[Alex V.]

Helping out at a friend's shop this week we pulled Scarlet in after work today and did my very first mod that involved more than just removing something: muffler delete - with duals! Took about 4 hours of experimenting, fitting, etc. for the T and second tailpipe, but the results are just what I was looking for. Moderate increase in volume (at idle the exhaust note is actually more noticeable than the injectors' little song now) but not to the point of altering occupants conversation volume even when under load, and no crackle or chambered tone but it's much more obvious what the engine sounds like. No turbo noise, but with two cats and the resonator still in the way I didn't expect any. It's 2" up to the T, then 2 1/4" (to match the factory tailpipe we kept) after that, all welded - the matching bumper cutout was my handiwork.

I'm really leaning toward some tasteful tips to give it that SS Malibu/Impala look. Anybody interested in taking their Cruze to South central MO for the same treatment, PM me and I'll give you my friend's info. FYI, for the benefit of the discussion last week about how much a muffler delete should cost, a non-dual-conversion delete is honestly as simple as cutting the muffler and two 6"? pieces of pipe off, fabbing a foot or so of nearly straight pipe to bridge the gap, modifying one hanger and adding another - we'd have been done in a half hour if not for the dual setup. Not sure if a jack, sawzall, and some generic pipe pieces and clamps are adequate in this instance, but not a $200 at any shop in my eyes.

 

[Alex V.]

Another pic:

 

[Merc6]

Looks like it worked out well, my question is if you were cutting the bumper why not do regular tips vs turn downs? Is turn downs to make it discreet and save on the price of 2 fancy tips?

 

[Alex V.]

Some of all of the above. When we realized the existing tailpipe could be reused that partially dictated how we did the other one, and having not decided on a tip setup yet I opted to stay subtle with the cosmetic modifications at the moment. But it's cool to see two puffs of steam come out at startup, and the stuff is there if I want to go a more visible route with the tips in the future.

 

[Steelmesh]

Upfront, I say what you did works, it's way cheaper, and I agree that it is probably less restrictive than the stock muffler. Just that way you T'd the pipe may become restrictive past some flow rate, a flow rate which you may never achieve so it may not matter at all in this application with the stock turbo, cats installed.

Under certain configurations in certain conditions, flow can be restricted at these abrupt and sharp transitions. We don't have flow simulations or anything to backup your design, but we know generally air likes to transition and turn smoothly; but again I am totally not hating on it, looks like good work that should last.

 

[Alex V.]

Agreed, that T isn't conducive to extremely high flow. The guy with the exhaust equipment has made some real nice flow deviders, I just didn't consider it beneficial enough to warrant the time. That piece pictured is real slick - once I zero in on the cosmetics I may eventually put something in place of the T, but with my current goals it's not high on the list.

It's really nice to be able to hear the engine now! After 450 miles I'd consider interior noise at the high end of what I wanted - not intrusive, but definitely present. There's a slight harmonic in the low 2,000 RPM range at max load, when accelerating or pulling up hills. My BIL took it for a spin so I could hear it and when he was into it hard I could hear it from 1/4 mile or more, and pulling WOT past where I was standing in 3rd and 4th it wasn't obnoxious but easily audible over the car's road noise. Also, I really don't think it's a placebo but I believe the turbo spool point at 1,800 RPM (where these cars are known to lurch forward in first) is substantially more gradual, which makes sense if the decreased back pressure allows the turbo to spool more freely. The stock tune is still going to plateau power where it always does, but it'd make sense that it's getting there easier without the muffler's restriction.

 

[MB2014LT2]

WHY...??? Not trying to bash your mod or the work it looks great, but what is the purpose and/or reason for doing this...? I know where I live I would never pass the state inspection regulations with this type of modification to my car. I very curious about this. Thanks

 

[Alex V.]

MB2014LT2, why wouldn't it pass your state's inspection?

 

[Sklyn]

WHY...???

Because it sounds better, looks better, and makes it unique and personalised to the owner =)

I love it! I think twin exhaust looks heaps better, more sporty, on almost any car. Got a pic of the whole rear end now?

 

[Alex V.]

Ditto Sklyn! I was giving him a chance to explain fully before my rebuttal, but that's the answer in a nutshell. Yes, duals take it from the aesthetics of a low optioned, frugaly engineered economy sedan to a little more a of sports car - a driver's car, which I think the heart of the Cruze's design could be very suited to. That's what it is to me. No, haven't taken any ground level pics yet, but that's about what it'd have to be to even notice it at the moment. Not knowing at the time the exact bezel//tip treatment I wanted to give it I opted to just duplicate the turn down on the factory tailpipe, knowing I can cut them both back a little at whatever point I add tips. There's a welded-on bracket on the end of the frame channel right inside the bumper on each side that keeps the pipe from going any higher, so whatever I do it won't eat too high into the bumper. Not that I'd want it to, really, as I like the RS trim strip and don't want to intrude into it.

