Pipes too loud??

[LuckyWinner]

Just wondering who thinks the stock FFR sidepipes are too loud. Would you buy something quieter if you could? Like the side pipes from Breeze?

[Martin]

Mark Dougherty made a great point to me when I saw him at the open house. The side pipes look good, but after a while you'll get tired of the exhaust being 3 feet from your ear. These cars are loud and we all know that. You can do things to appease it but each has their own pro's and con's.
1) Less HP - less fun, but it depends on what you are looking for. 350HP is plenty for 99% of people, but a lot go way above that.
2) Add a turbo - more cost, and some stick to the "no replacement for displacement". This usually means less ci, but you get the extra power back when you floor it.
3) Under car exhaust - much quieter, more complicated to build, and you lose the look of big meaty side pipes. You also lose the ability to get bitten
4) Gas N pipes - don't lower the volume so much as change the tone to a deeper rumble. I think there is a minor decrease in db.
5) Breeze side pipes - from all accounts so far, they reduce the db significantly, making it almost bearable for long trips. However, there is a decrease in flow rate and therefore engine output. In my mind, this probably isn't a problem because most people will have more hp than they need anyway.

Each to their own. Personally, I'm going for the under car exhaust simply because I like to be able to hear things + noise restrictions tough where I am. If it wasn't an UTC solution, I'd go for the Breeze solution.

Martin

[Gumball]

What?

[Someday I Suppose]

I always think this question depends a lot on what you plan to do with the car. If you're planning a high mile driver, then for sure I think the stock pipes are loud and you want to tone them down somehow. If it's a weekend cruiser and your going to spend an hour or so tops in the car, then IMHO loud and obnoxious is part of what the car is about, but it really depends on how you plan to use it.

[AJuergens]

I'm running the stock pipes on a 393, its fine for cruising around town, but if you hit the highway earplugs are a must. As far as buying something else, maybe when they blow out. I was ready to when I got done with the road trip to the open house from Mobile Alabama, but I do enjoy the roar when going down a nice country back road.

Al

[LewPoberezny]

#6 Ear plugs. Are my answer

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/public/F9KeNyCObIldwT3Cab43xTrfN8IKaQzz_OE4I3TWBv8gI8aMaE W4HYWFqA-xFL3QoHHA2o7LCJRyIQ5Idglux2iyoG0SEkghjfVhicpnNValg NZUzsId2O8UR4IInL6vcH7yl1MbcwBjbUBVQUILLGcYrQ

[efnfast]

Not loud enough if you ask me


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcWrcpzioxY

[Todd Buttrick]

I've had the quiet pipes from Breeze for many years. VERY quiet and a must if you're planning on putting on many miles . I also have the Kooks auger pipes for when I want loud. The breeze pipes are on 90% of the time.

http://www.breezeautomotive.com/details.php?prod_id=545

[LuckyWinner]

I think I read on one of these post that someone had come up with a way to make the stock pipes not so loud. Something about fiberglass and some wire mesh??? Has anyone tried that?

[Mustang Man]

I have the factory Mk 3 ceramic coated pipes on our car with a 427W from Smeding Peformance. The pipes have a nice deep tone compared to my friend's 3.1 pipes with a 347, so the displacement, cam profile, etc. does play into exhaust note considerably on such a short pipe, as well as final gear ratio/cruise RPM. I enjoy the deep tone and once in overdrive (with 3.27s) it is not loud and can carry on a conversation. I DO wear earplugs at extended highway speeds simply due to the windnoise. The buffeting around the windscreen and right into your ear is BAD and it WILL damage your hearing over time.

Just cruising around town i have no real issues, even when I get on it for a 2-3 gear shift, but the wind at highway speeds is what you should be worried about.

I suggest building the car with the supplied pipes and then go from there. Why spend money until YOU know if they're too loud for you or not.

HTH...
Mark

[Someday I Suppose]

David,

There is a mod where you put some 2 inch fiberglass pipe insulation in the last 6 inches or so of the pipe, a little wire mesh or gutter guard to hold it against the wall of the pipes, and then a 'endcap' at the turn out to hold it all in place. The end cap is made from a sink strainer with the flange and down spout cut off. I made up a set on mine for inspection, and got about an 8dcb reduction for very little work. I would expect the glass to blow out fairly often though if you were using them full time.

-Scott

[smeltz]

I have the Gas N Pipes on mine, I like them very much, the finish is real nice and you can hold a conversation in the car if you want without yelling and you can make some noise with them if you want.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/426rwhp/030.jpg

[Bob Cowan]

The stock FFR pipes are not all that loud. But they are (IMO) harsh.

After looking at a bunch of options, I welded in a set of bigger mufflers from Classic Chambered Exhaust. Definatly less volume, and a much softer deeper note. A huge improvement for minimal cash.

Like Mark said, the biggest noise cource is wind and tires. High performance tires on concrete will drown out just about everything else. I wear ear plugs for anything more than a few minutes drive. I do the same for any open vehicle - jeeps, trucks, motorcycles.

I buy ear plugs by the box, and use them for all kinds of stuff - metal work, lawn mowing, commercial aircraft, etc. For an Old Guy, my hearing is still pretty good.

[Pierre B]

Lucky W: Much of the answer depends on what is attached to the business end of the pipes. I have a mildly rebuilt ('mildly' does not translate to 'inexpensive') donor 302. Before even building my kit, I was privileged not only to ride in but to drive another builder's similarly equipped MKI. He had J-pipe-fed FFR exhaust pipes though, and I found the sound painfully loud. I equipped my MKII with cats instead of J-pipes, and that quieted the exhaust enough for me. No matter the sound level though, I always wear an earplug in my left ear when I am out on the interstates simply because I don't like the air blast directly in that ear for long periods of time. I would wear that ear plug as noted regardless of how loud or how quiet this car is.

