I want to get a better sound out of my xj but I don't want to drop any money on a new muffler. Anybody have any experience with cutting it off right up to the cat and replacing it with straight pipe?

 

I had a hole in my muffler and my tailpipe fell off. And it was just louder. It didn't really sound "good". It was just louder. So, I would say save up for a muffler.

 

Even just a Thrush glasspack will sound better than no muffler at all. I got one at my local AZ for just over $20 w/tax. It sounds better with than without.

 

I did it. but I didn't run a pipe. just dumped it right after the cat. it was loud but it sounded mean.... but an aftermarket muffler will sound better

 

My son (Larry) replaced his bad muffler with some straight pipe ,retaining the tail pipe.
Sounds good, in our opinion. Nice rumble, little crackle, lol.

BTW, probably only me (Dad) on here seeking info.

 

Good , now if your son try's to drive off in the wee hours you will be alerted and can tan his hide accordingly ha ha.

 

On my 4.0 XJ, when the muffler got ripped off wheeling, it got a little louder, but was still quiet. Quieter than I've ever been able to get my 2.5 XJ with any muffler, including the stock muffler.
If you want it to sound better, put a different muffler on it, just cutting the stock muffler off won't make it loud, or sound any better.

 

Ive had my mufflers fall off on a 97, & 89 xj. Its loud as ****. Get a thrush welded or flowmaster 40 series, thats plenty loud and has plenty of grumble to it.

 

It depends on what size cat you have too. Bigger it will be quieter, smaller louder. Then your muffler will play a roll in the sound also.
My chick had a small cat and glasspack with a turn down, it was loud where she wanted a stock system back with bigger cat and stock muffler. My cuz has only the cat but its bigger and it sounds good, I have a small high flow cat with a flopro muffler and it a bit quieter then my cuz jeep.

 

Cherry Bomb Extreme (single in/ dual out) XJ with 4.0 vs Silverado (v8 with true duals) (both running Cherry Bomb Extreme)

 

Always run the tailpipe all the way to the rear of your XJ or any car. To dangerous not to, exhaust fumes get inside the cab "Always" I don't what you drive. Windows down not so bad but........the longer the pipe the better the sound.

I never ran mufflers or cats on any of my Power Strokes all with Super Chips programmers, they sounded sweet. But they were duels ran to the rear.

 

If the map looks blurry, exit in a hurry. LOL

 

I wouldn't recommend it...i took it off to see how it would sound and I am not impressed. It is stupid loud and sounds like complete ***. And the drone is unbearable.

 

Stop being cheap buy a decent muffler ! Strait pipes sound like garbage.

Check out the exhaust setup sticky thread

 

Ive been extremely happy with my Flowtech Raptor muffler. It cost less than $40 from O'Reilly Auto. Actually there are now 4 other members in my club that have bought them since I did and put them on their rigs. They all sound good. One Bronco 2 with 2.9 v6, a Samurai with 1.6 4 banger, and 3 Jeep 4.0s with them. Best bang for buck for a muffler I have ever had. I have a super 40 Flowmaster on my little truck and my jeep sounds way better. Its a GMC Canyon with the 3.5 In-line 5Cyl