Exhaust dilema.

[ZR1cliff]

I recently fitted a 3" B&B system, overall I've found it better sounding and better performing than other exhausts I've tried. Other than the resonance, which I can live with, the exhaust is too noisy - I've had several comments and a couple of complaints, even from people in the street

Not wanting to get a possible collaring by BiB I have now taken the B&B off and refitted the much quieter and more usable Borla exhaust. My question is - is there a way of toning down the noise, for example can the rear silencers be opened up and extra baffles or whatever they use to quieten them down be fitted and then welded back up.
Anyone had this problem before, if so who did you use to do the work and can it be done without compromising performance ?

[300bhp/ton]

ZR1cliff said:

I recently fitted a 3" B&B system, overall I've found it better sounding and better performing than other exhausts I've tried. Other than the resonance, which I can live with, the exhaust is too noisy - I've had several comments and a couple of complaints, even from people in the street

Not wanting to get a possible collaring by BiB I have now taken the B&B off and refitted the much quieter and more usable Borla exhaust. My question is - is there a way of toning down the noise, for example can the rear silencers be opened up and extra baffles or whatever they use to quieten them down be fitted and then welded back up.
Anyone had this problem before, if so who did you use to do the work and can it be done without compromising performance ?

Where are you??

I'm surprised that you get complaints, it can't be any louder than a superbike.

The only way to make an exhaust quiter is too add more, or bigger silencers, however this will likely affect tone as well as db level.

An easy fix would be to replace some of the straight section of pipe with some chambered exhaust sections.

Stainless works sell them in stainless steel, but they are pricey:

http://www.stainlessworks.net/cart/index.php?cPath...




If you want a cheaper option then look at Powersticks from Classic Chambered Exhausts. Basically the same thing, but in aluminiumized steel. Not as shiny as stainless, but still has great rust resistance ability.

http://www.classicchambered.com/


In either case, buy the correct bore and length you want. Cut out a straight section of pipe on your system and fit.

A good exhaust shop should be able to do it for you.

The advantages are, slimline, easy to locate and fit. Sound great, good flow rate.

The only other option is to try and find somewhere to add extra regular silencers, but these are bulkier. You could replace the ones on the exhaust with some bigger ones also.

If you go this route, some of the Magnaflow bullet mufflers are probably your best bet.

Almost identical to Borla bullets, but a fraction of the price. Try US Ebay for prices.

Personally I'm not so keep on bullets as they use metal wadding as a sound suppressor and IMO don't sound as good as chambered setups.

However, how much db difference any of these will make I have no idea.


One more option while I think of it.

If you just want the extra flow/noise when you want it, you may wish to look at cutouts.

At a flick of a switch you can open a valve on the exhaust and by-pass the mufflers. Making it a straight thru system This means you can have a quieter exhaust day to day and open it up when you want to.

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=24...

They do sell manual ones, but I'd highly recommend an electronic one.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 29th September 15:00

[Gixer]

Mine is pretty much the same set up as Cliff's. 108db is the estimates I've had

[xyyman]

I can well beleive that Brett having heard it at full song in Germany. But what a wonderfull sound.

[Gixer]

xyyman said:

I can well beleive that Brett having heard it at full song in Germany. But what a wonderfull sound.

Thank god the Noise tester was diverted away before he had a chance to test mine

[ZR1cliff]

Thanks for the info 300bhp, I'll look into some of the ideas. The problem I've got is I'm using the car as an everyday car at the moment, which is cool, but the noise gets too much at times, especially at nights. The other day I went to a post office in a village outside the town and a female member of the green welly brigade looked down her nose at me and exclaimed " That car!!, it's too noisey " - to which I replied - " It's to make sure all those on benefits in the countryside are awake "

That did happen but Joking aside I prefer the 3" system out of all four systems I've tried. I just need to make it more subtle

[anonymous-user]

ZR1cliff said:

I just need to make it more subtle

Hmmm....

[Vet Guru]

Don't buy a Borla but Corsa sound great.

[chevy-stu]

300bhp/ton said:

.....One more option while I think of it.

If you just want the extra flow/noise when you want it, you may wish to look at cutouts.

At a flick of a switch you can open a valve on the exhaust and by-pass the mufflers. Making it a straight thru system This means you can have a quieter exhaust day to day and open it up when you want to.

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=24...

They do sell manual ones, but I'd highly recommend an electronic one.

.......

I've been looking at getting an electronic cut-out set up on my new system, as it looks the best solution for track days/early & neighbour friendly starts etc.. They sell these from Summit and on US ebay for a little less

[ZR1cliff]

Vet Guru said:

Don't buy a Borla but Corsa sound great.

So far Ive tried four types

Stock - Too quiet and restricted especially for 415 cubic inches.
Corsa - Great looking and great sound at tick-over, if a little 'tinny'. A terrible racket at wide open throttle, and only 2.5" bore.
Borla - Nice Mellow sound but restricts the burble, sounds more like a motor bike but very liveable. Again only 2.5" bore.
B&B - Nice sounding at idle and WOT, and unrestricted with 3" bore. Resonance inside cabin which I can put up with - can be too noisey when being driven normal and turns a car into a possible Police magnet IMO.

