Exhaust Opinions -- Paint It Black?

[Jack Olsen]

Some context: I'm not trying to create a period-correct-looking car at all. I want my 911 to be dumb and loud on canyon runs and track days, but quiet enough to have a conversation when I'm driving around town.

I've had some ugly-ass exhaust moments in the past. But that's behind me, now.

Most recently, I had a B&B stainless exhaust with stainless dual tips. I painted the muffler itself black, because it hung down pretty low.

The old exhaust:





I solved the notorious B&B resonance problems by reducing the outlet pipes down. But I still didn't love the look of the exhaust tips coming out in the back.

And the B&B kept cracking apart. I had the seams rewelded twice, but during the Open Track Challenge, the muffler cracked in some ridiculous places:



An $800 muffler should do better than that.

So I bought an $80 American-made Flowmaster. And I went back to the old-school steel pipes in the back. I'm bucking the current trends: tips are for Honda's.

The Flowmaster is smaller, and fits up higher, than my B&B did. I like the sound much better. I can cap one side for comfort-level driving, and open up both ends for days out with the boys.

It's so high up, you can now see the backs of the headers, and the heater pipe, both of which are the color of aluminum/stainless. What I'm trying to decide now is whether I should paint the muffler black, dark gray, light gray, or leave it in its aluminized steel color -- and also should I paint the heater tube to match?

Opinions?

Here's the subject, out yesterday in the hills above Malibu.

[Scooter]

This all sounds vaguely familiar.

I like the exhaust in it's natural state, but painting it black may give you a cleaner appearance.

[RickM]

I think a curved undertray from under the bumper going forward may look best. However, that may not be practical or attractive when fitted-up.

2nd choice would be black as before.


Also, your experience backs what Fabspeed has published regarding B&B cracking problems.

[dd74]

Leave it.

[JonT]

Jet hot coating would look pretty cool for the headers and muff--just an idea from the 'bling' crowd.

[Sarah]

Paint it black. I think it looks better.

[fhernand]

Bead blast and powder coat black.

Leave it as it is. Somehow I suspect you won't be able to do just that

[Eugene at Pelican Parts]

"Aluminized steel" Beauty doesn't quite have as nice a ring.

[masraum]

leave it as is. If it was the only thing showing then i'd probably say paint it black (the stones had something there), but since so much else is visible I don't think painting the muffler would help. Besides the only time anyone would notice is when it's parked. Otherwise it's probably passing them so fast they don't have time to notice.

[rfix'n]

Paint it black.

and a question, What are you using to block one side (looks like its clamped with a worm gear clamp) and will this cause the valve train on this side to run hotter?

[911ctS]

Either paint it black or go with JetHot coating.

Or... have Tyson fab up some kind of rear diffuser to complement that sleek undertray. That way you would improve aerodydamics, cover up the muffler, and get a head start on being the 2005 OTC returning champions.

something like this.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I say leave it as is.
It has a certain level of Badness in the raw that you don't quite capture all painted up.
We wouldn't want BB to get to civilized now would we.

[}{arlequin]

To make it look clean, go with black, BUT to give it a bit of a raw edge, leave it as is. It will balance out the cleanliness of the rest of the car, make it look human (imperfect), and go with your theme of the engine ("it's not for looking good, it's for going fast").

[Schrup]

I vote for Black.

[thabaer]

Looks like I just made the first vote for dark gray. It does stick out a bit more than I'd like on my own car, and it seems to me that having it body color would look strange. The dark gray would hide it without looking like a badly coordinated leisure suit

[thabaer]

Thanks Paul!

The black pipes against the lighter body color works for me, BB would be just the reverse.

[dickster]

jack

i didnt think your car was much higher in the tail than std? but it does look it with all the "guts" visible.

i say leave as is - if you paint it black you'll have to do all that pipework and you'll have to keep recoating...

btw - those tips look just right.

[echrisconnor]

What's the name of your car...?

Hmm, here's an idea... BLACK!

[RickM]

Rich, The lack of a rear valance may accentuate the "Exposed Cahones" look.