another exhaust option

[SREAD]

No need to get into the debate about the performance benefits (or lack thereof) of another exhaust system for the Gladiator. I just want to be able to hear my car (or truck) as it goes down the road and being a lifelong hot rodder have always appreciated a certain exhaust note. Each engine has its own signature sound and each person has there own idea of what sounds right.
That being said , many will agree that the typical domestic v6 powerplant doesn't usually have an appealing exhaust sound when opened up to any degree.
So, in the case of my Jeep, I just want to be able to hear it a little bit, but am not willing to spend $1000 give or take to accomplish that. After viewing many videos on Youtube of numerous exhaust options with most of them being too much $ or too much noise I decided to make my own.
After examining the oem system I wondered what would happen if I just got rid of the big suitcase sized muffler and replaced it with something smaller and straight thru. I just so happened to have two of the small mufflers from my buddy's Challenger Scat Pak that were left over when we did the muffler delete on that. They even measured 2 1/2 in inlet/outlet so they would easily mate up to the stock Jeep pipes. I cut off the suitcase and bought a short piece of 304 ss straight tubing as well as a couple of 45 degree mandrel bends. I tig welded the 45's together as needed along with a short piece of the straight tubing and fit it all back in place of the suitcase.
I couldn't be happier with the result. It is just loud enough to hear when it is under load, but once up to 50 mph or so the wind noise and tire hum makes it disappear until you really stand on it and at about 5 k it gives just the right amount of shriek without being obnoxious or attracting too much attention. It looks factory right down to the Chrysler emblem and even drops probably 6- 8 lbs.
Anyways, if you are looking for a low budget option to open up the exhaust without being too loud I'm sure most any muffler shop could duplicate it for no more than $100. There are probably thousands of the Challenger mufflers laying around or in the trash or available cheap on Ebay.

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[jay21mojave]

Very good write up.. question Do you experience a DRONE between 2000 - 2400 RPM?

 

[SREAD]

not at all - about the only time you hear any growl at all is right at 2500 when the rpm drops at the gear change and the engine is under load - as soon as the revs pick up again and the load lightens it pretty much goes silent. I am really amazed at how quiet it is being that both of the mufflers are now straight thru designs.

 

[Shift Happens]

Do you think it would pass emission inspection, or do you not need to deal with that where you're located?

 

[Mr._Bill]

Do you think it would pass emission inspection, or do you not need to deal with that where you're located?

Here, the emissions inspection (for the vehicles that support it) is plugging into the OBD port and seeing if the computer says everything is okay. I now use the Bluetooth adapter and OBD app to confirm before taking it in. Last year, we had to change the battery in my sister's car. It failed the inspection because it had not been driven enough to satisfy the requirements for the OBD system. The guy told me why, and didn't charge me, so I took it back to him after driving it and checking the computer to make sure it would pass.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Here, the emissions inspection (for the vehicles that support it) is plugging into the OBD port and seeing if the computer says everything is okay. I now use the Bluetooth adapter and OBD app to confirm before taking it in. Last year, we had to change the battery in my sister's car. It failed the inspection because it had not been driven enough to satisfy the requirements for the OBD system. The guy told me why, and didn't charge me, so I took it back to him after driving it and checking the computer to make sure it would pass.

it failed because it wasn't driven enough??????? WTH????? How's that even a thing? Or am I missing something?

 

[Mr._Bill]

it failed because it wasn't driven enough??????? WTH????? How's that even a thing? Or am I missing something?

The onboard computer does the monitoring of the emissions system. It has to be driven a minimum distance under a specific set of conditions to satisfy the monitoring requirements to show everything is working properly. That information all disappears with a power loss (battery replacement).

 

[SREAD]

Do you think it would pass emission inspection, or do you not need to deal with that where you're located?

Should have zero impact on emission inspection. Basically anything done downstream of the cats will have no effect on emissions. It will have a very minimal effect on noise level but should be well within legal limits. Only somebody with an intimate knowledge of the Jeep Gladiator would ever notice anything has been altered.

 

[Rahkmalla]

personally, i just had my middle suitcase chopped out and had a straitpipe welded in. It loud enough for what I want while still being neighbor friendly on occasions where I need to drive to work at 5am. Obviously welding in a smaller muffler would be even quieter than that.

 

[SREAD]

That was actually what I intended to do originally but then remembered I had the Challenger take offs.

 

[Nexstar7]

No need to get into the debate about the performance benefits (or lack thereof) of another exhaust system for the Gladiator. I just want to be able to hear my car (or truck) as it goes down the road and being a lifelong hot rodder have always appreciated a certain exhaust note. Each engine has its own signature sound and each person has there own idea of what sounds right.
That being said , many will agree that the typical domestic v6 powerplant doesn't usually have an appealing exhaust sound when opened up to any degree.
So, in the case of my Jeep, I just want to be able to hear it a little bit, but am not willing to spend $1000 give or take to accomplish that. After viewing many videos on Youtube of numerous exhaust options with most of them being too much $ or too much noise I decided to make my own.
After examining the oem system I wondered what would happen if I just got rid of the big suitcase sized muffler and replaced it with something smaller and straight thru. I just so happened to have two of the small mufflers from my buddy's Challenger Scat Pak that were left over when we did the muffler delete on that. They even measured 2 1/2 in inlet/outlet so they would easily mate up to the stock Jeep pipes. I cut off the suitcase and bought a short piece of 304 ss straight tubing as well as a couple of 45 degree mandrel bends. I tig welded the 45's together as needed along with a short piece of the straight tubing and fit it all back in place of the suitcase.
I couldn't be happier with the result. It is just loud enough to hear when it is under load, but once up to 50 mph or so the wind noise and tire hum makes it disappear until you really stand on it and at about 5 k it gives just the right amount of shriek without being obnoxious or attracting too much attention. It looks factory right down to the Chrysler emblem and even drops probably 6- 8 lbs.
Anyways, if you are looking for a low budget option to open up the exhaust without being too loud I'm sure most any muffler shop could duplicate it for no more than $100. There are probably thousands of the Challenger mufflers laying around or in the trash or available cheap on Ebay.

Nice job. A sound bite would be awsome

 

[Minty JL]

Do you think it would pass emission inspection, or do you not need to deal with that where you're located?

Mufflers or resonators have nothing to do with emissions, that's all at the cats and above

 

[SREAD]

Nice job. A sound bite would be awsome

I was afraid somebody was going to say that...lol I am an old bastard and that is getting close to exceeding my technological capabilities. I do have a go pro somewhere. If I can get it to work again and feel like I have a few hours to waste I will mess around with it and see if I can record something useful but to be honest in my limited experience audio quality from go pros or phones usually leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

I swapped the suitcase one for a Flowmaster 40 series (about the same size as that Challenger one you shared)….chopped off the rear muffler, kept the resonator at the tailpipe. Shit drones over 65 mph. Was fun at first, slightly annoying on road trips now. Kinda hoping Mass fails my state inspection so I have a legit reason to go back stock lol.

Sounds great around town (for a non-Nissan/Porsche made 6 banger)

 

[Nexstar7]

I was afraid somebody was going to say that...lol I am an old bastard and that is getting close to exceeding my technological capabilities. I do have a go pro somewhere. If I can get it to work again and feel like I have a few hours to waste I will mess around with it and see if I can record something useful but to be honest in my limited experience audio quality from go pros or phones usually leaves a lot to be desired.

I don't even know how to use a go pro. Have fun with it.

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