Vacuum Operated Mufflers Live Again!

[Tom Hand]

Thought I would let all you musclecar guys and gals know we are getting the first of the new VOE mufflers on their intended cars. The first set of this new batch are on a Cobra Jet Torino and they work and sound very nice. Another three sets go on GTOs and then one on a street rod, a truck and maybe my 69 340 Cuda.
Pop on to the 70 GTO String to catch up on what this is all about.
Take care,
Tom Hand

[mockingbird812]

Think this is what you're talking about:

'70 GTO VOE Commercial: "So this is the way its going to be..."

That is a very rare option that was nipped in the bud soon after release by the Motor Vehicle Dept folks much like the Chev. chambered exhaust in '69. Got to give them an "A" for trying. Sounds real good. Anybody know if there was a performance increase as well?

Where are they available? How much?

Thanks,

[olredalert]

Tom,

------I would also like to find out about purchasing a pair of 2 1/2 inch with the same in and out pipe configuration as Pontiac design. Also, do you have a source for the pull switch??? Thanks for coming on the sight as well as making up these muffs........Bill S

[Keith Tedford]

Racing Pontiacs and the Hand name are pretty well synonymous. I have the Pontiac book from Jim Hand and it's the thing to have for building sneaky fast Pontiacs.

[Tom Hand]

Thanks for the response Sam, Keith, and Bill.

Yep, Dad's wagon really flies and is amazing to drive. 11.50s at 115 through 2.5" mufflers with a 3.31 gear, iron intake, a Q-jet, shifting all by itself; it is like driving a big Cadillac on the strip and rides darn near as nice since it is so heavy.

I can tell you from speaking to the inventor and looking at the patent that there was probably no performance improvement when using these in the open mode and if there was, it was not measurable on a stock engine. These are so restrictive even when in the loud mode. But the sound definitely changed drastically. However, we made changes that make differences but we have not drag tested or air flow tested any. I think we can make even more changes and help more but it would be impossible to ever make anything as good as the Walker UltraFlo, MagnaFlow or Goerlich's Xlerator. Straight through is hard to beat!

The mufflers are very expensive to build. They are all 304 and 409 st. st. and they have a custom actuator; the parts alone cost me more than most st. st mufflers do.
It is about four hours of welding and fabricating labor for each.

Bill, I do not have source. I did not set out to try to duplicate the option, just have fun creating the mufflers . We do use a pneumatic switch to actuate them and you are right in thinking that it does not look as cool as stock does.

The mufflers I have down the basement now are 2.5" in and out, offset-offset. I have enough prepaid parts to build six pair (that are spoken for). If we get good at it and can cut down the time it takes, I suspect we can build some more. Time will tell

Tom

[olredalert]

Tom,
-----Thanks for your response. I would like a set and am not too concerned about perf differences open and closed. Just after the sound. I wasnt really looking for a Pontiac original pull-switch, just one that worked. Keep me in the loop, please, especially concerning the "done-delivered" price.........Bill S

[Tom Hand]

Bill,
Send an email my way and I will add you to my VOE update list. I send notes out every couple of weeks or so to let the guys that we are building them for know how they are progressing.
By the way, the last set had an ~ten dBA differential at the three rpm points I measured them at. That is very significant.
Tom

[olredalert]

Tom,

-------I am one of the more challenged computer guys that come on this sight, or probably any computer known to man, but I cant find your E-mail listed. I am definetly in. If you need to, E-mail me or call me at 810-326-0490. I really am looking forward to getting these for a certain application...........Bill S

[Belair62]

Would that application have boomerang tail lights ???

[olredalert]

-------Nah,,,,,But thats a thought. Damn,,,,Now I need two sets.
------- Bob, When I get this ride done and get pics to you, I believe you will like it a bit!!!!! Just need more time, but who doesnt.........Bill S