exhaust alternatives to make wedge sound like a proper V8 ?
Discussion
i've just bought a 3905cc nck engined 350i '84 wedge, which is supposed to have something like 240-275bhp depending on who you believe. bought as a non-runner, i've just got it running.
but it sounds way too tame, way too civilised!!! for something that i think ought to sound like a fire breathing monster, it sounds far too much like a everyday saloon car for my liking! more like an old sd1 or the p6 my mum used to drive than a cobra or bullit mustang!
surely part of the joy of a big powerful v8 in a small uncomfortable impractical sports car ought to be the NOISE!!!!
there is even one of those huge modern mercedes amg saloon cars that goes up my road every day that makes the wedge sound like a mini metro in comparison!
obviously i don't want to lose performance for the sake of sound, but seems to me more noise ought to mean more performance too! f1 cars aren't quiet!
i've owned an s series s2 2.9 for years and that sounds fantastic, the noise is one of the biggest pleasures of the car. so what can we (or at least i) do?
it seems to me the v8 tvr is like an affordable version of the legendary cobra which had 4 into 1 tubular manifolds going into side exit pipes with no crossover or link pipe. the same goes for all the old v8 muscle cars which have twin pipes that don't like running from each manifold either to side exit or twin tail exit pipes.
so is the problem with the wedge that the exhaust system goes into one pipe? if a way could be found to run two pipes, one from each manifold either out the side or to the back of the car, would that give the big V8 noise i think the car deserves? has anyone done this without massively compromising ground clearance?
or would it sound better if the single exit exhaust was retained but less silenced?
it doesn't seem fair that my 170bhp 2.9 tvr should sound SO much better than my 240-270ish bhp 3.9 tvr.
thoughts? suggestions? experiences?
but it sounds way too tame, way too civilised!!! for something that i think ought to sound like a fire breathing monster, it sounds far too much like a everyday saloon car for my liking! more like an old sd1 or the p6 my mum used to drive than a cobra or bullit mustang!
surely part of the joy of a big powerful v8 in a small uncomfortable impractical sports car ought to be the NOISE!!!!
there is even one of those huge modern mercedes amg saloon cars that goes up my road every day that makes the wedge sound like a mini metro in comparison!
obviously i don't want to lose performance for the sake of sound, but seems to me more noise ought to mean more performance too! f1 cars aren't quiet!
i've owned an s series s2 2.9 for years and that sounds fantastic, the noise is one of the biggest pleasures of the car. so what can we (or at least i) do?
it seems to me the v8 tvr is like an affordable version of the legendary cobra which had 4 into 1 tubular manifolds going into side exit pipes with no crossover or link pipe. the same goes for all the old v8 muscle cars which have twin pipes that don't like running from each manifold either to side exit or twin tail exit pipes.
so is the problem with the wedge that the exhaust system goes into one pipe? if a way could be found to run two pipes, one from each manifold either out the side or to the back of the car, would that give the big V8 noise i think the car deserves? has anyone done this without massively compromising ground clearance?
or would it sound better if the single exit exhaust was retained but less silenced?
it doesn't seem fair that my 170bhp 2.9 tvr should sound SO much better than my 240-270ish bhp 3.9 tvr.
thoughts? suggestions? experiences?
Edited by drak ula on Thursday 7th April 09:45
not quite sure if you are being sarcastic adam, as i am new to the wedge forum, (but been on the s series forum for years) but assuming you are being sincere, yes i will try removing centre box and swapping for a straight pipe before anything else. i did that to my bmw e30 325 a few years ago and it sounded fantastic, howled like an old school f1 car!
'too loud' what's that? ;-) ok i know what you mean. i tried no silencers on my mk1 transit hot rod (tuned capri 3.0 engine) and that was too loud even for me, so now have just the small scimitar centre boxes as the only silencers on that, sounds bril'!
as for keeping the rev's up, will do, am very pleased with how it rev's for a big v8, rev's more like a little alfa than a big rover v8!
cheers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukNcvcdKOYY
'too loud' what's that? ;-) ok i know what you mean. i tried no silencers on my mk1 transit hot rod (tuned capri 3.0 engine) and that was too loud even for me, so now have just the small scimitar centre boxes as the only silencers on that, sounds bril'!
as for keeping the rev's up, will do, am very pleased with how it rev's for a big v8, rev's more like a little alfa than a big rover v8!
cheers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukNcvcdKOYY
adam quantrill said:
At last - someone complaining that the Wedge is too quiet! I've been waiting a while...
Yeah change the centre box for a straight pipe. but keep the box for re-inserting if it spoves too loud.
