Best sounding exhaust upgrade

Best sounding exhaust upgrade

Author
Discussion

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I bought a 4.0 97 Chim last weekend. It's great but I think i want more noise!

What is the best way of getting it to sound better - more pops and bangs on over run, louder note on acceleration?

I have seen other posts but there doesn't seem to be a consensus - any advice greatly appreciated!

jamienshelly

1,826 posts

137 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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Hi mate, when talking about anything TVR, you will NEVER get a total agreement, this is what makes them so special as they are all different, But even worse is the exhaust mods, cats in or out, sleeved or not, cherry bombs or not, half sleeved and the list goes on with any combination of them all!. my advice is listen to as many of the combinations and make up your own mind and let SWMBO listen also as she may not want to travel x amount of miles with no cats and sleeved system (I count myself lucky that Shelly doesn't mind). Its your decision and only know what is the best soundtrack for you, but if you want pops and bangs its best to loose the cats. Sorry I have sat on the fence, but it has to be your decision and its your hard earned cash that's going to pay for the changes.

Milky400

1,960 posts

177 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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The chimaera that i had came with a sports exhaust from Offord, wouldnt have a car serviced there but the exhaust was spot on. Somewhere on you tube is a before and after video.

Think it was a cherry bomb of some sort, but whatever it was it was awesome. All cats were left in situ which may have just took the edge off the hashness....

Thats my two pennies worth

Milky400

1,960 posts

177 months

brett84

1,291 posts

152 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
it's all personal preference really, like I obviously think Silver is the fastest colour wink
pre cats out is the general consensus as a start, then go from there as loud as you want. De-cat Y piece, main silencers removed, or sleeved, or cherry bombed etc

caduceus

6,069 posts

265 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I too bought mine a week and already I'm in the process of taking off the manifolds to remove the pre-cats.
As already mentioned, it's a good starting point. Plus it makes the engine rev a little more free and reduces under bonnet temps, apparently.
It's all personal when it comes to acceptable exhaust notes. I personally don't like the 'tug boat on tickover' sound. For me it sounds too much. I prefer a more refined deep rumble.

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I've read a few good things about having standard system with pre cats out and a "Clive F" Y piece... quite hard to know what these things sound like on you tube with different recording qualities etc. Anyone heard this?



AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
caduceus said:
I too bought mine a week and already I'm in the process of taking off the manifolds to remove the pre-cats.
As already mentioned, it's a good starting point. Plus it makes the engine rev a little more free and reduces under bonnet temps, apparently.
It's all personal when it comes to acceptable exhaust notes. I personally don't like the 'tug boat on tickover' sound. For me it sounds too much. I prefer a more refined deep rumble.
How big a job is this? You reckon it makes it sound better?

IanLTV8

32 posts

122 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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I had mine sleeved recently but with no silencing straight through pipes, pre cats in and main cat in, sounds great when you open it up on hard acceleration and lots of pops and bangs on over run ( makes people look ! ) but find it tug boat like on tick over, think I might have it toned down a bit when it's next in for service

IanLTV8

32 posts

122 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
IanLTV8 said:
I had mine sleeved recently but with no silencing straight through pipes, pre cats in and main cat in, sounds great when you open it up on hard acceleration and lots of pops and bangs on over run ( makes people look ! ) but find it tug boat like on tick over, think I might have it toned down a bit when it's next in for service
Link to video
http://youtu.be/XsKf75MzVKY

caduceus

6,069 posts

265 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
AD77 said:
caduceus said:
I too bought mine a week and already I'm in the process of taking off the manifolds to remove the pre-cats.
As already mentioned, it's a good starting point. Plus it makes the engine rev a little more free and reduces under bonnet temps, apparently.
It's all personal when it comes to acceptable exhaust notes. I personally don't like the 'tug boat on tickover' sound. For me it sounds too much. I prefer a more refined deep rumble.
How big a job is this? You reckon it makes it sound better?
Time will tell... But from what I've heard on youtube, it sounds better than with them in. Plus mechanical advantages makes it a no brainer for me.
It's a bit of a pig getting the bolts off the manifolds, if yours are rusted on after sitting outside for 18 months. Not rocket science, just time consuming and awkward.

