..... Back pressure ??

[Brook]

...... If you were to remove all of the packing from a SS Vance & Hines header's canister.

would that change the performance of the motor, [not how loud], but the tone, sound of the motor....... and or having to rejet?
  Just not happy with the sound of the motor, at idle, kinda flat......... Can the carbs. [Mikuni F/S's] have something to do with the sound??

                                                                Jeff

[andyb]

It will sound mildly more metallic and frankly obnoxious (assuming that's a straight-through can; I've dealt with a Muzzy can that was empty... sounded way better when repacked!).  Jetting might change in insignificant ways (smaller change than weather does, for example).

Do some measuring and put a different can on the end of it.  A carbon fiber can will sound significantly deeper and less raspy, for example.  Another thing you could do is remove the inner baffle (the perforated tube portion) and replace it with one of a different diameter.  Wouldn't make more than  a 1/4" change in either direction, but that too will change the sound, and jetting changes would be nonrequired.

Have you simply tried repacking the can that's on there currently? 

[Brook]

...... andyb,
when I bought my FJ around 12 years ago, the motor was stock. but, it did have a stage 3 jet kit.
  if I can remember it right, the Vance & Hines canister was empty [no packing]..... it was loud but it had a good aggressive sound to it. [but, now I have neighbors, that are pretty close, not good at night.]

about the diameter, I did not like the look of the V/H's long torpedo look canister. so, I shorten it 2inchs.
I think it looks a lot better. not sure, if it helped or hurt the performance.

  about the baffle, I do have a old V/H's header [damage] for a FJ and the exhaust for a 04R1 and 03FZ1. I will check to see if one of them will fit.

I have not changed the packing, [this V/H's header, is about 2 years old] but, with all of the down time, for all of the work that I have done to my FJ, the packing has very little time on it. [that packing is some nasty stuff, gloves and a mask, for sure]

   andyb,
would you know, if different carbs. can make a difference, in the sound of the motor ??  I am looking to replace the Mikuni's with Keihin's.  [the Mikuni's F/S's are so hard to keep sync. and  I am thinking, if the carbs. are not well balance, can that throw the beat of the motor off??]

                      Thanks, Jeff