[riptide motorsport]

I think they're just right.

[South Dakobra]

Mine are not too loud for idling and cruising around town. They get loud when I put my foot in it, but that's how I like it.

On the highway the wind noise bothers me more than the exhaust noise. So I do wear earplugs, unless I'm in traffic and need navigation from my wife the copilot.

[03SC]

Earplugs.

[Slider]

Unrelated to the "Loud" question... Just noticed the Cooper Cobra's on your car. I'm thinking of them myself, but would sure appreciate hearing your opinion on them. Not many good choices at the 15" wheel, but I think the look is much better! Thanks

[Shanker]

Seen this on the other site a while back, don't know how much HP you will loose if you tach the cap on for extra DB removed.

Decibel caps are included. If you want further sound reduction, Tack weld the caps on at the inlet end. This step will drop decibels, but will take some HP away. But at least you have some latitude as far as tuning the exhaust.

http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/musclecars.html

[skullandbones]

I have heard on another thread that just cutting a rewelding the outlet end of the sidepipe will redirect the sound so it doesn't ring in your ears so much like during a constant rpm level on the highway. I believe it is turned down about 30 degrees. Then I saw a sidepipe that someone did that to on another thread so I guess it has some merit. Seems like a simple solution. I would like to hear from someone who has done it and likes or dislikes the results. Thanks, WEK.

[scottns]

I think I read on one of these post that someone had come up with a way to make the stock pipes not so loud. Something about fiberglass and some wire mesh??? Has anyone tried that?

This is the thread with the info you want.

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/236186-exhaust-too-loud-any-suggestions.html

[CraigS]

I tried Oldtop's method and it was fairly effective. But after a few months one side blew out so I replaced it. A month or so later the other side blew out. Maybe it was the way I did it. A month or so ago I tried a new method which I am very very happy w/.
http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/290641-inexpensive-exhaust-quiet.html
I found the spirals when I looked for the Car Chemistry inserts. I know the CC inserts are effectivce but they are also about $80 each.
There was another post at about the same time where a guy did something very similiar but somehow made the insert flexible so it could be installed w/o cutting the pipe. I like the pipe being turned down as that was a step along the way that definately helped a little.HTH

[scottns]

Similar setup in this thread...

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/290847-flexible-exhaust-insert.html

[Tom Komline]

I have Kooks auger pipes. I added approx. 8" of fiberglass pipe insulation (with heavy wire mesh on the ID) at the outlet. The combination of the downward tilt of the pipe tips and the fiberglass make a big difference.

[trublue]

I also have the GNP polished SS sidepipes. I have had them on for 5 years and am completely satisfied. I also use catalytic converters and the sound level is just right. Another feature they have is the use of stainless steel wool as a packing. This eliminates rusting and maintains the integrity of the pipes and sound. Some fiberglass is also used to give them an authentic hot rod tone.
Art

I have the Gas N Pipes on mine, I like them very much, the finish is real nice and you can hold a conversation in the car if you want without yelling and you can make some noise with them if you want.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd235/426rwhp/030.jpg

[dhungerf]

I just finished a side pipe mod using the Lobacks. The sound is different but they seem to be a bit quieter up on the highway.

http://ffr5355.wordpress.com/ffr-5355-factory-five-cobra/4-into-4-headers-side-pipe-modifications/

[edwardb]

Let me add my vote for the GAS-N pipes. In addition to the great look and quality, the sound for me is perfect. Not a hard "edge" like the FFR pipes, but still a nice full sound. It's possible to carry on a conversation while cruising, although we normally wear ear plugs due to wind noise, traffic, etc. Here's a picture, and a video of my first start. The carb wasn't dialed in yet (runs much better now) but you can get the idea.

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%203%20Roadster%20Build/Misc%20Pics/IMG_1523_reduced.jpg




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQnVez8xfI

[LuckyWinner]

Similar setup in this thread...

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/290847-flexible-exhaust-insert.html

Whats stoping the inside of this mod from rattling? It seems to only be bolted on only one side

[mikiec]

I built my car in late 2000. I have the original pipes on it. I find the sound is what it should be. Loud and nasty. I wear ear plugs on road trips, mostly for the wind noise. I love the sound ot the pipes. If I wanted quieter I would have bought a corvette, mazda miata or honda 2000.

[68GT500MAN]

I have the factory pipes and drive wherever I want. I have never tried ear plugs so I can't speak to how they work, but even for longer drives on the highway or freeway, I can still cary on a conversation without problem.
Doug

[edwardb]

I have never tried ear plugs... Doug

You really may want to reconsider that. Regardless of pipes used, permanent damage happens over time. We found Etymotic Research ER20's really chop the noise level (about 20db) but still allow a conversation. Cheap insurance.

[Ray]

I don't have any problem with the side pipes. I get more wind noise than anything else (I'm running stock FFR pipes with FFR headers.) Just put an ear plug in the left ear for street driving and plug up both for the freeway's. Still able to hear what I need too (in fact, since the wind noise is blocked, I actually hear surrounding traffic better.)

Ray

[Jeff Kleiner]

Mine are undoubtedly blown out and are ridiculous under heavy throttle (got a warning at an event last season for being over 98 dB with the meter 50 feet away!) but tolerable when just cruising in 5th gear @ 70 MPH or so. Like others have mentioned wind noise at speed is more of a factor and I use earplugs if I am going to be on the highway for more than just a quick hop.

Jeff

[2FastCobra]

I favor the turbo, it's also good to have 500+ extra horse power when needed. The turbo makes the car a joy to drive and not very loud. --------------------------------------- http://youtu.be/u9CoxEh-eig