550 Muffler question

Hey guys, I've recently been working on my 550 Maxim's exhaust and when I was putting everything back together, I noticed that there's not really anything in my mufflers. Now, I hate to sound like a dolt, but I know that automotive mufflers (for the most part) have some sort of packing material inside to dampen the noise, so I was confused that I didn't see any kind of baffles or packing inside the muffler. I've been considering getting different mufflers since I just got some newer header pipes and collector, but I don't know if that's going to require rejetting the carbs or not. I know I don't exactly have a ton of budget options when it comes to mufflers, but I was just wondering if anyone had some suggestions on what to do.

 

Are they the stock mufflers or ???

 

Yeah, they're the stockers. I just find it weird that when I look down the muffler, I can see right through to the other side.

 

There are holes in the "pipe" that runs through the center. It may even "stop and start" in there, with a gap in between. The packing (if there is any, they may have done everything in there with baffles) would be around the outside of the pipe and you wouldn't see it. You've got me curious now, I'm gonna look through a stock Seca (550) muffler when I get home to see what I can see (or not...)

 

Let me know what you find. I want to get her all buttoned up before the cold starts setting in.

 

OK: Keep in mind, I have Secas, their muffler has a 20 degree "kink" in it but that being said, since everything else is the same...about 8" in from the rear is a vertical (assuming pipe is horizontal) plate blocking any further viewing. Obviously some sort of baffle that the exhaust gasses make their way around the outside of. Can't see the whole thing looking in thru a 1" or 2" hole. I have a couple of thrashed-out, bent-broken mufflers (big chunks rattling around inside) and a flashlight shined in one end does NOT produce anything at the other. I wasn't going to trust "the view" into one of those since I know they're broken. Assuming design similarities, I would say a PO probably drilled your mufflers. Not uncommon. I just spotted a whole system on eBay, you might look into it, I posted it in the "for sale, wanted" forum...definitely worth it if the muffies is good...

 

I'll look into it for sure. Is there any real harm/benefit to running an aftermarket/universal pair of mufflers as long as they don't cause an exhaust leak or anything like that?

 

It would depend on the mufflers. Most aftermarket mufflers are a lot more free-flowing (as in louder,) you can look right thru them like you can now...if the engine flows considerably more air than stock, it will afffect carburetion/mixture and require intervention. Personally, I would try to track down a solid set of stock mufflers. eBay or try this guy: http://motolane.com/