Exhaust Options
Discussion
Hi there,
I find the standard exhaust on my Chimaera has a bit of an annoying resonance / howl at 60-70 mph, which gives me a bit of a headache on longer drives.
Could anyone recommend an exhaust setup or aftermarket option that would be less intrusive whilst still maintaining the lovely TVR sound when putting your foot down.
Many thanks!
I find the standard exhaust on my Chimaera has a bit of an annoying resonance / howl at 60-70 mph, which gives me a bit of a headache on longer drives.
Could anyone recommend an exhaust setup or aftermarket option that would be less intrusive whilst still maintaining the lovely TVR sound when putting your foot down.
Many thanks!
are you sure its standard, the standard one on my 400 had no issues. Now have swapped out the original manifold for ACT without pre cats and still no droning - just sounds ace, loud enough, but not so much as to be a pain
no doubt someone will be along in a bit and suggest taking the roof off
no doubt someone will be along in a bit and suggest taking the roof off
If yours is a 450 they do tend to have more of a drone at certain engine revs.
I’m pretty sure it’s much less apparent with pre cats fitted.
Your exhaust might look standard but it’s worth checking manifolds still have the pre cats in them?
My 450 has always droned more since pre car removal.
Sleeving exhaust just causes that nauseous boom to now be in two places at once
Sleeved silencer or even 1/2 sleeved used to be a big thing on here…
If it’s been sleeved there will be evidence of welding work on usually the top of your muffler box.
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
And in truth it just removed some of the resonance that the drone is causing.
Or I drove faster ( risky ) so usually slowed down.
I noticed whilst driving through France at a steady 70 I got a headache yet at 80 the engine seemed in its sweet spot and less drone. Mpg increased too ?
I’m pretty sure it’s much less apparent with pre cats fitted.
Your exhaust might look standard but it’s worth checking manifolds still have the pre cats in them?
My 450 has always droned more since pre car removal.
Sleeving exhaust just causes that nauseous boom to now be in two places at once
Sleeved silencer or even 1/2 sleeved used to be a big thing on here…
If it’s been sleeved there will be evidence of welding work on usually the top of your muffler box.
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
And in truth it just removed some of the resonance that the drone is causing.
Or I drove faster ( risky ) so usually slowed down.
I noticed whilst driving through France at a steady 70 I got a headache yet at 80 the engine seemed in its sweet spot and less drone. Mpg increased too ?
I have a 450 and the standard exhaust was muted and definitely not prone to drone at any speed.
I have since had the silencer fully sleeved and the box repacked (knocks out some resonance apparently) and is now just what I (maybe not the neighbours!!) wanted. On start-up and idle it sounds amazing. Driving at all speeds, I can only assume that all that lovely sound is behind me, because the cabin is still perfectly comfortable, sound-wise, and definitely not droning at any speed that I can discern.
My cat and pre-cats are all still in place and with no other mods, other than the sleeving. Also, it's a fraction of the price of the lovely ACT cherrybomb solution.
I have since had the silencer fully sleeved and the box repacked (knocks out some resonance apparently) and is now just what I (maybe not the neighbours!!) wanted. On start-up and idle it sounds amazing. Driving at all speeds, I can only assume that all that lovely sound is behind me, because the cabin is still perfectly comfortable, sound-wise, and definitely not droning at any speed that I can discern.
My cat and pre-cats are all still in place and with no other mods, other than the sleeving. Also, it's a fraction of the price of the lovely ACT cherrybomb solution.
Sleeving promotes faster exhaust gas removal and clearly with no muffling effect will be well over 100db and over at high revs.
Pre cat and removal of main cat adds power but does create more noise from the engine bay at certain revs.
Fully De cat and fully sleeved can easily reach 120 db
The standard later system including pre cats and main cat in place is around 84db as my car was tested at Bedford after a complete engine rebuild but standard exhausts at 4000 revs
My same 450 de Catted and pre cats removed using standard exhaust recorded 94 db at 4000 revs with an exhaust probe directly behind one of my tail pipes.
