Killer muffler deal

[danzo]

Not sure if you guys know about this already, but I came across a great deal on a stock catback exhaust. An online parts company called Auto Parts Warehouse sells these made by Bosal for only $77 including shipping and with no sales tax, so I ordered one. I sawzalled off my rattling muffler a while ago and the resulting pipe is a bit loud, plus I need some kind of muffler for inspection day in Sept.

If you use APW's search engine while inputting "Tercel 4wd" it won't show the part. I went on Autozone's site (their price is $114) and got the Bosal part #286-799, then entered it into APW's site. When I ordered via phone they did confirm it's the correct part.

Hope this helps some of you northern rusty muffler peeps.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/B ... Drivetrain

[Toys4US]

Hi,

Just wondering is this just the muffler? or the mid pipe, muffler, and tail pipe? I saw the specs on it and it said it was 80 inches long by 15 in x 10 in.

Thanks,

If its everything .. mid pipe, muffler, and tail pipe.. sounds like a great deal.

[danzo]

It's all one piece from the catalytic converter rearward, which is OEM. It's on my car now and fits perfectly, so I do recommend it. I plan to get a "test pipe" made which replaces the cat after my car passes emissions for the last time in a few months. Hopefully it won't be too loud. If it is, then I'll hollow out the cat (to act as a mid-silencer). If that's still too loud then I'll slap on a glasspack which is how I had my Triumph, which sounded great.

[ARCHINSTL]

If it is, then I'll hollow out the cat

You might just check what used cats go for on eBay (and elsewhere) - the salvage price is mighty attractive. It blew my mind what I threw away when I found out what they were worth. I did note that they are listed pretty much by weight and NOT by car/model; must be some kind of legal requirement. Nice bucks, even if the purchaser has to pay postage.
Tom M.

[splatterdog]

A hollowed cat makes for some strange exhaust sounds. Some recyclers will buy the busted up guts if you choose to do that. If it's not plugged/restricted, it's not harming anybody.

The bosal cat backs are pretty nice for the money. It takes some wiggling to get the one piece system in, along with unbolting the lower shock mounts for more axle drop. Make sure all 6 rubber doughnut hangers work equally. The hooks on the system often get bent during shipping and handling. Bend accordingly till tension is equal and none of the rubbers look like they will fall off.

I've bought 2 of them so far......

[danzo]

Have you heard a hollowed cat on a Terc? I'm not trying to get in your face, just wondering if it sounds OK since I respect your opinion. Initially I bolted 'er in with a flex tube in place of the cat. It didn't sound too loud, but I didn't drive it like that because the catback needs to be bolted to something stationary to hold it still. It sounded a little quieter than my previous sans muffler exhaust, and oddly it quieted down when revved.

Yeah I had to remove the rear driveshaft to get my exhaust in, you'd think it would be easier with a 4wd car, but still not a big deal. Thanks for the rubber tips, mine seems to fit well as shipped.

[splatterdog]

All hollow cats sound weird. A missing cat will increase noise slightly too, but without the hollow can resonance.

As far as being too much, that's a matter of opinion.

[tercel4wdrules]

When I got my gold '86, it didn't come with a catalytic converter, instead it had a test pipe in place. With the test pipe and rusted muffler it was somewhat louder, but I'm sure most of the extra noise was from the muffler with holes. I had a new muffler and cat converter installed and it was noticeably quieter.

[mytercel]

You rich guys... For a muffler, go to Tractor supply. I think the best deal is a Ford tractor muffler, something like $17.00. I've used them for years on different cars. Cheap and they work well. Just a tip for us cheapskates.

[Petros]

When I was in collage the low budget performance muffler was the corvair turbo muffler, about the same price as the tractor muffler. Are those still around? Or did they too go the way of the Corvair?

[ARCHINSTL]

Based on danzo's June experience (and subsequent PMs), since Goldie's catback was super rusty - much of it cascaded on me during the assorted recent underbody experiences - and that the 3-year old muffler is close to being perforated - I called APW.
It has only maybe 1 left (after mine) of the Bosal catback, and may not reorder, as only (now) 3 have been sold in all of 2010 - it is unique to the 4WD. It is still $78. I also ordered the front pipe for $38. I mentioned that I was only inquiring as to its inventory and grovelled a bit - and got a deal: Both for $104, plus free freight!
He did say, whether true or not, that if/when APW reorders, it will be at the regular $177 price for the catback. Of course, AutoZone has it listed for $114...
Mine will hopefully hang on through the Winter - but I'm prepared.
Incidentally, APW's web site says the catback (incl. muffler) is #286-799, the info available to the sales rep says it is not. The rep checked and found danzo's purchase (and one in May) and found that, since they were not returned, the part must be OK. So - if you get a disagreement - tell him about this.
The front-pipe number is #832-679.
Tom M.

[takza]

There is nothing more enjoyable than to roll around under a car working on a rusty old exhaust system with a poor selection of tools.

[keith]

I sort of hollowed out the cat on ours. I only ran a screwdriver down the middle to make sure the front of the cat was not melted over. I could not get the cat to separate from the front pipe so I was unable to check this. I didn't see the need to hollow it out all the way to the walls. With a new muffler that I got from autopartswarehouse.com, I didn't notice any excessive noise.

If you have a California cat, it is about 3.25" shorter than the fed cat. The California muffler is not available anywhere, not even in California. I went to a muffler shop and had an adapter made to fill the gap. I offered the guy $20 to make it for me, he jumped right on it so you might be able to negotiate for a lower price. The flanges are universal, well that is there is an SAE flange and a metric flange. You will also need an extra donut gasket.

BTW, when I bought one, it was $109 so they have come down on the price.

[splatterdog]

Keith, I would be concerned about remaining chunks of catalyst breaking off and plugging the end of the cat or even move downstream. I've found catalyst stuck at the first sharp bend in an exhaust pipe a few times and mufflers full of bits.

At this point I would finish what you started. Save the guts and make some bucks.

[ARCHINSTL]

OK - this is a quite disappointing followup to the Auto Parts Warehouse Bosal catback deal.
Without going into all of the sordid details and literally a couple of hours on the phone talking to them...
The rep who swore the catback was in stock was totally wrong. What arrived yesterday was only the front pipe. It turns out that apparently no one in the country has this catback-cum-muffler available.

I did learn a lot about the Philippines, however...but much, MUCH, better than communicating with the subcontinent...

Actually, the sales rep last week and the CS rep I spoke with yesterday were useless. Both the male and female reps I spoke with today were a pleasant contrast. I told them that the reason I ordered the front pipe is because the catback was available in Tennessee, as the sales rep swore was the case - and 2 were down there. So - APW is issuing a calltag for the front pipe as well, plus full credit, of course.

I checked with AutoZone and was told that the vendor (Bosal ?) is out of stock on it. I checked with a number of online vendors (all I could find), and no one had it in stock, even though their web sites swear that it is. Incidentally, danzo's positive review of it appears on several vendors' sites - interesting...
So - I sent an email directly to Bosal USA to see if any of its warehouses have this in stock and if not, if and when it plans a production run.

Whew! And I just finished fighting AT&T over billing today as well (naturally, I 'will "have to wait until the next billing cycle and until then Sir, please pay the full amount on the bill - Yes, we know it is too much, but pay it anyway and we will issue a credit on the month following that"...).
Aacckk - enough to go back to cigarettes! Maybe booze will help?
Tom M.