How to Make Your Pontiac Sunfire Sound Like a Muscle Car

Muscle-car noise is mostly generated through a combination of engine noise and vibrations in the muffler. Pontiac engineered the stock Sunfire to run with relatively low engine noise. Making your Sunfire sound more like a muscle car requires tackling the exhaust system. The standard exhaust on the Sunfire runs from the exhaust manifold through the catalytic converter -- required by law in some states -- and through exhaust pipe to the muffler. The Sunfire is engineered to accommodate dual exhaust, which helps with upgrading the noise factor.

• 1

  Disconnect the existing exhaust just after the catalytic converter using a socket wrench. Trace the exhaust pipe toward the front of the vehicle. The catalytic converter sits flush with front seats, and is shaped like a small muffler. You would come across some braided, flexible piping just past the catalytic converter, if you continued tracing the piping past the converter. The exhaust pipe connects to the catalytic converter through triangle-shaped plates with three bolts. Remove each bolt.

• 2

  Disengage the muffler and exhaust pipes from the hanging brackets. These will mostly just slide off. You may have to cut some off with an angle grinder. The brackets are strips of metal connecting the exhaust pipe to the frame, and stretch between the pipe and frame every few feet. The brackets are welded to the pipe, but connect to the frame through rubber hangers that allows the brackets to slide out.

• 3

  Assemble the replacement performance exhaust system. Most after-market systems bolt together with a ratchet. Some units may require welding. Take the system to a professional to weld any joints.

• 4

  Install the system using the original mount locations. The performance exhaust -- if you chose a stainless steel variety -- will have hangers that bolt to the frame of your vehicle. You may have to drill bolt holes for the hangers.

• 5

  Connect the replacement exhaust to the catalytic converter using the original bolts.