I’d expect your 4.0 with cats but sleeved will be similar to the 94db figure. Loud
Anything over 100 leads to ear drum issues and deafness,,,,
I drove mine for many years and largely avoided the drone but it was there. It’s only at certain revs so I avoid them. Remembering back to my earliest days I drove it for 12 months almost every weekend on long journeys taking the dog for a walk on the coast or some such place, 10,000 miles that first year and never remember I had drone or headache issues. Then I found this place and read about more power,, 5ph I think pre cat removal offers ( barely enough to notice) so took them out anyway and had drone ever since.
Cooling in the engine bay drops but not by much.
The one sure way to remove it is some after market manifolds which is really the only true solution imho.
For the o/p who is getting drone or resonance you’d be best to check if pre cats are in each manifold.
There may well be no signs of removal as it’s fairly easy to remove them without causing any disturbance to the pipes themselves.
You usually have to disconnect the Y piece from at least one manifold to check which is not for the faint hearted to attempt.
Alternatively you may be able so see them by removing lambda sensor and using a small camera to check.
If your handy with spanners look up how to remove and critically how to re instate exhaust system and its pitfalls
Or alternatively take it to a Tvr man and let him struggle instead.
Probably only charge a few hours if not too busy just to check.
Pre cat and removal of main cat adds power but does create more noise from the engine bay at certain revs.
Fully De cat and fully sleeved can easily reach 120 db
The standard later system including pre cats and main cat in place is around 84db as my car was tested at Bedford after a complete engine rebuild but standard exhausts at 4000 revs
My same 450 de Catted and pre cats removed using standard exhaust recorded 94 db at 4000 revs with an exhaust probe directly behind one of my tail pipes.
I’d expect your 4.0 with cats but sleeved will be similar to the 94db figure. Loud
Anything over 100 leads to ear drum issues and deafness,,,,
I drove mine for many years and largely avoided the drone but it was there. It’s only at certain revs so I avoid them. Remembering back to my earliest days I drove it for 12 months almost every weekend on long journeys taking the dog for a walk on the coast or some such place, 10,000 miles that first year and never remember I had drone or headache issues. Then I found this place and read about more power,, 5ph I think pre cat removal offers ( barely enough to notice) so took them out anyway and had drone ever since.
Cooling in the engine bay drops but not by much.
The one sure way to remove it is some after market manifolds which is really the only true solution imho.
For the o/p who is getting drone or resonance you’d be best to check if pre cats are in each manifold.
There may well be no signs of removal as it’s fairly easy to remove them without causing any disturbance to the pipes themselves.
You usually have to disconnect the Y piece from at least one manifold to check which is not for the faint hearted to attempt.
Alternatively you may be able so see them by removing lambda sensor and using a small camera to check.
If your handy with spanners look up how to remove and critically how to re instate exhaust system and its pitfalls
Or alternatively take it to a Tvr man and let him struggle instead.
Probably only charge a few hours if not too busy just to check.
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 16th March 13:34
Classic Chim said:
If yours is a 450 they do tend to have more of a drone at certain engine revs.
I’m pretty sure it’s much less apparent with pre cats fitted.
Your exhaust might look standard but it’s worth checking manifolds still have the pre cats in them?
My 450 has always droned more since pre car removal.
Sleeving exhaust just causes that nauseous boom to now be in two places at once
Sleeved silencer or even 1/2 sleeved used to be a big thing on here…
If it’s been sleeved there will be evidence of welding work on usually the top of your muffler box.
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
And in truth it just removed some of the resonance that the drone is causing.
Or I drove faster ( risky ) so usually slowed down.
I noticed whilst driving through France at a steady 70 I got a headache yet at 80 the engine seemed in its sweet spot and less drone. Mpg increased too ?
Thanks for the relies, Classic Chim.I’m pretty sure it’s much less apparent with pre cats fitted.
Your exhaust might look standard but it’s worth checking manifolds still have the pre cats in them?
My 450 has always droned more since pre car removal.
Sleeving exhaust just causes that nauseous boom to now be in two places at once
Sleeved silencer or even 1/2 sleeved used to be a big thing on here…
If it’s been sleeved there will be evidence of welding work on usually the top of your muffler box.
