The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 12" smittys

Okay, just showing off my lack of knowledge here, but I'm learning.

It's come up a couple of times now, I'm fairly convinced I'd like some, and I'm not even sure what they are.

12" smittys:
1. what are they?
2. are they "original"?
3. I gather they "sound" goood, right?
4. And, are they available? (not asking to buy here, just looking for options)

I'm thinking for my '61 here. She sounds good now, but if that could be improved and made more "original" then I'm all for it.

Husker

http://community.webshots.com/photo/140141928/140145034GfHJXs

Found a post in the HiPo Shop that answered some of the above questions. I guess all it leaves is whether the smittys would be more considered more "original."

And also, this nice "tone" that they have. Is it ... hmm, how should I put this... Okay, what I want is something that says, "something really cool is coming down the street." A nice and respectable low rumble.

I don't want a sound loud enough to break everyone's eardrums and shatter out the neighbors windows. :o

In your guy's professional opinion, should I go with smittys or stay with my basic "Mr. Muffler" set-up??

Husker

P.S. Are there different lengths? And what does that do to the sound?

Smitty glass packs are very retro, and they definitely speak up and talk to ya. If you want a low rumble you may be better off with 18" turbo mufflers.

Boo
PS, if it's to loud, you're to old

So what's the diff between smithy, cherry bomb, flow tech....one better than the other?

I am thinking of trying a 26" Cherry Bomb. I need to be able to leave the driveway at 0530 without waking up the whole world. Will a 26" work well with a stock 216?

Future plans are duals hooked to a set of fentons.

I think I'll stay with what I got - whatever that is for the moment. I would like to hear a smitty in person before I make a change.

It's that old age setting in, I guess. *hobble, hobble* :p

Husker

Installed my original 50s fentons (with straight down pipes) 18 months ago and added two aluminized 2" pipes with 30" steelpack mufflers. The place that installed it was the first one in So-CA back in the days who offered their own glass and steelpacks in various lengths.

Did some research before I made my decision back then:
Every brand creates their own sound by arranging different patterns inside the muffler where the exhaust air can enter the glass or steel fiber packed area.
I believe cherry bombs and the purple one have perforated pipes, which allow more flow.
The Smithy's have louvered perforations.
The various patterns of these cutouts determine the sound.
My steelpacks have a louvered spiral pattern for less backpressure.
Some like to turn them around against the flow for more 'bark' to the sound.
Basicallly the length determines how loud they get with increasing rpms.
I believe 26" is the most popular length.
My 30" have a nice deep dark bottom end and the steel vs. glass packing gives a more brittle metallic top end.

Glasspacks will break in earlier.
Steelpacks take longer to break in but are louder.

My friends tell me they used to fill the pipes with water to age them quicker and get them more nasty sounding.
Another old biker buddy adviced me against glass packs, as they allways blew out the packing in short order and the just ended up with straight through pipes.

http://www.exhaustsoundclips.com/gm.html

This site is attempting to give sound examples of different exhausts. The recordings are a bit rough, but it gives you an idea, I guess.

This info is from an Impala SS forum:
"Glass packs give nicer throaty sound than your stock exhaust. Depending on which way you install it will determine your sound. If you install it with the baffle popouts facing the front of the truck you get the pop and crack sound at high RPMs with them facing the back of your truck you'll still get the nice rumble without the popping."

Shorter = louder, more high end noise

Longer = more low end rumble

I have stock manifolds and dual glasspacks that are about 3' long. It doesn't sound too loud to me. It has a decent rumble, and gets louder at high rpm's.

'46, I have a 26" 2-1/4" ID cherry bomb (traditional glass pack) on my truck with a 261 and otherwise stock exhaust, mounted in the stock location. It isn't loud at all. It has a nice burble and not much more back pressure than a pipe but it isn't loud enough to wake a sleeping baby. I'm thinking the stock 2" exhaust is too small for the 261 anyway.

One thing it does do is blast all the carbon out the tailpipe when you start it up. It leaves a mark on the driveway. I have a minor oil burning problem though.

I've got dual smithy's on my '54 Chevy car. It has a dual offy intake and the fenton exhaust. It sounds awesome. However, I have no idea what they'd sound like on a v-8. I'd like to know, because I'm wanting to put duals on a v-8 truck soon.

Now you guys are thinking straight!!! I wanted the retro Smithy's and a cool low sound. So now my 55.1 pickup has a fresh 283, dual exhaust through an "X" pipe and a set of (26") Smithy's. It don't get better than this, just what I wanted! At idle it has a nice low muscle car Blum Blum Blum and when cruising down the road it has a soft rumble and does not vidrate (reverberate in) the cab, NO Crack in this baby. SWEET!!!

Happy Buddy in AK

You guys give some great information -- thanks!!

I'm definitely going look around, check out the sound clips, and look into options.

Way keewwwwl.