Muffler upgrade for 3.6L?

[dragoneggs]

Looking for suggestions based on experience. I would like a lower, throatier sound that also might improve performance. Here is what I am looking at…

https://www.holley.com/products/exhaust/exhaust_systems/hooker_blackheart/parts/BH5410

Let’s just assume money is no object (in my dreams)… what are your suggestions?

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[Terrymo]

I love spending other people’s money. Here’s what I bought when it was 20% off which is still expensive. I cant speak to any horsepower changes in the real world. Here’s a pic of mine installled.

T

 

[Terrymo]

Here’s a video to give you some idea of the sound

 

[Pig-Pen]

I dont think a muffler is going to give you any noticeable hp increase.

i did the dynomax muffler delete. It sounds great imo and now theres nothing back there to get caught on rocks. And it was about $70 and took maybe 15 minutes to install (mostly fighting with the hanger mounts lol)

 

[gsbrockman]

@dragoneggs

If you use the keyword blackheart in the search box within only this forum, there’s about two pages of posts.

It might help you further pursue or abandon what you’re looking at now.

 

[Tethmes]

I'll second the Injen system. I did a lot of research and back-and-forth in my decision process before landing on it, but I'm glad I did. Had it installed for about a month now and love it for the most part. Sounds great, looks great, and gives more clearance. They claim up to 7 hp increase, but I don't believe that for a second and neither should you going into it.

I do have 2 minor complaints though.

The first was discovered over the Christmas break when I took a 3 1/2 hour trip up state. This was my first time on an expressway since install, and at 75+ mph I found there to be a slight drone over the 2 hours of the trip spent at those speeds. For me it's not an issue since I spend less than 10% of my total drive time on the interstate, and in short durations it wouldn't be an issue period. But if you do travel expressways often this is something to keep in mind. My hearing is also exceptional as well, so that may have something to do with it. Couldn't say.

My second complaint is that because it sounds so good over stock, it severely decreased my fuel economy due to lead foot syndrome..... ?

 

[AFD]

After listening to literally every 3.6L JL exhaust clip I could find, the best-sounding exhaust is probably the Borla Climber that deletes the rear muffler and replaces the stock resonator with a small mini-muffler at the middle. They do make one for the 2-door now, but afaik, it's still not compatible if you have either the eTorque 3.6L or the auto-4WD option.

Purely from a functional aspect, I think either the pricey Injen axle-back mini-muffler that @Terrymo posted or the cheaper aFe MACH Force XP high-tuck mini-muffler are smart choices. Both add a little bit of growl without the drone and louder volume of regular muffler delete pipes, while still providing added ground clearance that you wouldn't get with most dual-exit mufflers.

The new Magnaflow Overland muffler is also similar to these and pricier than both, but adds an adjustable Helmholtz resonator that should make it a bit quieter. The Hooker BlackHeart you posted is the same idea as these three. I personally wasn't crazy about them not welding the exit pipe, but that price is dirt cheap since the last time I looked. Pretty sure it used to be nearly $500. For only $100, I'd say go for it.

Short of deleting the cat, I highly doubt that any exhaust system is going to add much, if anything in the way of performance. Maybe a few horsepower at best and a little lighter than the stock muffler. The 8HP/9TQ that Hooker claims seems generous, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've had a hooker lie to me

 

[dragoneggs]

I'll second the Injen system. I did a lot of research and back-and-forth in my decision process before landing on it, but I'm glad I did. Had it installed for about a month now and love it for the most part. Sounds great, looks great, and gives more clearance. They claim up to 7 hp increase, but I don't believe that for a second and neither should you going into it.

I do have 2 minor complaints though.

The first was discovered over the Christmas break when I took a 3 1/2 hour trip up state. This was my first time on an expressway since install, and at 75+ mph I found there to be a slight drone over the 2 hours of the trip spent at those speeds. For me it's not an issue since I spend less than 10% of my total drive time on the interstate, and in short durations it wouldn't be an issue period. But if you do travel expressways often this is something to keep in mind. My hearing is also exceptional as well, so that may have something to do with it. Couldn't say.

My second complaint is that because it sounds so good over stock, it severely decreased my fuel economy due to lead foot syndrome..... ?

Thanks Dylan. Great post.

 

[dragoneggs]

After listening to literally every 3.6L JL exhaust clip I could find, the best-sounding exhaust is probably the Borla Climber that deletes the rear muffler and replaces the stock resonator with a small mini-muffler at the middle. They do make one for the 2-door now, but afaik, it's still not compatible if you have either the eTorque 3.6L or the auto-4WD option.

