[Tom Hand]

Here is the last of the cutaways I can show. This is one of the best all around mufflers one can buy when you want a great combination of flow, sound control, tone, price, and over all sound engineering. This muffler does it all pretty darn well and has a little bit for everybody.

1) From this picture, you can see Walker's patented Flow Directors. Basically, these act almost like 180 degree pipe bends without taking up the space. They significantly smooth out the flow through these mufflers and guide the exhaust gases through the three pass tubes.

2) This is a close up of the Flow Director. They are made from thick material and they are welded on thoroughly.

3) Notice that they rounded the entrance to the three pass tubes so the mufflers flow well no matter which way they are installed? This is one benefit of their manufacturing process that pays good flow and sound control dividends. This helps get rid of some of the potential whistles sharp edges can create.

4) These have 0.5" to 0.75" thick glass fiber to absorb more of the high frequency sound and lower the overall sound level. It wraps around these center louvered (outward) tubes.

5) Dynomax's engineers determined that they needed the different perf. /louvered patterns to control the sound better. This is where being a large OEM manufacturer really helps. Walker's engineering and a test area is second to none. These guys have all it takes to do it right.

And, how does this muffler design work? Here is data from this short muffler. Notice how much air they pass even though they have three tubes that completely reverse the flow, unlike any other performance muffler. Even with this basically OEM configuration, they still blow away the popular chambered mufflers PLUS the sound level is around 10 dBA lower.

Dynomax “Super Turbo”, airflow as compared to straight pipe: 70%
Flowmaster 50 Series “Delta Flow”, airflow as compared to straight pipe: 53%
Hooker “AeroChamber”, airflow as compared to straight pipe: 73%
Goerlich's Xlerator, airflow as compared to straight pipe: 99%

Sound-wise, these and the Dynomax 17749 are the quietest performance mufflers we tested. The sound level does not necessarily mean they will not resonate at 1800 to 2200 rpm, they may, but it will be less than many others. It all depends upon engine power and pipe style.

So, I hope this look inside these four great mufflers shares some insight as to why they work so well. Remember, you want volume, good perforation patterns, sound absorbing materials, smooth corners, no sharp edges, no flat plates, no angled splitters, no sharp turnarounds, and you can expect a high flowing and good performing muffler.

[David Jones]

Tom, how long will the Super Turbo's remain 10dba quieter?. Does the batting blow out eventually? I've run the 17749's now on my 400 and feel like they make a deeper tone now than they did 5 years ago when I put them on. I like them better and better as time goes on.

[Tom Hand]

David, you know, that is a good question. You may be able to look inside one with a mirror and see the matting. I think Walker did a lot of long term testing and decided they would last without the st. st sock because of the configuration of the louvered tubes (louvers facing out). I know mine never changed on my Cuda and I had them on for many years before I put the VOE mufflers on it.

[Laguna454s3]

Thanks Tom

Interesting about the different perforated louvers.

Does Walker match the 3 tubes size with the inlet/outlet size or do they use one size for all ?

Obviously, these flow best in the offset/offset configuration.

John

[Tom Hand]

On the SuperTurbo, they match the inlet-outlet size from what I have seen. The Welded UltraFlo does not nor does the X style dual in dual out muffler. They use 3" in this and the Welded UltraFlo, at least in the specs I have seen and the mufflers we tested.

That is why the 17749 works so well; long paths internally, offset-offset for best flow, and largest case for best sound control.

[6 Grrrs]

Not disputing your findings, but I believe BMan may have a different opinion of these mufflers...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=592983

I wonder if they fixed the manufacturing problem?

[Tom Hand]

Hi Tod,
No problem at all!

I am pretty sure the ones he had issues with are/were the Welded UltraFlos which have stamped logos. They are an issue and from what I recall, Walker was taking care of them for most. I sure agree, that was not a good case ID design and I would have been whizzed off had I blown them out.

Not sure if they revised their die or chose to laser mark the names instead?

Tom

[65gto69]

Tom,

I purchased the 3" in and out Super Turbos and I just love the sound and so does my wife. Haven't had the chance yet to go down the 1320 with them but am looking forward doing it maybe this coming season.

I purchased the mufflers based on you HPP article where you were doing the muffler comparison and the Super Turbo came out a winner almost all the time.

Thanks for doing the work, us Pontiac guys sure do appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mark

[Tom Hand]

David,
Dad pointed out that over time, the fiber mat gets more soaked with oil/carbon and thus may not be as likely to get blown out plus it will change its tone. I never thought of that early today but I bet that may be what you are experiencing too.

Thanks Mark, if they are the longer, big bodied ones, they will work very well!

[TCSGTO]

I've had a set of these for over 10 years on the GTO and they have held up very well. Sound wise they may be slightly louder but are still pretty quiet with a 2000-2200 resonance like Tom says. I ran them without an x-pipe before they were commonly available then added it later and the X does cut down the drone. Thinking of changing to a higher flowing muffler now with my current set up but would buy the Super Turbos again for a 12-13 second car.

