Hello Sean,
Sorry for reviving such an ancient thread.
I'm a new member and I live in the Netherlands.
Recently I bought a 1999 Vmax with Doma mufflers installed. I like the sound way more than stock.
However the stock mufflers look so good on the Vmax, they make the lines perfect with the chromed front pipes, making it all look so organic.
Also the Domas don't have the rear pipes connected to improve scavenging, some even claim power loss when going from stock to aftermarket mufflers. Must be partly because of the missing H pipe on the rear mufflers.
Anyhow, I would love the rear cylinders to run as they were intended.
I could weld a small pipe roughly in the same spot as the front pipes, I measured where they should be. But still I don't like the look of the Doma slip-ons.
So my plan is to gut the stock muffler, keeping the stock rear H pipes within, and from there make a free flowing muffler with some perforated pipe and absorption material and perhaps keep the end open for a custom OEM+ look.
The problem is that it seems to be a tedious job without ruining the chrome, I would love to keep it untouched because it fits with the whole look of the bike.
Were the pipes in the collector any how connected to the baffles? Welded on? Or are they only spot welded to the outside plates?
If I somehow ruin the chrome, how can I get it rechromed? Will those chrome spray paints work?
Do you have any more pictures of this gutting job?
Looking forward to getting some more insight from you.