Can it be quiet and powerful?

[jlongjohn]

Ok I love the sound of my truck, it’s straight piped to a large tip and has an open air box with great turbo sound. But I have to say it, it’s too loud.

 

So simple question, can I make it quieter without sacrificing flow? Looking maybe at muffler or dual mufflers or maybe some sort of attenuator.

 

I daily drive and use this for normal stuff like going through a drive through or stopping to talk for a second with friends or other parents at my kids school. But I also use it like a work truck, towing and hauling campers, equipment, firewood, etc.

 

Can anyone help with this dilemma?

[Mopar1973Man]

5 minutes ago, jlongjohn said:

So simple question, can I make it quieter without sacrificing flow

 

Yes. My truck is very quiet. I've got a 4" exhaust with a diamond eye muffler. 

 

Even my 3" exhaust with a flow thru NAPA muffler ran great and never had any restriction issues. 

 

https://mopar1973man.com/topic/12911-4-inch-exhaust-needed/

 

 

Edited November 6, 2017 by Mopar1973Man

[trreed]

Compounds make for a good muffler as well.   

[Wild and Free]

A 30" FTE resonator mounted as far forward as possible makes for a pleasant compromise. Added one to my 05 in place of the catalytic converter and it made the ride way more enjoyable in the cab. I have the oem exhaust which isa complete 4" system and did a muffler delete pipe and then replaced the cat with the FTE resonator only regret is not doing it years earlier.

http://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=7

Edited November 6, 2017 by Wild and Free

[Mopar1973Man]

1 minute ago, trreed said:

Compounds make for a good muffler as well.   

 

Which also makes for a great "Garage Queen" as it always broke down.  Then it's silent...

[trreed]

?‍♀️

But to actually answer the question, I've heard of people doing two resonators on a CR truck due to the drone.  I personally run a 4" straight through muffler and it's plenty quiet in the cab, but I'm never listening to the truck from outside so can't answer to how loud it actually is.

[jlongjohn]

Dang those compounds always sneak there way in there, not sure Santa would spring for those.. ?

 

So I have read on the resonators a lot, was not sure I would get enough attenuation or not. They need a shop where you can slip them on and try them before you buy. It’s like a bad marriage, you’re going to have this for a while before you get the urge, money, or a good enough reason to get a new one!

 

Thanks for the link @Mopar1973Man that’s a good read and some good video clips. I should have searched for that first. I am good with a welder so I might throw a Donaldson on there first seeing the book data I can match up a good one to my pipe size and flow. Then if I don’t like it I’ll cut it out and try something else. Maybe I’ll get fancy and weld up some two hole flanges so I can change em out easy..... ahh I love metal working!

Edited November 6, 2017 by jlongjohn

[Wild and Free]

The resonator actually quieted the exhaust noise down a lot along with eliminating the in cab drone completely. Still has a nice exhaust note out the pipe but is toned down greatly almost like a very mild muffler, the key is mounting it as far forward as possible.

I can not comment on the short resonators as far as how they quiet the exhaust but the 30" resonator definitely quieted the entire system down about 50% at the end of the pipe versus straight piped with the cat in the system yet.

 

DO NOT WELD YOUR EXHAUST TOGETHER BUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are quality clamps and adapters to put it together without the need for welding anything which will make for a nightmare in the future if you need / want to take anything apart again and you will at some point. The forming compression clamps are cheap and seal up excellent.

http://www.ftediesel.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=36

Edited November 6, 2017 by Wild and Free

[Mopar1973Man]

6 minutes ago, Wild and Free said:

DO NOT WELD YOUR EXHAUST TOGETHER BUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Very valid point. If your using bolt clamps might the tight enough to hold but not tight enough to crush into the pipe. Just as bad as welding then.

[jlongjohn]

Well that would be a great deal easier! I will have to start stocking some new parts, I used V band a lot at work and wondered why the automotive industry wouldn’t to make things easier. These band clamps are great and now I see maybe the diesel world is just better all around at using better mechanical designs.

 

 

[dripley]

@Mopar1973Manand @Wild and Free what were you two 11 years ago when I was crush welding my new exhausr system on with you bolts? A sawzall is about the only tool I can take mine apart with now.

[Mopar1973Man]

1 minute ago, dripley said:

@Mopar1973Manand @Wild and Free what were you two 11 years ago when I was crush welding my new exhausr system on with you bolts? A sawzall is about the only tool I can take mine apart with now.

 

I was right here cussing out every person that welded there exhaust systems together and figuring out ways of carefully breaking joints and cutting welds. After all that I learned a few things. Never weld an exhaust system together. Always clamp near the edge of the outer pipe. If you have to cut a bit off later to reinstall you'll still have lots of pipe to work with.Then like I said before clamp hard enough to hold but not to crush the pipe excessively. 

 

Another reason on not welding is the welded joints will be more prone to rusting back out when welded. Most all new exhaust systems either aluminumized or stainless will last a very long time as long as you don't burn the aluminumized coating off or have exposed steel.

[Wild and Free]

I can deal with u-clamps crushing by cutting the outer pipe lengthwise where it was crushed with a 90* air powered grinder with a cutting wheel on it and spreading the pipe by prying it open enough to get things apart, very time consuming and a pain it the tukus but still better than welding.

Edited November 6, 2017 by Wild and Free

[dripley]

1 hour ago, Mopar1973Man said:

 

I was right here cussing out every person that welded there exhaust systems together and figuring out ways of carefully breaking joints and cutting welds. After all that I learned a few things. Never weld an exhaust system together. Always clamp near the edge of the outer pipe. If you have to cut a bit off later to reinstall you'll still have lots of pipe to work with.Then like I said before clamp hard enough to hold but not to crush the pipe excessively. 

 

Another reason on not welding is the welded joints will be more prone to rusting back out when welded. Most all new exhaust systems either aluminumized or stainless will last a very long time as long as you don't burn the aluminumized coating off or have exposed steel.

Even I knew better than welding the system together. On top of that I have no welder nor the experience to do it. But I sure clamped it hard. Taking it back apart was not on the mind at the time.

 

1 hour ago, Wild and Free said:

I can deal with u-clamps crushing by cutting the outer pipe lengthwise where it was crushed with a 90* air powered grinder with a cutting wheel on it and spreading the pipe by prying it open enough to get things apart, very time consuming and a pain it the tukus but still better than welding.

That is definitely another method but got to me a pain like you describe. I have been over to FTE's site a few times looking at the resonator and saw the band clamps there. Wish I had known of those a long time ago.

[notlimah]

I have to agree with @Wild and Free on this one, the 30in resonator works suprisingly well. Sold my 99 to my cousin which had a 4in straight pipe diamond eye on it and he put a 30in fte resonator on it about halfway in the system and couldn’t believe how good it sounded! 

 

If you REALLY wanted to have the quickest and easier way of swapping and trying out mufflers/resonators you could look into using diamond eyes COUPLERS. No welding and should be an easy swap as long as everything’s the same length.

 

Although if your goal is drivethroughs and things like that, my truck is on stock exhaust and it’s still too loud. The engine will only get so quiet lol!

[jlbayes]

Did someone say compounds?

[trreed]

Why yes, I do believe that option was mentioned....

[jlbayes]

I need a sarcasm face LOL. 

[trreed]

Italics.....

[jlbayes]

Don't tell me what to do.....