 

[Merc6]

A single muffler delete w/ cats in place isn't that much louder than a 1.4 Fiat 500 Abarth.

https://youtu.be/4CbeY9w63b0

 

[Steelmesh]

A single muffler delete w/ cats in place isn't that much louder than a 1.4 Fiat 500 Abarth.

https://youtu.be/4CbeY9w63b0

The start of this video shows a Cruze launching, turbo-back complete ZZP exhaust, I think it is 2.25" all the way, single exit out of a magnaflow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtr5DQmIMw

 

[Blasirl]

Can you post a YouTube vid so we can hear it?:lala:

 

[Alex V.]

Actually, unless the camera audio is misleading, the Fiat sounds louder than my car now. That ZZP'd Cruze sounds comparable, but a little less muffled and with some turbo noise that, with all other cats and resonators still in place, mine doesn't have. The friend who helped me with the exhaust has a '15 Dart 2.4 Rallye, and it's also of comparable volume but with a much more pronounced chambered (cackly) tone.

I'll work on getting a video - it ain't gonna be no neutral revving clip when it does come, I'm doing a launch. :th_dblthumb2:

 

[Christopher_2]

MB2014LT2, why wouldn't it pass your state's inspection?

Some states such as Missouri require a muffler, to pass inspection. The only reason I know that is as a teenager I had a 62 Chevy truck with duals, it had glass packs which counted as mufflers. Parents referred to it as a cop calling stereo system.

 

[DslGate]

Actually, unless the camera audio is misleading, the Fiat sounds louder than my car now. That ZZP'd Cruze sounds comparable, but a little less muffled and with some turbo noise that, with all other cats and resonators still in place, mine doesn't have. The friend who helped me with the exhaust has a '15 Dart 2.4 Rallye, and it's also of comparable volume but with a much more pronounced chambered (cackly) tone.

I'll work on getting a video - it ain't gonna be no neutral revving clip when it does come, I'm doing a launch. :th_dblthumb2:

I love the thought and the LOOK of the duals. ONLY concern I have is the muffler delete and the sound o the highway. I prefer a quiet car and road noise is he most I like to suffer. Any way to do this as a dual and leave the muffler ON?? Muffler Back??

 

[Alex V.]

Some states such as Missouri require a muffler, to pass inspection. The only reason I know that is as a teenager I had a 62 Chevy truck with duals, it had glass packs which counted as mufflers. Parents referred to it as a cop calling stereo system.

Admittedly, Kentucky is toward the bottom of the list of states picky about vehicle modifications. Does the resonator not count as a muffler?

 

[Alex V.]

I love the thought and the LOOK of the duals. ONLY concern I have is the muffler delete and the sound o the highway. I prefer a quiet car and road noise is he most I like to suffer. Any way to do this as a dual and leave the muffler ON?? Muffler Back??

The muffler delete does increase interior noise - not to a level that hinders conversation or merits more than 1-2 notches more stereo volume, but more than it sounds like you'd like. I wouldn't rate it "loud" by any means, but noticeable.

Duals with a muffler: there really isn't much room to T into the tailpipe and get it over to the other side of the car. The best and probably only way would be if there's a muffler available that has the inlet and one outlet on the same end, with a second outlet on the other allowing the pipe to be routed the same as mine but replacing the "4" made of pipe with a muffler. That, or two very small mufflers (similar to the shape of what's found right under the back end of new Suburbans) situated just right in the very last length of pipe before the turndown.

 

[Merc6]

The muffler delete does increase interior noise - not to a level that hinders conversation or merits more than 1-2 notches more stereo volume, but more than it sounds like you'd like. I wouldn't rate it "loud" by any means, but noticeable.

Duals with a muffler: there really isn't much room to T into the tailpipe and get it over to the other side of the car. The best and probably only way would be if there's a muffler available that has the inlet and one outlet on the same end, with a second outlet on the other allowing the pipe to be routed the same as mine but replacing the "4" made of pipe with a muffler. That, or two very small mufflers (similar to the shape of what's found right under the back end of new Suburbans) situated just right in the very last length of pipe before the turndown.

Magnaflow makes such muffler, but I can't remember who has it. It's on a 1.8 Cruze on YT somewhere.

 

[ProDigit]

I would do one pipe, for weight saving purposes, as well as increased HP.