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
And in truth it just removed some of the resonance that the drone is causing.
Or I drove faster ( risky ) so usually slowed down.
I noticed whilst driving through France at a steady 70 I got a headache yet at 80 the engine seemed in its sweet spot and less drone. Mpg increased too ?
The symptoms you mention are exactly those I have in my 450. At 60-70 mph the noise is unpleasant, but let the speed creep up to 80 mph (on a private track) and it's fine. I already had the silencer box checked and repacked with sound insulating stuff (the previous insulation had burnt out) and the car is not sleeved. So it seems like it must be something to do with the cats. I'll ask Mat Smith if he can take a look at them, as the car is there now, having the steering sorted.
I'll also try your "window down" trick when I next drive it to see if that helps!
phn said:
Thanks for the relies, Classic Chim.
The symptoms you mention are exactly those I have in my 450. At 60-70 mph the noise is unpleasant, but let the speed creep up to 80 mph (on a private track) and it's fine. I already had the silencer box checked and repacked with sound insulating stuff (the previous insulation had burnt out) and the car is not sleeved. So it seems like it must be something to do with the cats. I'll ask Mat Smith if he can take a look at them, as the car is there now, having the steering sorted.
I'll also try your "window down" trick when I next drive it to see if that helps!
Mat is the man. The symptoms you mention are exactly those I have in my 450. At 60-70 mph the noise is unpleasant, but let the speed creep up to 80 mph (on a private track) and it's fine. I already had the silencer box checked and repacked with sound insulating stuff (the previous insulation had burnt out) and the car is not sleeved. So it seems like it must be something to do with the cats. I'll ask Mat Smith if he can take a look at them, as the car is there now, having the steering sorted.
I'll also try your "window down" trick when I next drive it to see if that helps!
A tap with a screwdriver will probably tell him if it’s pre cats are in place. He has one finely tuned ear I believe
You could try fitting trackday cans over the ends of the exhaust tips. They clamp on with standard exhaustclamps and will reduce the noise levels to maybe a sufficient amount to allow longer trips at motorway speeds to be mote tolerable. Then for A-B roads pull them off tp enjoy the rumble.
If you are anywhere near Rugby I have a pair you can try.
If you are anywhere near Rugby I have a pair you can try.
Classic Chim said:
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
This ! 100% give this a go before you go down the road of spending money. The difference this makes for me is staggering as I have the same sort of issues at motorway speeds.The number of times I've taken the car to Le Mans, and cruising at the higher French autoroute speeds is now a genuine pleasure.
kris450 said:
Classic Chim said:
I found if I left my drivers window open 1/2 inch this made the headache take longer to get me
This ! 100% give this a go before you go down the road of spending money. The difference this makes for me is staggering as I have the same sort of issues at motorway speeds. The number of times I've taken the car to Le Mans, and cruising at the higher French autoroute speeds is now a genuine pleasure.
Also I did get the cat's checked and they are in one piece, so I guess I'll just live with it!
I very nearly went for the ACT cherry bomb system but didn’t like the flexi front pipe they supply,
(In my mind flexi pipes are a bodge or temporary fix at best)
I spoke to JP Exhausts who fabricate the exhausts for ACT, he agreed about the flexi pipe & said he could build a system on the car but the price jumped up to £1250+vat
In the end I took the car to a very helpful guy at Cybox on the Wirral (fairly local to me) & he custom built me a cat back stainless system with cherry bombs for £750 all in
Very happy with the fit & sound, the only down side I can see is the tail pipes on the ACT are more polished,
(In my mind flexi pipes are a bodge or temporary fix at best)
I spoke to JP Exhausts who fabricate the exhausts for ACT, he agreed about the flexi pipe & said he could build a system on the car but the price jumped up to £1250+vat
In the end I took the car to a very helpful guy at Cybox on the Wirral (fairly local to me) & he custom built me a cat back stainless system with cherry bombs for £750 all in
Very happy with the fit & sound, the only down side I can see is the tail pipes on the ACT are more polished,
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