Purely from a functional aspect, I think either the pricey Injen axle-back mini-muffler that @Terrymo posted or the cheaper aFe MACH Force XP high-tuck mini-muffler are smart choices. Both add a little bit of growl without the drone and louder volume of regular muffler delete pipes, while still providing added ground clearance that you wouldn't get with most dual-exit mufflers.

The new Magnaflow Overland muffler is also similar to these and pricier than both, but adds an adjustable Helmholtz resonator that should make it a bit quieter. The Hooker BlackHeart you posted is the same idea as these three. I personally wasn't crazy about them not welding the exit pipe, but that price is dirt cheap since the last time I looked. Pretty sure it used to be nearly $500. For only $100, I'd say go for it.

Short of deleting the cat, I highly doubt that any exhaust system is going to add much, if anything in the way of performance. Maybe a few horsepower at best and a little lighter than the stock muffler. The 8HP/9TQ that Hooker claims seems generous, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've had a hooker lie to me

Yeah well F**K. I have a two door JLR w/Etorque. Loving it in most every way, but seems I am out of bounds when it comes to premium tunes, exhaust, cargo shelves, and a number of other mods. Oh well.

 

[AFD]

Yeah well F**K. I have a two door JLR w/Etorque. Loving it in most every way, but seems I am out of bounds when it comes to premium tunes, exhaust, cargo shelves, and a number of other mods. Oh well.

Same, otherwise I would've bought that particular exhaust system. Oh, and don't bother looking at any 3.6L superchargers or trying to shop for a fire extinguisher mount ?

 

[dragoneggs]

Same, otherwise I would've bought that particular exhaust system. Oh, and don't bother looking at any 3.6L superchargers or trying to shop for a fire extinguisher mount ?

Done that... but was hoping for a tune. Livernois... knope. Not compatible with eTorque, only ESS.

 

[Old Jeeper]

After listening to literally every 3.6L JL exhaust clip I could find, the best-sounding exhaust is probably the Borla Climber that deletes the rear muffler and replaces the stock resonator with a small mini-muffler at the middle. They do make one for the 2-door now, but afaik, it's still not compatible if you have either the eTorque 3.6L or the auto-4WD option.

Purely from a functional aspect, I think either the pricey Injen axle-back mini-muffler that @Terrymo posted or the cheaper aFe MACH Force XP high-tuck mini-muffler are smart choices. Both add a little bit of growl without the drone and louder volume of regular muffler delete pipes, while still providing added ground clearance that you wouldn't get with most dual-exit mufflers.

The new Magnaflow Overland muffler is also similar to these and pricier than both, but adds an adjustable Helmholtz resonator that should make it a bit quieter. The Hooker BlackHeart you posted is the same idea as these three. I personally wasn't crazy about them not welding the exit pipe, but that price is dirt cheap since the last time I looked. Pretty sure it used to be nearly $500. For only $100, I'd say go for it.

Short of deleting the cat, I highly doubt that any exhaust system is going to add much, if anything in the way of performance. Maybe a few horsepower at best and a little lighter than the stock muffler. The 8HP/9TQ that Hooker claims seems generous, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've had a hooker lie to me

Thanks, great post, worth the read.

As far as adding in HP/Torque I doubt it would be measurable. WHY? Post the CAT its over at that time, there is very little back pressure remaining in the exhaust. What it does for you is make it sound great. I ran a full engine to exit dual Borla SS system on my JK, and that did make a difference in power but it also had a Hi-Perf CAT set up. Most of it came in on the bottom end. Loved the sound.

 

[Javwohl]

I picked up the flowmaster outlaw system that ends just after the rear axle. It replaces the stock resonator with a smaller muffler in that location. It works on my 2 door 3.6 v6 with etorque no problem. I got it on sale directly from Holly for under 200.

I also did the afe loop delete and y pipe around the same time.

pic of the muffler compared to stock resonator.

 

[Bandit59]

Looking for suggestions based on experience. I would like a lower, throatier sound that also might improve performance. Here is what I am looking at…

https://www.holley.com/products/exhaust/exhaust_systems/hooker_blackheart/parts/BH5410

Let’s just assume money is no object (in my dreams)… what are your suggestions?

No mater what still will have a 6cly sound. Coming from always having V8s The sound is not pleasant so I will keep mine stock. No real HP gain

 

[sl65racer]

I did a muffler delete and only have the two stock resonators after the cat. Sounds as good as any muffled system and eliminated a contact point.

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