Opinions on Triad Muffler

[kellzey]

Looking for real world experience with users of Triad West performance mufflers for their cars.

http://www.triadwestperformance.com

What I am interested in...

Noise levels
Resonance
Quality
Durability
Power increase.

I have searched the archives and read most of the posts. Just looking for an update.

I am looking into this setup for my 914-6 conversion, running a carbed 3.2L with electromotive ignition and Elgin modified S-cams.

My car will be 95% street use (a secondary fun car), with an occasional Driver's Ed event.

Thanks,

[Randy W]

I am working with Dave to improve the Triad muffler as we speak - it is already a great product. I have used it with an EFI 3.2L and it works extremely well. Here's an update:

Noise - moderately loud, deeper tone than stock
Resonance - some between 2000 and 2600, not objectionable to most
Quality - good
Durability - good except for muffler supports (to be improved)
Power increase - Excellent (similar to Flowmaster)

[Chuck Moreland]

Randy

How is the loudness compared with Flaumeister?

How is the weight?

[Superman]

I'll go to Dave's this week and we'll be looking at the hanging bracket design. He uses thicker flanges now so no warping. Not sure, but I think they are lighter than most. Their tone is less 'scratchy' than others like Flowmaster. Deeper.

I've got a question. Are 911 engine front supports all the same. That black cradle piece that covers the crank pulley, and the cadmium coated plate on the front that holds the stock muffer straps. Are they the same for all 911s?

[Superman]

I'm still hoping someone will know the answer to the question above. Are the front engine cradles and exhaust hanging brackets the same on all 911s? I know the valences are different for (I believe) pre-'74 models, but I'm not sure what other differences there are. I notice that the excellent Borla exhaust offers an SC version and a Carrera version, but I was imagining that there would be no differences.

[Early_S_Man]

Jim,

The '67 thru '83 muffler bracket was symmetric ... but, the '84 thru '89 bracket as illustrated in the Parts and Technical Reference is asymmetric and uses two different length band clamps.

[Superman]

Thanks, Warren. I'm guessing that the engine cradle, and the studs in the engine case which pass through that cradle, are the same, even for the Carrera engines and later. At any rate, I appreciate the info.

[Steve W]

Is Dave alive? I heard that he had passed from cancer a few months ago. Anyways, the Triad muffler does not directly support off the existing muffler hanger. The simplest way to support it is to use some long hose clamps such as from Home Depot's plumbing department, and band it around one of the glass packs and around the existing muffler clamp.

[Superman]

Dave S. did pass away, and the world is a meaner place without that fine man. Dave E. bought the business and is making the Triad products. The exhaust flanges on Randy W.'s exhaust warped, so Dave has switched to thicker flanges. The hanging bracket is the last problem and we may be working on it tonight. I do not favor the simple "throw a metal strap over it" fix. That method would have to be combined with a tab welded onto the exhaust that would press against the mounting bracket on the engine. Instead, we have reason to believe that one or two tabs can be placed on the exhaust that will allow it to be attached to the rear engine cradle (which covers the crank pulley) on the existing studs there. The exhaust bracket could then be removed and there would be no need for the straps.

[Randy W]

Dave Said, the founder of Triad, sadly passed away from cancer last year. I visited him briefly a couple of days before he died - he was an amazing guy and is missed deeply. Dave Ellison bought Triad and is redesigning the supports and flanges after talking with several long-time users, including myself. As Warren said there are no early muffler support wings on the SC/Carrera cradle to loop the early muffler straps around, like on the early 911s. The new Triad muffler will likely be designed to address this.

P.S. The Tirad is not nearly as loud as the Flowmaster muffler.

[Glen]

Will tirad fab up a muffler/converter system for those of us using SSI's? I heard that Dave had made a couple of them special order.
Glen

[Doug Zielke]

I *almost* bought a Triad for my SC (with SSI's).
I say almost, because I was fortunate to actually ride in another 911SC for 50 miles or so. It was equipped with a Triad dual-out and SSI's.

I found the drone (resonance) below 3000 absolutely intolerable!
It's not like I have super-sensitive hearing, but I got a splitting headache from sitting in that car for only a half hour.

I think some other posters may have commented on this (resonance) in previous posts. Do a search.
I don't mean ill will to the Triad mfrs. It just didn't work for my ears. Your situation may be different.

[TriadWest]

Dave is here.I've been doing alot of used parts inventory and research and development.Things are happinging. I am currently working on the support bracket in question.I'll keep you informed.
Dave @ triadwest