is it cost?
they seem to last a good long time; so like many other isuzu replacement parts, why don't i hear anything about sticking with stock oem (dealer) for this too?

what's your opinion about sticking with oem dealer muffler?

please vote, but also please give me some written reasons/feedback, too.

thanks

bc

muffler: oem dealer or aftermarket? single choice
	oem dealer replacement muffler
	aftermarket replacement muffler
Votes accepted starting: 08/20/06 05:00 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

OEM is expensive and very large!!

I would be scared to ask a dealer for a price quote on a muffler including St Charles Isuzu. Second reason is why not upgrade any time you get a chance? Third is the OEM style mufflers are designed for amazing sound reduction but not necessarily with performance in mind.

Yeah IIRC the OEM muffler is at least $200...nothing wrong with it, probably a little more restrictive than a Dynomax Super Turbo or the like, but you can get a very nice lifetime warranty high performance muffler for under $100.

Price is a factor, to be sure û but like noted above, the physical SIZE of the OEM muffler might be a consideration as wellà

The OEM does a mighty good impression of an oil drum - and because of this, off-road, they are all-the-more-likely to make contact with rocks (as literally dozens of scrapes and dings on mine provide ample evidence <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> )

An aftermarket muffler, with its shallower vertical profile, can be mounted a little bit farther up out of harmÆs way û and every fraction of an inch helps.


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For me its about sound more then anything. Stock muffler would be fine with me if it wasnt so quiet. Ok price has some to do with it too. I looked up the cost from slhonda.com, their price for a stock muffler is $186. They want $109 just for the tail pipe <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Another reason the size does matter (honest smaller is better!):

On the 1st gen Amigos, when we need a new exhaust system, we try to run it straight down one side of the floor pan. The original exhaust has the muffler on one side, the cat on the other and crosses over twice.

The shorter aftermarket muffler and cat, make this work, where as with either stock component, there just isn't room to make the fix.

That said, re-routing the exhaust probably isn't legal in [edit]many[edit/] states.

But California isn't like "most states"...even here in Minnesota, which by Midwestern standards is a pro-regulation state, there is no prohibition on rerouting exhaust, and no inspection program in any case.

Which is nice because I just had part of my exhaust re-routed to cross over behind the t-case instead of under the tranny. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm still EPA legal though, cat and all.

Fortunately, that is an area that the smog nazis don't pay much attention to even in CA. As long as it has all the parts in the correct order, they are happy.

That was meant only as a disclaimer.

I say aftermarket because you get more bang for the buck, and can have it done how you want it. You can replace it with something smaller and have it do a good job too.