H6 Exhaust Options?

[Lancaster6]

Does anyone know if there's a decent aftermarket muffler for the H6 that sounds a bit more throaty than the stock one? I've read that the stock H6 muffler has an extra valve in it but I haven't really found out any more information as to how important that valve is and/or what it does.

I've tried searching but I come up with a lot of dead end threads or threads that turn into people arguing with each other :smt012

[Huffer]

The stock muffler is just a factory one. You can buy any aftermarker or even (say) and STi muffler and it will open up the noise quite a bit. That part of the exhaust system is the same as any other car with a muffler - get a larger internal diameter tip, with less baffle material in the canister, and you increase the noise.

It's really not that difficult to get different tone/sound with the muffler.

You could buy a Magnaflow or even just an ebay cheapo special to see how you like the extra volume.

[Lancaster6]

Thanks for the response Huffer. I know pretty much I can get any muffler for it (as long as the specs from the factory one match up), the info about a larger internal diameter tip and less baffle material was very useful!

I was digging around some more today and apparently the muffler on the H6 is called a variable-flow muffler. It helps increase exhaust flow velocity at lower RPMs so exhaust is removed more efficiently. I hope that made sense, it did to me but exhaust systems is not my expertise! lol. I wonder if there would be any negative effects from the lack of that valve on the aftermarket/STi muffler? Or maybe that wouldn't be an issue if the aftermarket one doesn't limit exhaust flow as much? I'll stop talking now since I feel like I'm talking out of my ass :razz: I will leave this diagram here though!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/11/fullscreencapture529201-2.jpg

My buddy has a Magnaflow muffler on his Mazda 6 and it sounds amazing, I'll have to ask him about it when I see him again.

[Shiv]

That's interesting about the variable flow muffler on the H6. Didn't know about that. Are you sure that's for the older 3.0L H6 and not the newer one?

I got a Varex muffler with the butterfly valve in the exhaust which you can open and close at the touch of a button.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTyZ-Sp9YF4

^A bit wanky I admit, but good to have the flexibility of having it loud(open) or quiet.

[Lancaster6]

That sounds good Shiv! I've looked around at the Varex mufflers but didn't seem to find any available.

And I'm not 100% sure which model engine that exhaust pairs up with. I've read that its for the 3.0L that goes into the second generation Outbacks (I believe that's the BH model), but I found that info on another forum so I had to take it with a grain of salt.

[Shiv]

I have a feeling it might be the latter 3rd Gen Outbacks as they have all that active variable electrickery going on unlike ours....

Here's another '02 Outback H6, but this one also had a cat back system installed:
http://s1197.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 7.mp4.html (http://s1197.beta.photobucket.com/user/richo-s/media/IMG_0557.mp4.html)

[Lancaster6]

That's a good point. You're probably right! Like I said, exhaust is far from my expertise! :lol:

That's a nice tone for the exhaust, doesn't sound too loud or obnoxious, certainly made me smile when I listened to it! Do you know the brand of muffler that was used, by any chance?

[Shiv]

That's a good point. You're probably right! Like I said, exhaust is far from my expertise! :lol:

That's a nice tone for the exhaust, doesn't sound too loud or obnoxious, certainly made me smile when I listened to it! Do you know the brand of muffler that was used, by any chance?
Unfortunately not, probably some generic branded product. You can read more about it over here (http://www.subyclub.com/index.php/topic/3365-outback-h6-02-muffler/page__view__findpost__p__111480) if you're interested.

[Lancaster6]

Cool, thanks Shiv.

In the meantime I'll start looking into magnaflow and borla mufflers, as well as cat back set ups

[Shane01BH]

I can confirm my 01 H6 has that muffler. My question is, is there any cross compatibility with axle backs from other subarus.

[Huffer]

The variable valve muffler is the same as a dryer vent that you have in most homes - under sufficient pressure, the valve opens up and allows increased exhaust flow. Decrease the pressure, and the valve closes and reroutes the exhaust through additional chambers in the muffler to dampen sound.

This is NOT rocket science kids. It's a mechanical device, not electric, not user switchable (except for when you step on the gas).

You want more continuous sound/volume? Install a different axle back muffler.

@Shane01BH - see above. Any other Subaru axle-back can be made to fit with a good exhaust shop handling the cutting of the old one, and rewelding (if necessary) of the hangers.