Also - keep the revs up, that will help!
Yeah change the centre box for a straight pipe. but keep the box for re-inserting if it spoves too loud.
Also - keep the revs up, that will help!
Given the reverse desire - are there known off-the-shelf solutions which would
A) make it less likely for neighbours to murder me if starting the thing at 07.00 AM for drive to work
B) meet the 100dB track day limits
?
Neither is especially likely to be an issue anytime soon (dash is in my living room while I sort the electrics) but for future it might be useful to know if either is doable.
A) make it less likely for neighbours to murder me if starting the thing at 07.00 AM for drive to work
B) meet the 100dB track day limits
?
Neither is especially likely to be an issue anytime soon (dash is in my living room while I sort the electrics) but for future it might be useful to know if either is doable.
Hi mate...That is a bit quiet...My old 280i was louder...Topped out at 119db
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VuD4wtI8w&li...
Even more than my now 350i....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChQI1grBTL4
I did want to make to make her louder and was going to do away with the large centre box and replace it with something smaller...Or straight through...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2VuD4wtI8w&li...
Even more than my now 350i....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChQI1grBTL4
I did want to make to make her louder and was going to do away with the large centre box and replace it with something smaller...Or straight through...
drak ula said:
yeah will defo try that first! cheap fix ;-)
This is what no silencers at all sounds likepjac67 said:
Just reduce/remove the silencer and all will be Okay.....
I will be doing exactly the same on my current 420
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6hJKOl7xvVM
hrepo said:
Given the reverse desire - are there known off-the-shelf solutions which would
A) make it less likely for neighbours to murder me if starting the thing at 07.00 AM for drive to work
B) meet the 100dB track day limits
?
Neither is especially likely to be an issue anytime soon (dash is in my living room while I sort the electrics) but for future it might be useful to know if either is doable.
I did hear that there's supposed to be an MOT amendment due which allows the car to be failed if in the tester's opinion the exhaust is too loud. On that basis I re-stuffed my silencer with new wire wool (and have the photos to prove it if needed at MOT time) - but it made little difference A) make it less likely for neighbours to murder me if starting the thing at 07.00 AM for drive to work
B) meet the 100dB track day limits
?
Neither is especially likely to be an issue anytime soon (dash is in my living room while I sort the electrics) but for future it might be useful to know if either is doable.
When the mot man said that the centre box of my far too quiet 350i was on its last legs I replaced it with one of these http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-25-2-Oval-3-5-x7-Satin-S...
Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe as it was about 14" long compared to the original 26" but I love the way it sounds now - just loud enough to annoy the neighbours without completely pissing them off but not to loud/droning on longer journey's
Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe as it was about 14" long compared to the original 26" but I love the way it sounds now - just loud enough to annoy the neighbours without completely pissing them off but not to loud/droning on longer journey's
hey that looks good, thanks for the link!
Rockettvr said:
When the mot man said that the centre box of my far too quiet 350i was on its last legs I replaced it with one of these http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-25-2-Oval-3-5-x7-Satin-S...
Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe as it was about 14" long compared to the original 26" but I love the way it sounds now - just loud enough to annoy the neighbours without completely pissing them off but not to loud/droning on longer journey's
Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe as it was about 14" long compared to the original 26" but I love the way it sounds now - just loud enough to annoy the neighbours without completely pissing them off but not to loud/droning on longer journey's
Go and speak to Pipecraft in Essex:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/susan.insole/
They did the Gredge for me - lovely noise!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/susan.insole/
They did the Gredge for me - lovely noise!
Rockettvr said:
When the mot man said that the centre box of my far too quiet 350i was on its last legs I replaced it with one of these ebay 251891584053
Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe...
Ron, did you make up a strap to go underneath it like on the original box? If so did you weld the strap onto the box itself? The strap attaches to the exhaust mount bobbins and takes the weight in the middle. It also provides a little bit more defence from speed bumps, if you know what I mean.Took a bit of fettling and an extra bit of pipe...
thanks jack
Jack Valiant said:
Go and speak to Pipecraft in Essex:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/susan.insole/
They did the Gredge for me - lovely noise!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/susan.insole/
They did the Gredge for me - lovely noise!
I have a standard stainless silencer and a fabricated stainless pipe from that that goes straight back under the diff before bending to exit at the original point with twin 3" tailpipes and it sounds miles better than the original.Uses all the original hanging points as well. It is quieter at low speeds but louder when you hit the throttle and i have had so many comments about how good it sounds, even had a guy with a aston vanquish say he wished his sounded that good.
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