I plan on building my own exhaust for Henry. The local shop wants waay too much to do it. Can anybody recommend a good sounding muffler? Nice rumble but not too loud or obnoxious on the highway.
I'd suggest that you go to you tube and listen to the many different videos. Opinions vary as to the actuality of "not too loud or obnoxious". Here's what the glass packs and duals sound like on my ole Orange Crate.. many say it is loud and obnoxious and many say it is cool too. It's not obnoxious in the cab, even quieter at highway speeds, since the duals exit at the very back of the truck. That's the key to keeping the cab quieter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjXdq3TC9eM 350 SBC, Long Tube Headers, Magnum Glass Packs (same as Cherry Bomb bullet style), Full Length Tailpipes, No H or X Pipe: old school true dual exhaust. I also did my own exhaust from the headers back. Check that out here: Glass Packs & Header Hook Ups - Post #7 Tail Pipes - Post #32 Good luck, hope this helps! John
Lakeroadster is spot on, and I'll go you one more. Ride in some vehicles which have the sound you like (from the outside). There can be a BIG difference in the comfort level inside vs outside. What sounds "just right" on the inside may be more or less than what sounds "just right" on the outside. Good Luck!
Thanks Steve. We ran some errands today and it really cackles with your foot in it, or if you downshift aggressively. Otherwise it's really fairly tame, again, IMO. (Folks behind me may have a different opinion. )
Longer glass packs are quieter, the more bends the quieter also. I run Flowmaster 40 series, my exhaust goes straight back through the muffler, a 90 and a 45 and exit in front of the fenders. Sounds great idling and cruising.....gets a bit tedious on highway. OD helped the drone a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7IEfcyrFAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zEhDLhWaAA
Exhaust Sound Db levels The longer the glass pack , the deeper the tone , more mellow but still sounds good . A crossover not only helps mid range power but makes the sound better . I am told Smitty's 40" glass packs are no longer made but they do have a 36" one , I told my muffler guy to order me in one , I will have it installed soon I hope (still struggling with slow/wrong/bad parts on the rear axle overhaul) . Keep us posted and PLEASE post up sound videos of whatever you come up with ! .
' Open Exhaust ' There are numerous variables here ~ adding an exhaust crossover as close to the engine as is possible , really mellows out and smooths up the exhaust note and at the same time it improves low and mid range RPM operation , like when you're pulling out of the Cruise In and Officer Not Necessarily Friendly is pulling in.... The other thing is : V8's , even stock ones , tend to make a much sharper exhaust noise than do InLine engines so running no mufflers can be a problem *if* the local Gendarmes are already pi$$ed off by the jerkhoff kiddies in the rice rockets blatting around . In general running a large , flow though mffler(s) mounted as far back as is feasible (I run them behind the rear axle) and a cross over pipe , nets you a deep and mellow exhaust note that keeps you out of mischief until you stamp on it hard at the same time allowing easy breathing so the engine runs stronger . Straight pipes are always illegal everywhere because of sparks and fire danger but unless you have nervous / problematic LEO's , you're good to go *if* you're not a PIA noisemaker .
I'm partial to flowmasters with a small block chevy. It's a timeless sound and gives just the right hot rod noise without being too raspy. Best I can do is a garage video. http://youtu.be/sj9MZW99I4A I'm running true duals, straight out the back. Delta flow 40 series.
~question~ I'm not sure how to read your last post ~ Did you mean : sounds great @ WOT or : Sounds great ! WOOT ! ??
Flowmasters have only been around since the mid 1980's.. thus, for those of us folks older than 30 years they aren't timeless at all. Their sound is reminiscent of a V-8 boat motor with the exhaust dumping into the water.
I'm older than 30. It's still a sound that I would consider to be not trendy, like a 4cyl with a fart can muffler. It's a sweet, mellow burble.
Exhaust ' burble ' Yes , this . It really makes a lot of difference on the particular engine and how it's cammed ~ radical engines make a LOT of racket when exhausted via Flow Masters . My Son's old 1967 Buick GS Coupe had them and sounded great so he bought one for his 1971 Datsun 620 pickup with OHC 1600 C.C. engine and it was terrible ! loud and obnoxious , worse than any fartcan muffler you ever heard . It was *so* bad , he took it back off again when he was 18 or so and into Hot Rodding his vintage Datsun " Lil' Hustler " . I was able to find an original aftermarket up grade carby , factory in dash tachometer and other bits & bobs , it was a nice light duty trucklet with an early Datsun 5 speed manual box in it . Exhaust crossovers help to make that ' burble ' sound and improve off idle and mid range power too .
