Quietest side pipe mufflers?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
Quietest side pipe mufflers?
At some point during the last two years while I was working on restoring my '79 in Germany, the German government went and passed a law limiting the noise of a car's exhaust - or at least they are now forcing US military personnel stationed over here to abide by this law now.
I purchased my Hooker side pipes before they passed this law but I don't have the car registered yet so I'm going to have to get it to pass before I can drive or, more importantly, sell the car.
The car needs to be quieter than 90 DSB. I'm not sure how they do the testing, but I believe the rev the car quite a bit to get the volume at all engine RPM ranges.
I was originally looking at using Spiral Turbo Baffles (http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com) based on the feedback I've read on this forum over the last year. However, according to their webpage, the decibal range is from 85-95 from 750 rpms to 2000 rpms.
Does anyone know of any quieter muffler inserts??
Thanks in advance for any help I can get!
I purchased my Hooker side pipes before they passed this law but I don't have the car registered yet so I'm going to have to get it to pass before I can drive or, more importantly, sell the car.
The car needs to be quieter than 90 DSB. I'm not sure how they do the testing, but I believe the rev the car quite a bit to get the volume at all engine RPM ranges.
I was originally looking at using Spiral Turbo Baffles (http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com) based on the feedback I've read on this forum over the last year. However, according to their webpage, the decibal range is from 85-95 from 750 rpms to 2000 rpms.
Does anyone know of any quieter muffler inserts??
Thanks in advance for any help I can get!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Woodland Park Colorado
I have the spiral mufflers not sure of the db level but im thinking of adding vortex cones to lesson the noise. I know people will recommend reverse flow mufflers but they are restrictive and will lose alot of horse power. Glass packs another option but not sure how loud but heard they are better but then again will cut horse power levels. Not many other choices. Sweet thunders are as loud as sprirals from what ive heard. Maybe put reverse flows in to get registered and then switch to something that gives you better horse power.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Hooker reverse flow sidepipe mufflers are just as quiet as the original exhaust system. Had em on my 72 when I purchased it. Guys made fun of me because of it. They didn't sound like sidepipes at all!!!!
Eddie
Eddie
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I live in Wisconsin. If there is anyone out there that lives in WI could you please tell me what kind of trouble I could get in for running straight pipes. I don't know how loud the car will be, but I love loud cars. The only problem is that I don't think the police will like it. So if anybody can help me out, please do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
They are quiet but VERY restrictive. The glass pack Hookers are louder, not sure if they meed 85db but they are restrictive also.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I live in Wisconsin. If there is anyone out there that lives in WI could you please tell me what kind of trouble I could get in for running straight pipes. I don't know how loud the car will be, but I love loud cars. The only problem is that I don't think the police will like it. So if anybody can help me out, please do.
First off, I LOVE MY SIDEPIPES.
You'd better give some additional consideration to the straight pipes thing. Your engine needs a certain amount of back pressure to operate correctly. With straight pipes you'd lose A LOT of low end power. It would be loud though.
Here's a little story...
When I bought my last Harley in '99, they didn't have a set of drag (straight) pipes for it, so I took delivery of it with the stock exhaust and ordered what was basically chrome tubes.
I couldn't believe how great it ran, and was thinking that HD must have really tweaked the engines since the previous new Harley I bought in '93. Did I like the sound? No, but the drag pipes would be in in a week or so.
The new pipes came in, and I was there the same day and put 'em on. The loss of low-end power was incredible. Once I got up over 40mph was another story, and it did sound like what I want my Harley to sound like though. I ended up buying a set of baffles that fit inside the drag pipes and couldn't be seen. That seemed to give me a happy medium I could live with. If I'd never driven it with the stock exhaust, I'd have never known the difference.
Just something to think about. Side Pipes, BIG YES! Straight pipes
Good Luck.
Last edited by xCCTer; May 12, 2007 at 07:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
I'm in the process of buying Hooker sidepipes also and can't decide which way to go, reverse flow or glasspacks. I wish I could hear how each would sound beforehand so I that I could make the right decision. I don't want it to be as quiet as the stock exhaust, but I also don't want it to be too loud either because the pipes are now right along side of you when you drive as opposed to the sound coming out of the back of the car. I don't want too loud so that I can't hear myself think, but I would like that deep throaty sound. Do they have sound clips anywhere to listen to so you can get an Idea of how'd they sound?
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Do you have to get the inspection every so often? Get some old, used Hooker reverse flows (on the cheap) for the inspection, then remove them and install the spirals for every day use. Whenever you need to retake the test, put the reverse flows in temporarily.
I really like my spiral turbo baffles, but I doubt if they would pass the test when you really get on it...
I really like my spiral turbo baffles, but I doubt if they would pass the test when you really get on it...
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: WAKEMAN OHIO
The way to cut the sound is to cut the flow. Lets say you had a set of STS baffles in your side tubes and left the center cap on and not drilled. If you than took a piece of sheet metal cut four 4 inch circles to use like plugs. Than drill lets say 30 3/16 holes in the plugs than tac weld them to each end of the STS baffles that would stop the flow.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
Do you have to get the inspection every so often? Get some old, used Hooker reverse flows (on the cheap) for the inspection, then remove them and install the spirals for every day use. Whenever you need to retake the test, put the reverse flows in temporarily.
I really like my spiral turbo baffles, but I doubt if they would pass the test when you really get on it...
I really like my spiral turbo baffles, but I doubt if they would pass the test when you really get on it...
The way to cut the sound is to cut the flow. Lets say you had a set of STS baffles in your side tubes and left the center cap on and not drilled. If you than took a piece of sheet metal cut four 4 inch circles to use like plugs. Than drill lets say 30 3/16 holes in the plugs than tac weld them to each end of the STS baffles that would stop the flow.
Thats a great idea. I'll have to look into that.
Thanks!!
Victor
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
