I have a 76 L82. When I take the car for a ride down to the store (10 minutes) and come home. My ears are ringing.

I changed out the mufflers to middle of the line as far as sound. Did this last fall. I think it is a little quieter but still my ear are ringing after taking her for a ride.

Why is my car so loud?

I'm thinking of pulling out the carpet and installing insulation that will help cut down on the noise. Carpet is old anyway, could stand to be replaced.

Anyway, what do you recommend? Is there a specific type of insulation you have tried and works well?

Thanks

 

hmmmm, sometimes loud is in the ear of the beholder. Are you over 50? From what I have gathered from others, seems that the older we all get the quieter we like our cars.
Others are going to ask you for more specific's about your exhaust, muffler brand, size of exhaust pipes, headers, etc.

 

39 thank you..

I usually don't have issues with noise, just with this car.

The mufflers are Dynomax super turbo, the second to quietest they make.

The exhaust pipes are about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter.

She has the stock exhaust manifolds.

 

When you put a turbo type muffler on, it is always louder than a stock muffler.

If you want quiet, get original types.

How are the tailpipes cut? Original style turndowns or what? The shape of the outlet also impacts the noise they make. That is part of the reason kids run around with the fart cans on their imports.

 

The exhaust tips are the ones that turn down.

Do you think all I really need are stock mufflers?

How much would insulation under the carpet and on the Firewall help?

Mufflers would be easier but just want to understand what is going to make the most difference.

Thanks

 

Unless you have a hole in the exhaust pipes underneath the car, all the sound should be coming out the end of the muffler.

So insulation on the firewall isn't going to quiet the exhaust down. It might the noise of lifters, pulleys, belts, and so on, but not the exhaust.

That is why people used to put glass packs on, to increase noise.

 

Good point.

I know I shouldn't have done this but I had the mufflers put on by Mineke (sp?) and a couple weeks later noticed the weld job from the pipe to muffler was not great. I can feel air coming out if I hold my hand up to it in some spots.

Sounds like that is part of my problem.

Guess I could bring it back, maybe they could pull out the torch and fix it?

Or maybe I should just put stock ones on.

 

I could try just getting some exhaust wrap and wrap them to see if it really makes a difference before doing anything

 

I have Dynomax super turbos and I cant even hear the exhaust over the cooling fan when i'm driving. you must have a holes somewhere.

 

Hmm. Thanks. So I need to figure out where the noise is coming from. Maybe its up near the exhaust manifold too. The pipes don't look that old, but I'll have to get under there and take a closer look. I love the car, just can't take the noise.

Did you ever install any insulation under your carpet or on your firewall?

 

You need to check the exhaust manifolds for cracks, the exhaust pipe joints, the exhaust pipes for holes, any cat. converters for leaks or holes as the sound might be coming not from the back through the mufflers but from the holes well before it gets to the mufflers. I have new Flowmasters on mine which drone at 35 mph but once above 40 mph all the sound is well behind you as you drive. When I replaced an aged exhaust system right after buying it all of the above were wrong with mine. Amazing difference when the system was tight. Flowmasters and high flow outputs are louder but really only at speeds under 40 when you are in the car. I like the deeper bass sounds and none of the exhaust manifold crack sounds, etc. crap it up anymore.

Unless you have a particular hearing register issue in your own ears, you more than likely have a leaky exhaust system pre mufflers

Lance

 

Thanks Lance. I bought the car less than a year ago. It had flowmaster 40's on it. I changed them out for quieter mufflers (dynomax super turbo) but looks like the problem is more likely the manifold/pipes. Exhaust manifolds look real old, must be original. I don't have any cat converters. Looks like straight pipes all the way back.

I'll have to get this thing up in the air and let is run while I move around underneath so I can try to pinpoint where the leak is. Sounds like that is definitely my issue.

My wife says when I start the car in the garage the pictures on the walls in the house shake. I think I have a problem.

 

trade for a 2011 Honda accord, nice and quiet winds like a muffled sewing machine, women love them. But would you want to be seen in it?

 

It is very possible that the exhaust system you now have has some areas of high resonance at specific rpm's. And, one of those is exactly at your cruise speed. Take the car out to an open stretch of road and start from a stop applying a constant accelerator position (20-30% throttle, for example) and listen carefully to the sound of the exhaust as the car accelerates. The frequency of the sound will follow the engine rpm; but, the volume of the sound may 'ebb and flow' throughout that acceleration cycle. If you find that there are some areas of high-volume as you test, note the engine rpm. Then you can check to see what engine rpm you are running during your normal cruising. If those high volume points match up with your cruise speed, there's your problem.

You can reduce unwanted resonances by changing mufflers or by adding resonators (smaller units that are installed after the mufflers). It is possible that installing an 'H' tube or an 'X' pipe in the system will modify resonance conditions. But doing so could make things worse, as well. In all likelihood, your choice of mufflers is the 'culprit' in this situation. Soundproofing your floor will help...when the windows are up/top is on. But, when you lower the windows, the elevated sound will be back. Good luck on finding an equitable solution.

 

Ouch!! That really hurt. But I like the point it made.

 

I think it's more than the mufflers. Qwank said earlier he has the same mufflers I do. He can hear his fan. I didn't even know I had one...

The car is loud even sitting in the driveway.

I do like a mean sounding car, my buddy has a 78 TA that sounds great but his isn't killing his ears.

I'm thinking I need to check the manifold, and pipes. Also, I know when the mufflers were put on the welding job wasn't 100%. I can feel air in some spots where the muffler meets the pipes.

I'll get under there and investigate some more.

Thanks

 

As for the Honda comment.

I hear ya. The wife says the car smells too.

Oh well. She doesn't have to drive in it..

 

you have the best mufflers available for both performance and exhaust noise on the quiet side, so have your exhaust company look it over and correct the possible leaks....

I was going to suggest the Walkers until I read where you already have them installed....

 

Get a louder radio. Lol .

 

ya, or ear plugs..