[Tom74]

chevy-stu said:

300bhp/ton said:

.....One more option while I think of it.

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=24...

They do sell manual ones, but I'd highly recommend an electronic one.

.......

I've been looking at getting an electronic cut-out set up on my new system, as it looks the best solution for track days/early & neighbour friendly starts etc.. They sell these from Summit and on US ebay for a little less

I've been looking at these too, any ideas where the best location on the exhaust is for them?

[300bhp/ton]

Tom74 said:

chevy-stu said:

300bhp/ton said:

.....One more option while I think of it.

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=24...

They do sell manual ones, but I'd highly recommend an electronic one.

.......

I've been looking at getting an electronic cut-out set up on my new system, as it looks the best solution for track days/early & neighbour friendly starts etc.. They sell these from Summit and on US ebay for a little less

I've been looking at these too, any ideas where the best location on the exhaust is for them?

This depends on your setup.

Usually you'd use it to by-pass the restrictions in the exhaust, such as mufflers and cats.

So as long as you place it upstream/before these it'll be fine. Finding somewhere for it to fit physically is just as important.

Not sure, but don't C4's use a Y type exhaust as opposed to a dual setup?

In this case you have a choice. You could run two cutouts, one per bank. However by doing this you miss out on the scavenging affect promoted by the Y merge collector. But you'll probably gain in flow rate.

There isn't a single correct answer sadly.

[vetteheadracer]

I recently fitted a Bassani cat back system to the C6 Z06 and made the mistake of doing this before the SVA test......
I didn't realise they test for noise and it is 101db which the car failed with the Bassani produucing 105.4db, luckily I had kept the old exhaust so had to retro fit it to pass the test (produced 92db), then fitted the Bassani back on.
I found when I first fitted the Bassani the noise was very harsh, however I have noticed the sound has softened with use, I assume this is because the inside of the pipes get coated with gas deposits over time so possibly this could be your solution Cliffy, drive the car a couple of thousand mile to see if it soften the sound.

[Tom74]

300bhp/ton said:

This depends on your setup.

Usually you'd use it to by-pass the restrictions in the exhaust, such as mufflers and cats.

So as long as you place it upstream/before these it'll be fine. Finding somewhere for it to fit physically is just as important.

Not sure, but don't C4's use a Y type exhaust as opposed to a dual setup?

In this case you have a choice. You could run two cutouts, one per bank. However by doing this you miss out on the scavenging affect promoted by the Y merge collector. But you'll probably gain in flow rate.

There isn't a single correct answer sadly.

It would be for a C6 for me, Couldn't see that much space up by the cats so may have to just get some and see where they can fit.

I need the car to drive with a stock tone for the roads, the OH complains when the fuse is pulled!

[300bhp/ton]

Tom74 said:

300bhp/ton said:

This depends on your setup.

Usually you'd use it to by-pass the restrictions in the exhaust, such as mufflers and cats.

So as long as you place it upstream/before these it'll be fine. Finding somewhere for it to fit physically is just as important.

Not sure, but don't C4's use a Y type exhaust as opposed to a dual setup?

In this case you have a choice. You could run two cutouts, one per bank. However by doing this you miss out on the scavenging affect promoted by the Y merge collector. But you'll probably gain in flow rate.

There isn't a single correct answer sadly.

It would be for a C6 for me, Couldn't see that much space up by the cats so may have to just get some and see where they can fit.

I need the car to drive with a stock tone for the roads, the OH complains when the fuse is pulled!

In that case a C6 uses a dual exhaust setup. Basically an exhaust sytem per bank. I think it has a H pipe which connects the two systems and promotes scavenging.

If you want it more for sound than anything, then places some cutouts bewteen the H and the mufflers would work, or just in front of the mufflers.

Performance gain will not be that much. Flow is only part of the answer to a good exhaust and if you want to make more power you need to look at long tube headers, hi flow cats and a better H or X mid pipe.

[viper paul]

Hi Cliff had the same problem with the Viper B&B and I fitted some Vortex cones up by the collector, it did help but I am not convinced of there claims of peace and quiet B & B do make a nice sound.

[ZR1cliff]

viper paul said:

Hi Cliff had the same problem with the Viper B&B and I fitted some Vortex cones up by the collector, it did help but I am not convinced of there claims of peace and quiet B & B do make a nice sound.

Have you got any links to a local dealer Paul, it might be worth looking into.

[ZR1cliff]

This is the 3" B&B system. lovely exhaust and easy to fit.

[Gixer]

You could go back to the resonator and not the X-pipe. That makes it slightly quieter. I like the noise myself. Never had much problem with the police as long as you lift off whe they are not around.

I still have my ressonator if you want to try it Cliff. A guy with a 415 in Canada made some valves up in 2 of the tips so he could close them off to reduce resonance. Not sure how much quieter that makes it. I would like to have a way to quieten mine down if need be. It was a scare back in Germany when I thought I was going to db tested as I know I would have failed with flying colours.

[ZR1cliff]

Thanks for the offer Brett although talking to somone else they seem to think the resonator won't make a difference and it's all to do with the silencers on the back ? Not sure if this is true.