Sound difference in Stainless Steel vs Steel exhaust syst??

If the exhausts are made exactly the same inside and out and same thickness steel used you need a good ear to hear any difference between stainless and mild steel. In the case of different sound many stainless silencers are made from thinner gauge compared to mild steel. I have made a bit more than 10000 exhausts since 1977, and only stainless for the last 15 years. Nothing for italian cars. German TÜV can not measure any difference either between steel materials when I submit systems for certification. On the other hand, stainless steel exhaust on a vintage car is non-original but you can paint the exhaust flat black to get the vintage look. Another thing, 304 stainless expand more when it's hot compared to 409 (chrome alloy steel) or mild steel.

 

The original exhaust on the Vignale spyder was not painted black, instead it had a dull silver finish. You can see it on the factory brochure photo. I guess you can paint the stainless exhaust silver to achieve this look.

Ivan
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Ivan is quite correct!

In addition to the 3500 GT Vignale Spyder........the 3500 GT Touring should have a "mill finish" or silver painted exhaust, NOT BLACK.

Black finish on your 3500 is NOT correct.

I have many factory photos of the 3500 GT/T, 3500 GT/A, and the 3500 GT Spyder all showing mill finish or silver exhaust, from the factory.
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Another very strange decision of Maserati to do the exhausts of their 3500-serie in silver rather than in black.

 

SS 304 can expand up to 10 mm/meter in length when it's very hot. That's twice as much as plain steel. There are various ways to stop silencers to break inside and rattle but that must be done in production. Long and slim types are the worst to break down inside, just like what you have under the door on 3500GT but exhaust temp is not as high as on a modern car. Mild steel exhausts rust from the inside and out because of condensation. Some silencers have a tiny hole drilled (1 to 2 mm) at the bottom and the exhaust pressure will leak out any water.

You can paint the exhaust in any colour you fancy. Black was just an example. Silver was the colour on Sebring brand exhausts from Austria back when I was a kid. Silica based paint is good for exhaust. I cures after it's run hot once. I used to paint some exhausts but I wasn't allowed to continue after 2007 without a special permission.

 

Arakis36 you have a PM
FGM

 

I had an EXACT copy made of my quad-tip ANSA exhaust made for my Ghibli about a year ago. I can't tell any difference in the sound and it looks fantastic! There were the usual tweaks that needed to be performed in order to fit it properly, but now it doesn't stick out too far like the original did.
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Yes, they said everything must be water based paint from now on.

You would not like to drive without silencers as that often make an annoying sound inside the cabin. Short silencers generally sound better than long ones. Also small diameter pipes make the "italian" exhaust sound. Keep the original pipe size. The real music comes from the intake and Weber carbs.