Quiet Muffler

[jjs3rd914]

I wish to install a quiet muffler on a 1972 914 1.7L. The OEM units seem very expensive but will be quiet and have the stock sound. Is there a cheaper aftermarket alternative? Bursch sells a "quiet" muffler system but is it as quiet and does it have the sound of the OEM muffler. Anyone have any recommendations/experience here? Are there really any performance gains in the free flow mufflers to justify the louder throaty sound? If so, is there a comprimise that will give a HP increase yet not have a loud sound?

Also any experience with how long the aftermarket mufflers last. I remember the stock units rust very fast.

Thanks in advance.

Jeff Stepek

[nhallman]

I've been pretty unhappy with the "regular" (not quiet) Bursch. It rusted extremely fast and the glass packs seemed to break down very quickly, making it quite loud. I think any gain in HP is negligible for the 914 unless you want to put a header on it... which is what I'm doing next. I figure I'm already waking the neighbors, so what's a little more sound?

If you go with either of the Bursch systems or the stock exhaust, I'd recommend springing for some sort of rust-preventive coating, b/c they'll all rust pretty badly.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The stock muffler is the quietest. All other 914 mufflers I've heard have been louder, or MUCH louder. The better aftermarket mufflers make about the same power as the stocker--there has been some debate about which actually delivers more, but I am inclined to think that the Bursch does just by a little tiny amount.

The stockers start to rust after a little while, and keep rusting for many many years. The aftermarket mufflers start rusting immediately, and finish rusting after a handful of years. (There is only one way to "finish" rusting...)

Mittelmotor in Germany makes a near-stock-equivalent muffler out of stainless. No idea how well it works, but it shouldn't rust. Bring money, and be prepared to wait for it... Shipping from overseas like that can take a while.

--DD

[Dave Bell]

You can go to any hole in the wall muffler shop and they should be able to put together a quite exhaust for you for under $200...

At least that is my experience. Simplest thing is they can weld it all together to the the heat exchangers or you can cut off, or have them cutt off, flanges from old HE's or stock muffler and have them build off that... maybe a few more $$ for that...

Or pick up an old Bursch, clean up the pipes and have them cut out the old Burch muffler and weld in a quieter 1, then paint with high temp protective paint or coat some other way.

They can make stuff up pretty quickly and it will be quiet if that's what you ask them for.

[silver2.0]

Ouch! I wouldn't suggest wacking up your Heat exchangers. I have a stocker, and mine had a few pinholes, I just welded them all up, and painted it really thick after sandblasting.... hopefully that will last a couple more years. They are expensive, but I think I will go for a little louder exhaust next time, if it is less than half price. Just do like you do with motorcycle headers, pull them every year or so, and spray paint them with ceramic 1200 degree bake on paint from krylon. That will at least keep the rust issue down.

[campbellcj]

The Bursch mufflers are junk IMHO, and they are not that quiet or pleasant sounding either.

Dunno where you live as your profile location is blank, but here in SoCal I routinely see stock 30 year old mufflers and heat exchangers that are not rusted out. Climate and care are the big variables.

DaveB makes a great suggestion for a budget approach. Buy (or dig out of the trash can) a Bursch "steelpack" style unit. Replace the muffler with a Flowmaster or other decent quality one. Then you can get the whole thing JetHot ceramic coated so it will look great and resist rust for years.