Life expectancy of side pipes?

[66gtk]

How long do side pipes typically last on street cars (FE motor) before the glass packs blow out and the sound is much louder than it used to be?

[Ron61]

I think that will vary with the kind of glass packs and driving habits. I had mine in for about 3 years before I had to replace them but I drove the car hard and they may have lasted longer if I had just driven it like a sane person. I nowe use baffles and they last forever it seems.

Ron

[cycleguy55]

No glass packs here - auger muffler inserts. I bought mine (3.5") from Summit Racing. https://shop.patriotexhaust.com/patr...er-insert.html

[ACademic]

2-3 years, tops. Pipes with ceramic blanket sound deadening material will have a shorter lifespan, as exhaust soot will coat them and render them noneffective.

[66gtk]

I ask as my 20 year old pipes on ERA 472 (427 FE with 6300 miles) still seem very effective and are wonderful sounding mufflers that mellow out the idle and low RPM rumble quite well. They still wake up nicely when you put your foot into it though. I really like how they work. On ERA 664 with a very similar engine setup and identical ERA factory coated exhaust (this car has 12K miles) the sound is VERY VERY loud in comparison. Definitely requires ear protection, unlike #472 with half as many miles.

So do most just accept the fact that they quickly wear out and just keep on going?

Here is a sound clip at various RPMs for 472. It starts inside the car with a very gentile grandpa acceleration/shift, then a more aggressive 1-2-3, and concludes with a drive by (pretty hard on the throttle) outside the car clip.
http://customshowboards.com/era472/ERA472enginemix.mp3

I wish I had a comparable clip for 664, but I don't yet at this time.

[TheExtreme]

Mufflers? What are those?