[Tom Hand]

TCS, with your engine putting out around 400 to 450 HP at the wheels, I bet it acts just about like the Wagon and if so, you could swap for some straight through mufflers someday and you will drop 0.05 to 0.1 seconds and pick up from 0.5 to 1.0 mph. His seemed to do about the same when he swapped from his SuperTurbos over to the UltraFlos.

You may not think so but engines in your power range can tell a difference between mufflers, assuming the flow restriction is not the pipes in front of them. If you run 2.5" pipes from the engine back, the mufflers do not affect power output as much as if you have 3" pipes in front and then drop them to 2.5" at the muffler. Then, the muffler gets to be the restriction and you can really tell the difference.

Even my 340 with 300 HP at the flywheel shows a difference at the track from one muffler to the next if I swap horrible flowing ones to good ones. It is pretty straightforward; plug the tailpipe so it is half blocked and pretty much any engine will see it.

[David Jones]

You guys mention a resonance. My 20" Super Turbo's have never made an interior resonance. The interior of my GTO is amazingly peaceful at all engine/road speeds. I swapped from a set of Flowmaster 50 series mufflers. Now there were some resonating fools...........

[tr709]

Tom,

First, thanks for all of your work on this, it is a huge help! I'm looking at the super turbos for my 67 Firebird and it looks like I need the 14" long ones. Any thoughts on how much the louder they may be than the 20" ? I'm going with long branch exhaust manifolds and want to keep the sound down. Thanks!

[Tom Hand]

TR, on our 455 Test engine, here are the differences. Air flow is about the same, sound level is 2 dBA louder at low engine speed, up to five at higher rpms. The length really helps but even so, the numbers are still very quiet compared to many of the other mufflers.
Tom
Dynomax “Super Turbo” , 17734, 70%, 69, 83, 93
Dynomax “Super Turbo”, 17749, 70%, 67, 79, 88

[67 Lamnas]

Tom,

Wondering if you have any flow data or sound level data on P/N 17770 super turbo vs. Goerlich P/N X123.......

Would be glad to start another thread concerning this if you wish.....as I might have some further questions based on your possible test results....

Thank you................

[pro-tour79]

Originally Posted by 6 Grrrs

Not disputing your findings, but I believe BMan may have a different opinion of these mufflers...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=592983

I wonder if they fixed the manufacturing problem?

Maybe I missed something here but to refer to what happened to B-man's mufflers is thowing the baby out with the bath water, B-man's mufflers are stainless verry prone to stress cracks especialy if manufacturing or designing adds stress rises in the name of "bling" so much for all that engineering

[Z Code 400]

We ran a pair of the Super Turbos on our 429 Ford Tornio back in the late 1980's and they were, at the time, fairly new. One thing that should be mentioned is they work best in the 'offset/offset' configuration. The 'offset/center' versions do not look like they flow very well because the center outlet in placed in the exhaust stream.

Offset/offset is difficult/impossible on some chassis configurations...Robert

[Tom Hand]

67, I think I do and when I get home, I'll get it posted.

[Tom Hand]

67,
We worked with the very early 3", large bodied, shorter case. st. st. 17773's. They sound awesome (to me) on a ten second 455 and have very little what I'd call "low rumbly sounds" when cruising. The sound level measurments show they are louder than the X123's but the 17770 is longer and I bet the dB level drops 3 or 4 from this 17773.

Dynomax Super Turbo 17773, 5" x 11" x 16", air flow: 71%, 75, 89, 99
Goerlich's Xlerator, X123, 4.25" x 9.25" x 18", air flow 97%, 71, 82, 92

Fire away any questions, I'll try to answer or find answers for you.
Tom

[67 Lamnas]

Originally Posted by Tom Hand

67,
We worked with the very early 3", large bodied, shorter case. st. st. 17773's. They sound awesome (to me) on a ten second 455 and have very little what I'd call "low rumbly sounds" when cruising. The sound level measurments show they are louder than the X123's but the 17770 is longer and I bet the dB level drops 3 or 4 from this 17773.

Dynomax Super Turbo 17773, 5" x 11" x 16", air flow: 71%, 75, 89, 99
Goerlich's Xlerator, X123, 4.25" x 9.25" x 18", air flow 97%, 71, 82, 92

Fire away any questions, I'll try to answer or find answers for you.
Tom

Tom,

My current exhaust system is a RARE oval 3.5" x-crossover system behind the headers that reduces to 3" just ahead of a pair of X123s. I have 3" tails out the back......to me, it is LOUD...which I know is a subjective term, but glad we can associate some numbers with it based on your data.

My old system (changed over just this past summer) was a 3" to 2.5" to 17749s and 2.5" tails.......couldn't believe the difference when the installer fired up the car after the changeover.....first thought was the wife divorcing me after the neighbors all filed lawsuits for noise.....LOL

I have a pair of 17770s that I wouldn't mind trying, but if it's not going to be any quieter, then I probably won't bother......

Maybe there is no 'cake and eat it too here, but I was hoping to quiet the exhaust down some while not sacrificing any performance.....but it may not be possible when there is a couple 3" tailpipes barking into the atmosphere????....hehe

Sounds like your thoughts are that the 17770s probably would be about the same noise level as the X123s??