Met the VP of Superformance Today:

[Rare Iron]

We talked about exhaust a little & the mufflers the "stock" Cobras come with. He was too busy to talk with me much & seemed he felt the stock mufflers (built in S. Africa) were adequate flow for most Superformance owners. I got a chance to look at a pair of ceramic-coated assemblies but it was impossible to determine the flowpath diameter. He also said there was not much of a market for big-block cars since they weigh so much, so exhausts were going on small-block cars. BUT, they are usually pretty stout, so they are over 400 HP.

He is based here in Michigan & I was at their facility in Wixom. Anyway, it was an interesting tour & I was there to see the owner of Thompson Automotive, so it was a nice bonus to meet the VP of this company.

[fordracing65]

I've seen a few SPF stock mufflers cut open and they looked pretty restrictive, there just does'nt seem to be a market for the better exhaust, most guys can't tell the difference in HP gains with the better flowing system. Now if we are talking stainless steel vs mild steel there seems to be more interest in changing to the superior metal.

[Rare Iron]

fordracing65, I'd have to disagree with you bigtime on no power to be gained with better flowing mufflers. The amount of Cobrapacks I build & sell support that. VERY many Cobra guys are extremely interested in getting as much power out of their motors as possible. Restrictive mufflers rob a LOT of HP.

-Eric

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Rare Iron

fordracing65, I'd have to disagree with you bigtime on no power to be gained with better flowing mufflers. The amount of Cobrapacks I build & sell support that. VERY many Cobra guys are extremely interested in getting as much power out of their motors as possible. Restrictive mufflers rob a LOT of HP.

-Eric

I agree with you, the first thing I did was upgrade to a free flowing muffler, I said, most guys don't seemed to be concerned with the restrictive pipes so there really isnt a huge market for them, most just want a superior metal like stainless, at least with the Supeerformance I have seen most have the stock set-up, with my Kirkham I upgraded to stainless with the 3 inch core.

[SPF1061]

Hey Rare Iron,
I thought I read somewhere that Lance's wife, Debbie (?), was VP of SPF. Exactly who did you meet? And what facility do they have in Wixom, MI?

[D-CEL]

Fordracing 65,
What exactly are you trying to say? I’m having trouble following this near schizophrenic position.
stock mufflers are restrictive, but there just doesn’t seem to be a market for better, but the first thing you did was upgrade to a free flowing muffler, people don’t care about performance, but would pay just for the for STAINLESS.
What?

.Eric,
Try to pay no attention to the dribble….

Yes there is a market for upgraded mufflers. We have had many threads and lots of interest about this very subject. I don’t know a single owner that doesn’t want more power or better sound. A lot of Cobra guys ask about my exhaust and know several who have done the mod. Cost and complexity are the problems for most.

Jason

[fordracing65]

Exactly what I said, I've seen probably over 1000 of the 3000 SPF cobras and nobody seems to upgrade to a better mufflers, After talking with Lance and Dennis Olthoff and being at both shops over 5 times they also are under the impression that there pipes flow fine. I understand that there mufflers are restrictive, but if it was so important to SPF guys they would all upgrade, Hope that helps out your misunderstanding, I know this is hard for the mentally challenged like yourself to comprehend. Now if you look at a Kirkham for example, most guys upgrade to their stainless setup over the mild steel, if you don't believe me call Lance yourself and ask him if an SPF muffler upgrade is needed, he will tell you the same thing, NO, I like the aluminized set-up Rare Iron sells, but if it was so popular they would all have his upgrade. I don't understande where you say cost and complexity are the problem, the mufflers cost around $200 a piece and any welder can put these on, seems like a cheap price for an awesome power upgrade. Sounds kinda schizophrenic to me.

[mickmate]

Stock SPF pipe alongside the Stainless Specialties replacement. Sorry Eric that's what the customer sent me. Not only is it small ID it is crushed across almost closing it.

[Silverback51]

Okay, maybe I'm just drunk, but I'm confused on what is trying to be conveyed here.

[Bannon]

I tell you what. If the SPF stock sidepipes are restrictive, then they are doing 2 good things.
1. Just barely keeping me from going deaf.
2. Keeping me from killing myself by toning down the HP to a still ridiculous level...

This is my second SPF. The first big block with an advertised 485hp ran a sub 11 second 1/4 time on street tires. It scared the crap out of everyone who rode in it while it was very predictable and I felt it was easy to control.
This one has so much power with the stock "restrictive" exhaust that it scares the hell out of me when I floor it. With the exception of maybe better gas mileage from a less restrictive exhaust, I cant see the benefit. :-)
But be my guest to add more horsepower that can't possibly be used just for bragging rights. It is the American way!!!

[Rare Iron]

Originally Posted by SPF1061

Hey Rare Iron,
I thought I read somewhere that Lance's wife, Debbie (?), was VP of SPF. Exactly who did you meet? And what facility do they have in Wixom, MI?

SPF1061, I didn't get his card but Brian Thompson, owner of Thompson Automotive (an elite engine builder) introduced me to him. Brian owns the building & has his engine building business there, & rents some space to SPF. The guy had never heard of me before. I've known Brian Thompson for over 25 years - he is a helluva guy. Anyway, the VP of SPF seemed pretty unconcerned with their cars' exhausts, so if he was unconcerned, I'm unconcerned with them changing anything. Works for them, fine with me. I'm not a hard sell. I had talked with Factory Five a few years ago about offering an upgrade, they were looking for $15.00 glasspacks. I told them to have a nice day. I guess that's why I got into the muffler-making business - I KNEW what people wanted & what mattered to car owners.

-Eric

[JST4FUN]

Eric,
I believe to each his own with these cars. That said, I replaced the stock headers and sidepipes with a set of Firefly SS headers and a re-worked sidepipe system using your 2 1/2 inch mufflers. All I can say is that combination woke my FE up. The seat-of-the-pants improvement and much improved sound was great. I was never happy with the stock set-up. Maybe I'm just different from "most". My appreciation to both you and Ron for your great products.