Edited by caduceus on Monday 7th April 17:01

mab1

390 posts

226 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
AD77 said:
I've read a few good things about having standard system with pre cats out and a "Clive F" Y piece... quite hard to know what these things sound like on you tube with different recording qualities etc. Anyone heard this?
I have this and think its spot on, loud enough but not unbearable on long journeys with a nice selections of snap, crackle and pop on the overrun. I just had the decat Y initially which was ok but taking out the precats brought it to life

AceOfHearts

5,818 posts

190 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
mab1 said:
AD77 said:
I've read a few good things about having standard system with pre cats out and a "Clive F" Y piece... quite hard to know what these things sound like on you tube with different recording qualities etc. Anyone heard this?
I have this and think its spot on, loud enough but not unbearable on long journeys with a nice selections of snap, crackle and pop on the overrun. I just had the decat Y initially which was ok but taking out the precats brought it to life
I also have precats removed and a Clive F y-piece. Not as loud as the sleeved silencer (with cats) that i used to have but still nice.

I sometimes miss the pops and bangs of the sleeved silencer though and wish i had some more volume but it would just not be worth it considering noise limits on trackdays etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt0Keay_b60

This is my car from a few years ago. Bad sound quality though as it was windy and rainy frown

A900ss

3,245 posts

151 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
My car has pre cats out, ACT decat Y piece and standard exhaust. Pops and bangs nicely on the overun.

I wouldn't want any louder (some do) but when I go through town, a lot of people turn there heads so it must be quite loud.

I'm based in Gloucestershire if anybody wants to meet up for a listen as I don't believe that you tube does these exhausts any justice.

AD77

Original Poster:

94 posts

130 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
AceOfHearts said:
I also have precats removed and a Clive F y-piece. Not as loud as the sleeved silencer (with cats) that i used to have but still nice.

I sometimes miss the pops and bangs of the sleeved silencer though and wish i had some more volume but it would just not be worth it considering noise limits on trackdays etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt0Keay_b60

This is my car from a few years ago. Bad sound quality though as it was windy and rainy frown
Interesting, so you think the sleeved silencer sounds better and louder? I have no intention to do any track stuff so that's not an issue. Just want the best noise i can get, whilst avoiding sounding like a tractor/ boy racer....

Goaty Bill

1,779 posts

150 months

Monday 7th April 2014
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Get yourself to Burghley House near Stamford on the 13th April and have a listen to 600 odd TVRs on the day. Pick your favourites and ask the owners.

Simples smile

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
I would also listen to your car with someone else driving it. My last car failed a noise test at something like 114 db but didn't sound very loud from the driving seat!

AceOfHearts

5,818 posts

190 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
AD77 said:
AceOfHearts said:
I also have precats removed and a Clive F y-piece. Not as loud as the sleeved silencer (with cats) that i used to have but still nice.

I sometimes miss the pops and bangs of the sleeved silencer though and wish i had some more volume but it would just not be worth it considering noise limits on trackdays etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt0Keay_b60

This is my car from a few years ago. Bad sound quality though as it was windy and rainy frown
Interesting, so you think the sleeved silencer sounds better and louder? I have no intention to do any track stuff so that's not an issue. Just want the best noise i can get, whilst avoiding sounding like a tractor/ boy racer....
Sleeved is louder, but more tug boat like at tickover. Under load it absolutely screams though and is very addictive. I miss that and the pops and bangs on the overrun that I have now lost.

The decatted is definitely a more 'civilised' loud though and not as raucous.

Decatted and sleeved was bonkers loud, hence why I put a standard silencer back on. I have kept the decat though for trackday reasons and also the fact it does increase power as well as noise smile

A difficult decision but I would recommend decat first as it is easily reversible. If you want more noise after you can still sleeve the silencer and provably sell the decat with little loss

Seandenyer

320 posts

119 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi all, first time post so be gentle, just bought my first chimaera on Saturday and well pleased, drove it from Coventry where I picked it up from to fleet in Hampshire with no problems at all, tbh was expecting to breakdown or something but now have the faith in it, 124 miles and only used 4 gallons of fuel, (31mpg) excellent I though but did drive it like a pussy as it was the first time I had driven one, can anyone tell me what I need to look out for problem wise.

donski58

343 posts

157 months

Monday 7th April 2014
quotequote all
Seandenyer said:
Hi all, first time post so be gentle, just bought my first chimaera on Saturday and well pleased, drove it from Coventry where I picked it up from to fleet in Hampshire with no problems at all, tbh was expecting to breakdown or something but now have the faith in it, 124 miles and only used 4 gallons of fuel, (31mpg) excellent I though but did drive it like a pussy as it was the first time I had driven one, can anyone tell me what I need to look out for problem wise.
Hi Welcome to the world of TVR

Join the TVR Car Club and come along to the Hampshire region meetings, we are a very lively region with a diverse membership. Our next meeting is on Sun 13 Apr at The Milburys pub SO24 0PB arriving around 1200.

Don