There are a whole lot of different things that drive us to muscle cars. The gorgeous and aggressive looks. The iconic histories. The handles through the turns. The opportunity for modifications. But more than anything else, there are two muscle car traits that make us fall in love with these special cars: the power and the sound.
Because power and sound are so important with these vehicles, the exhaust system is one of the most critical elements of any muscle car. The quality and type of exhaust system can impact the amount of power available to your right food, and the gorgeous purring of the engine that meets your ears.
In recent years, active exhaust systems have become a popular option on muscle cars. But what are they, and what are the benefits of active exhaust systems? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Active Exhaust?
The purpose of an exhaust system is to pull the exhaust gases from the engine and expel them from the car. For most exhaust systems, this isn’t customizable – the car has the same exhaust flow at all times. But with an active exhaust system, you can control the exhaust system by opening or closing the valves to increase or reduce the flow of gases from the engine. Not all active exhaust systems are the same, but to use a basic example, an active exhaust system might have:
- A normal mode where the valves are open a stock amount
- A quiet mode where the valves are more shut than normal
- And a track mode where the valves are more open than normal
By manually controlling the exhaust system, you can impact the power of the vehicle as well as the sound produced by the exhaust system.
What Benefits Does an Active Exhaust System Have?
There are a lot of benefits to an active exhaust system. Here are the most important ones, which will make you want to consider this option for your next muscle car.
A More Powerful Sound
Anyone who owns a muscle car wants to make a little extra noise from time to time. That’s half the fun of owning a muscle car, right? You want to fire up the engine, hear the throaty rumble, and then hear it roar when you slam on the gas. With an active exhaust system, you can open the exhaust valves fully, allowing for maximum flow of exhaust from the cylinders. This will give your car an exhaust sound that is not only significantly louder, but also just… well… better. Your muscle car will sound like a race car when the active exhaust system is turned to track mode.
The Ability to Be Quiet
As much as we all want our muscle cars to roar, there’s a time and a place for everything. If you own a loud muscle car, then you’re all too familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of making a little bit too much noise. Maybe you have to leave for work early, and you feel like you’re waking up the whole neighborhood when you turn the ignition. Or perhaps you’re trying to have a conversation or a phone call, and can’t hear the other person over the roar of the engine even when cruising on the highway. With an active exhaust system, you can turn on quiet mode and dramatically lessen the sound of the exhaust system. Don’t worry, you don’t have to keep it on quiet mode all the time.
More Power
Most muscle cars are built to optimize power, but there’s always a little bit more that you can tap into. By opening the valves further than they would be with a stock exhaust system, you increase the airflow and reduce the back pressure, and in turn, increase the power output. By setting your active exhaust system to a performance mode, you’ll likely experience a boost in both horsepower and torque. And what’s the point of owning a muscle car if you’re not trying to get every last drop of power out of your vehicle?
Total Customization
When it comes to cars and performance, there’s a simple rule: the more you can control, the better. An active exhaust system gives you the ability to customize and optimize your vehicle based on the situation. You can toggle between high performance and track-level sound, a more standard driving experience, and a quieter cabin. It’s a lot of fun knowing you have that much control over your car. Whether you want to upgrade your car’s exhaust system, or simply buy a few new tools, you can find whatever you’re looking for at AmericanMuscle. We have parts from all the trusted brands and sales techs standing by to help you find whatever your car needs.
