So frustrated! You know that drone or howl that makes it feel like your brain is rattling out of your skull? I have been living with it for the last 10 years and can’t handle it any longer. Numerous exhaust set ups and mufflers with a huge expense! This last summer I finally am narrowing it down. Here are a few of the exhaust systems I have been running. I should add that the drone is the most intense at 2000rpm (about 45mph) Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, generic Super Turbo mufflers, 2.25in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe, Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers, 2.25in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe, Dynomax Ultra Flo mufflers, 2.25in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe, Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, 2.25in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, 2.25in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, 2.50in pipe over the axles. Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe, Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, 2.50in pipe over the axles. No Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, no pipe behind the mufflers and over the axle. As you can see I have been actively trying to solve this problem. Now the sound is perfect with no drone whatsoever. However I have fumes exiting directly under my car along with a significant drop in the (seat of your pants) feel in power. Why are the pipes over the axle causing this drone? And would the decrease of power be from the lack of backpressure or am I imagining the power loss? Your input is as always greatly welcomed. Thank you for taking the time to help.
Flowmasters are your problem... They are on my car now, too much drone. My last car.. I put a cross over magnaflow 2.5" stainless system and loved it! Great sound for idle, take off but for cruising.. simply quiet. I'll be going that route again for the new car.
The only way to overcome the drone and have tail pipes with flows is to put. Preforated resonators on the ends before the tips. This is what I have done plenty of times. Down side is it cuts down the exhuast note db aswell. With my latest setup on my 5.7 charger I just completely removed the muffler and left the resos. Just like before when there is no drone just exhuast note clear as day hope this helps. I know the anoying drone gets anoying try talking to someone on the phone;(
Resonators and side exhaust might help a little. Or at least some turndown tailpipes maybe?o No: Where your over the axle pipes mandrel bent?
The axle pipes were not mandrel bends. The 2.25 pipe was like a U shape and exhaust guy that did the 2.50 pipe I think did a better job with less of a dramatic curve. What about the power loss? Do you think this is a possibility or imagination?
Idk, but if it has lost power id think its because of less back pressure. Try the resos should make you happy. Did the x quiet the exhuast?
Not much change in sound with the X-pipe. I did notice a power loss when I removed the X-pipe though. About the back pressure. Im wondering how much pipe is needed for adequate back pressure. I would think that after it hit the mufflers it wouldn't be as critical.
put the x back on to gain low end hp/ tq. If you lost power by taking the tail pipes of then id put them back on. Did you notice when you had the tail pipes the drone mainly came from the tail of the car but it was loud enough it came into the cabin? Well the glass packs/ resos cure that problem. Idk how...:beers2: I'm not Devon the man
If it were me id throw the x back on... ditch the drone masters and put resos on the end before the tips. Soon as my engine gets rebuilt ill have a set of 2 year old 40s for sale for 40 bucks plus ship.
I pulled the pipe from behind the mufflers and the drone disappeared so the exhaust guy was convinced that the drone was caused by the transition of the pipes going from 2.50 to 2.25. His hunch caused me another $300 and he built the 2.50 all the way back from the mufflers. So with that said...... My current set up is Drone - Shorty Headers, 2.50in pipe, X-pipe, Flowmaster Super 44s mufflers, 2.50in pipe over the axles.
300 for non maderel tail pipes? Sounds like you need a new exhaust guy... Well the resos have worked for me. Trick is to have them close to the end. 12 inch resos... with the x you won't have that pop like you would without it. :beer
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ceaser. :grin: Don't fall for the old "you have to have some backpressure" myth. The only reason an engine makes more torque at low rpms with a smaller diameter exhaust pipe is due to the increase in exhaust velocity, but at the expense of higher rpm power. For wide open throttle horsepower, less backpressure (larger pipes) win. Davy, out of curiosity, do (did) all of the exhaust hangers (especially the tailpipes) have some rubber built into the hangers between the pipes and the frame? Are (were) they attached to the frame and not the body? Devon
Ceas350 Sorry it was actually $271.00 for him to cut out the 2.25 tail pipes, make new 2.50in pipes and install them. $97.00 to install new exhaust tips and another $215.00 to cut out the X-pipe and then reinstall it after it didn't solve the problem. This all in about 2 days of trouble shooting. A friendly suggestion to anyone needing exhaust work done..... You might want to consider living in someplace other than Alaska. Exhaust shops are few and far between. Dawildcat Good observation... Yes I thought of that too. All the hangers are mounted with some rubber and attached to the frame. So from what I understand from your post is that the backpressure shouldn't be an issue by eliminating the tailpipes on my car?
No, backpressure is a non-issue. A full 2.5" exhaust should be fine for your car. I'm still thinking about your drone issue. Devon
My family knew I was coming home from a block away with the cheapo 2.5" Flowmasters. I put on Cherry Bombs, and it was quieter. This was going to be my wife's DD, and it still wasn't quiet enough for her. I took it up to the Purple Place and they put on two 2.25" Flowmasters. It's quieter, but I immediately noticed the drop in WOT performance. It's still that way; I'm not made of money. And I still don't like it. (And my wife still won't drive it) This is a 2.5" Flowmaster system with the h-pipe and turndowns at the end, exiting below the rear bumper. I have headers, as well. Long tubes, 3" collectors reducing to the 2.5" exhaust pipe size. It doesn't drone, however, it's just louder than I'd prefer.
Anywhere from 1800 to 2100 Rpms with 2000 being the worst. Thats about 45mph. Other than that I have no problems. And the sound is a deep loud howl like your blowing into the top of an empty bottle.
The issue here seems not to be noise in general, but a 2000 rpm resonance that goes away with tailpipe deletion. Devon
