Well that didn't work, so now what?! (exhausts)

[smgee]

Being fed up with how quiet my '06 CV8 was, but not being able to justify the cost of a new exhaust system, I thought I was being clever...

I bought a used pair of rear silencers off Ebay, sliced them open, gutted the insides and turned them into straight-through silencers by welding in a perforated pipe, packing them with sound-absorbent material and welding the cases back together again. The result? A waste of time, barely noticeable, except for a small increase in volume at full throttle - arse!

So, what are my options? I'm kinda reluctant to spend £1200 on a Wortec cat-back on an otherwise stock car that cost me £9k two years ago.

I guess I could have a go at fitting it myself (feasible on axle stands?). That way I could always sell it on, if/when I get rid of the car.

[jonnM]

Open them back up and remove the sound absorbent material??

[ARAF]

I agree. I think you've done too good a job.

First, remove the rear silencer completely, and see if you like that sound. If you do, just fit a bit of pipe, rather than the rear box. If you only want it like that for some for the time, then something like this in front of the rear box is what you need.

[escortcab]

Have you fitted them yet Araf? I've just fitted mine but one of the power modules doesn't power up so I have had to keep them closed.

[ARAF]

escortcab said:

Have you fitted them yet Araf? I've just fitted mine but one of the power modules doesn't power up so I have had to keep them closed.

No, I now have the electrical parts, so will be soldering in the fuse and isolator switch this evening after work (hopefully).

Boxes may then go on, or it could be a few more days. Even allowing for me being sidetracked, they should be on by the end of the weekend though.

[smgee]

ARAF said:

I agree. I think you've done too good a job.

Considering the complex arrangement of internal baffles, chambers, pipes, etc, I really was expecting that the back boxes were doing most of the silencing. I didn't want to overdo it, and there are certain merits in keeping it looking stock! I was really surprised how subtle the increase in noise was.

Do used Wortecs and the like ever come up for sale?

[VinceM]

They do crop up for sale now and again - contact the breakers on here.

Try removing the mid silencers, that might help with what you want too.

[Blue383]

Not sure why you think that your only option is £1200 for a walkinshaw. I had a custom exhaust complete with x pipe tailor made for the car by these guys for around £400

http://www.topgearstockport.co.uk

Life time guarantee and excellent sound.

I see that you're in Merseyside so if you want to have a look at mine your welcome. Car is away for the next two weeks for more mods but anytime after that.

[MatrixXXx]

make a small cherry bomb and weld it inside, you can play around till you get the sound you want, there is a post on here where a guy made his own silencers with a J pipe ,may give you a few ideas?

[Marvib]

Blue383 said:

Not sure why you think that your only option is £1200 for a walkinshaw. I had a custom exhaust complete with x pipe tailor made for the car by these guys for around £400

http://www.topgearstockport.co.uk

Life time guarantee and excellent sound.

I see that you're in Merseyside so if you want to have a look at mine your welcome. Car is away for the next two weeks for more mods but anytime after that.

This is just around the corner from me, was it a CV8 monaro they worked on for you?

[smgee]

Blue383 said:

I see that you're in Merseyside so if you want to have a look at mine your welcome. Car is away for the next two weeks for more mods but anytime after that.

Thanks Rick, that'd be good. I think we met at the North West gathering at the top of Parbold hill last year - mine was the really quiet CV8!!

[Blue383]

smgee said:

Blue383 said:

I see that you're in Merseyside so if you want to have a look at mine your welcome. Car is away for the next two weeks for more mods but anytime after that.

Thanks Rick, that'd be good. I think we met at the North West gathering at the top of Parbold hill last year - mine was the really quiet CV8!!

Yeah, and mine was the one shaking the dead out of their graves with the cutouts open.

[Blue383]

smgee said:

Blue383 said:

I see that you're in Merseyside so if you want to have a look at mine your welcome. Car is away for the next two weeks for more mods but anytime after that.

Thanks Rick, that'd be good. I think we met at the North West gathering at the top of Parbold hill last year - mine was the really quiet CV8!!

Yeah, and mine was the one shaking the dead out of their graves with the cutouts open.

[Lil'RedGTO]

smgee said:

I bought a used pair of rear silencers off Ebay, sliced them open, gutted the insides and turned them into straight-through silencers by welding in a perforated pipe, packing them with sound-absorbent material and welding the cases back together again.

Did you take any photos? I've always wondered what the inside of the stock silencers looks like.

You could cut out the small cylindrical middle silencers for a small but noticeable difference in volume and burble (if it's a facelift CV8). You could also try removing the resonator and replacing it with an h pipe, x pipe or straight pipes. I have thought about this, but am worried that doing so may actually decrease exhaust noise in the cabin, especially windows up, as I suspect (but could be wrong) that it acts like a mini echo chamber under your seat.

I'm surprised that your modifications to the rear boxes didn't have more of an effect. Have you heard the car from outside? Maybe it is a good bit louder. Bear in mind that all that noise is being directed rearwards so you really need it to be significantly louder before you'll notice much difference from the passenger seat. This is one of the frustrating things about exhausts. Passers-by get most of the benefit of your expenditure!

[wav8]

Have you tried AAS in Newcastle very good

[ARAF]

Just taken ours out, for the first time with straight-through pipes from the cats, and it's surprisingly normal inside the cabin.

Maybe the OP's problem isn't the exhausts, but the car's sound insulation?

[smgee]

Lil'RedGTO said:

Did you take any photos? I've always wondered what the inside of the stock silencers looks like.

I'm surprised that your modifications to the rear boxes didn't have more of an effect. Have you heard the car from outside? Maybe it is a good bit louder.

Yes, I took some pictures of the insides. I can post them, but it won't be before next weekend.

To be fair, under load with a wide open throttle, there is a noticeable increase inside the car with the windows shut, so it could be quite a bit louder outside. But at small throttle openings, just driving gently, I can tell no difference. Certainly nothing like the two Wortec-equipped CV8s I drove before I bought this one.

[smgee]

I'm gonna have a go from my phone...

Insides:




2 miles of long-strand glass removed:


Perf tube being welded:


Packing it:


Tacking it:

Edited by smgee on Sunday 24th August 08:50

[smgee]

I'm gonna have a go from my phone...

Insides:

Edited by smgee on Sunday 24th August 09:13

[IanLWarrington]

smgee said:

I'm gonna have a go from my phone...

Insides:


2 miles of long-strand glass removed:


Perf tube being welded:


Packing it:


Tacking it:

No need to pay that sort of money - I had a cat back done on my silver VXR at this place http://www.jpexhausts.co.uk/ - £600 and a lifetime guarantee - not too loud but that was my choice (had only the centre box left out). They will do what you want. Beautiful job. Have a look at their gallery.