 for mid-pipe and muffler)
But overall cost was cheap (~ $275 for mid-pipe and muffler)
Great thread! I like the arrows too. I was always curious to know how the stock muffler functioned. As for the stock muffler's quality? If it's as good as the stock one on my wife's '91 Maxima, it should last a long, long time. Her's recently lost it's outer skin so I just cut it off. I figure it should take another 20 years to get through the inner skin seeing that it's twice as thick as the outer skin.
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
Pete, are you happy with the Walker or is the stock muffler better?
#19
Interesting i had always assumed that it was electronic like the one in my 3000GT VR-4. Obviously there is a lot less to fail with a mechanical design, but some performance loss compared to an electronic valve.
#20
Thanks for the clarification-makes sense. More air flow in = more exhaust out = more pressure = open the gate.
Last edited by spock; 01-01-2010 at 06:04 PM.
#27
#29
This ain't trick...at all! LOL.....
#32
#35
#39
OEM or Nissan? I cant find a Nissan Muffler for anywhere near that price (all close to 400). All "OEM" versions I have seen have a notation that the bypass valve isnt part of that muffler.