help me quiet this pig down (exhaust)
 

I know, I know, I'm old and what not because I don't want louder. I just like listening to my radio more than my muffler and right now I can't even talk to people in the back seat.

About six months ago I broke the weld where the the left and right banks join. The manifold had also cracked near the collector on the left side. I saved some money and replaced the pipe, installed new headers and added a muffler. It turns out, the "Y" pipe assembly and the catalytic converter come as one big pipe that can only be installed by removing the transmission brace, or (what I did) cutting the pipe between the Y and the CC.

So currently from front to rear I have JBA headers, a new Y pipe, a section of straight pipe running back and bending down to where the old muffler was. Someone gave me a Flowmaster super 44, but with it installed, the thing was a biplane going down the highway. I sprang for a Flowmaster 50, but it's still loud inside at highway speed.

I'm planning on welding the clamped joints, adding a pipe to the rear and welding in the new CC.

Is there anything else I can do short of another muffler that would level off some of the highway noise? I've modeled a new pipe above the rear axle, outside of the frame and into the cavity behind the right side of the bumper. I was considering cutting a round hole and exiting there. Would adding a second muffler there help? Like, hiding a cheap parts store "fart can" inside the cavity?

I really want to avoid the garbage pinch seamed can of insulation that comes factory. The factory muffler was spitting out pieces of "insulation" before I removed it. I just don't know that much about sound technology.

Thanks for any ideas

Sam

Edelbrock SDT muffler 2.5 in/out. MUCH quieter than a Flowmaster 50. Good tone, and I can hear my radio and passengers with no problems. You could also add a resonator to quiet things down.

you can always go with a stock exhaust

they were real quiet

Stock exhaust was a novel idea a few weeks ago. I was trying to save money not buying a new "cat-back" assembly. The 44 was free and the 50 cost me $20. the pipe was cheap and bending was free. The only other investment at this point was the few dollars in clamps. Headers seemed like a big expense, but compared to the cost of a new manifold,not much more.

I really don't mind spending a few dollars more, but I'm trying to shy away from buying (at full price) a new muffler.

Would a small resonator knock down some of the highway speed noise? It's mostly at low RPM (<1300) medium and heavy loads that I get the most "roar".

You could add resonators, and second mufflers and whatnot and sure it'll work. But in the end, you'll have more in it than you can get a stock sounding muffler for. I'd just go with a stocker in your case, and sell what you already have recouping some of that cash.

For what it's worth, sounds like the best plan. The Edelbrock muffler actually isn't as much as I thought. For the long run it seems worth it.

I like the "Flowmaster sound", it just drones at a certain RPM much louder that I'd like. I read something last night about Helmholtz resonators. Anyone know anything about these (just out of curiosity)?

Thanks for the ideas,

Sam