muffler location

[1967mustangman]

Hello i have a 67 mustang and wondered if it mattered were i located the muffler lets just say like in the engine compartment? would that be illegal or possible because i want the exhaust dumped before the rear axle but i want an oval muffler too. so i wanted to know if it mattered if i placed it in the engine compartment right off the manifold. Just curious how it will effect exhaust note and if it is legal because ive never seen it done
thanks hope to hear back :help:

 

[SoCar72]

I think heat would be the biggest concern. Most regular mufflers likely won't last long against the focused heat of being that close to the engine. Some header manufacturers make header mufflers, but even those are at the end of long tube headers. Other than California, there probably isn't any legal issues with where you place the muffler(s) on cars of this vintage nature.

There is room enough to run a pre-axle exit with common mufflers set close to the exit.