Discussion
I came up with a plan to cut open my silencer and repack it with wadding, reasoning that although the can is stainless, the wire wool packing wouldn't be and had probably long since departed. By coincidence I heard (or read) that the MOT regs are being tightened up for noise next year so I thought I may as well do what I can now to avert an issue then.
By means of a torch and tape measure and the Mk. 1 Eyeball I was able to deduce the arrangement of the internal metalwork, it looks a lot like this:
As you can see, both inlet stubs (at right) travel some way into the can before exiting into a combined chamber; then a perforated tube carries the gas down through an area stuffed with wire wool (which mostly serves to take the high-frequency audio component out, I think, leaving just the bass notes
).
I can't be certain how the outlet end of the perforated tube is supported: the tape measure suggests it stops short of the end as shown but I can't 'feel' a baffle holding the tube in place. Need to get my fibrescope on it to see what's going on.
The plan is to plasma-cut a rectangle out of the upper side of the silencer and clear out whatever wire wool remains, then ram it full of new wool (stainless if I can get some for a price worth paying) and butt-weld the cut-out piece back in.
By means of a torch and tape measure and the Mk. 1 Eyeball I was able to deduce the arrangement of the internal metalwork, it looks a lot like this:
As you can see, both inlet stubs (at right) travel some way into the can before exiting into a combined chamber; then a perforated tube carries the gas down through an area stuffed with wire wool (which mostly serves to take the high-frequency audio component out, I think, leaving just the bass notes
). I can't be certain how the outlet end of the perforated tube is supported: the tape measure suggests it stops short of the end as shown but I can't 'feel' a baffle holding the tube in place. Need to get my fibrescope on it to see what's going on.
The plan is to plasma-cut a rectangle out of the upper side of the silencer and clear out whatever wire wool remains, then ram it full of new wool (stainless if I can get some for a price worth paying) and butt-weld the cut-out piece back in.
Well, it was a pleasant evening and even if I owned a telly there would be nothing on worth watching, so as I'd borrowed one of our inspection cameras from work I thought I'd have a preliminary shufty inside my silencer. What I saw seemed solid enough, alas I didn't take any pictures because I was too preoccupied with keeping the camera clean - it's wrapped in masking tape in this pic.
Incidentally if anyone wants one, there's a place selling them on Amazon for silly (cheap) money compared to what we paid for this one a couple of years ago...
So, to work: I made a template/ torch guide from a bit of hardboard...
and fired up the plasma cutter
Nine seconds later:
I thought: that's odd, as the piece stayed put even when I thumped it. So I ran around it with the torch a second time and when the double-skin fell in I realised what was going on...!
As I suspected, there wasn't much in the way of wadding left. I fished around with a welding rod and pulled out some of this:
...and a bit of this:
but the sum total of what I hoisted out was little more than a handful.
Need to clean off the soot from the cutout pieces before I weld them back in, but in the meantime I'm off to get my pants pulled down over some stainless wire wool...!
Incidentally if anyone wants one, there's a place selling them on Amazon for silly (cheap) money compared to what we paid for this one a couple of years ago...
So, to work: I made a template/ torch guide from a bit of hardboard...
and fired up the plasma cutter
Nine seconds later:
I thought: that's odd, as the piece stayed put even when I thumped it. So I ran around it with the torch a second time and when the double-skin fell in I realised what was going on...!
As I suspected, there wasn't much in the way of wadding left. I fished around with a welding rod and pulled out some of this:
...and a bit of this:
but the sum total of what I hoisted out was little more than a handful.
Need to clean off the soot from the cutout pieces before I weld them back in, but in the meantime I'm off to get my pants pulled down over some stainless wire wool...!
Been wondering about how the regs are going to kicks us in the unmentionables. When I bought my stainless I was offered sports or "normal". I opted for the normal quiet (eh?) as a 300 mile round trip had interesting side effects on your physiology. Lot more sedate in the saab now, can even get a kip with the cruise control on.
adam quantrill said:
Does anyone know what the new MOT regulations will state?
All my MOT inspector said was that next year they are clamping down on noise levels of exhaust systems..(Spoil sports)..I think the current law is a limit of 89DB...That means i have to loose 30DB..Im looking for some push fit silencers just for the MOT..Does this mean that MOT stations are going to start using DB meters?..Probably not..Why do we have to be quiet!..What damage to the enviroment or planet is noise doing?..Never mind the shyte that comes out the back of some of the s
t boxes driving about..You'll spend enough time being quiet when your dead!..More of big brother if you ask me..I say "fk em"...Zigajmorgan said:
Thought it had to be factory spec? Bit of a grey area with a Wedge.
You are correct sir...I did read last year before i made mine louder that it should be as it left the factory..There were exceptions as to Sports & Classic cars as some of them were noisy when they left the factory...I was actually stopped by a policeman last year who just wanted to look at my wedge..He asked me to start it up so he could hear it and i thought here we go..But he just gave that nod of approval even when i revved it..I did ask as to the law on exhaust noise and he said to test a car they have to hire part of a road and test you coming towards them..Away from them and then an idle reading..They then have to take it to an MOT station to basically re-MOT it where it would fail if its over 89DB..He then said all we do now is look at the tailpipe and if its noticeably bigger then they can ask you to sort it out or they will slap a fine on you!...All this stinks of the government trying to squeeze money from any thing they can..Like i said.."fk em"...Noise pollution????..Polluting what????....Here is the British law on noise pollution..As is now.
Nuisance and Pollution
Nuisance mainly refers to disturbances from neighbours which reduce your quality of life. Common disturbances include noise (for example that caused by loud music, use of DIY tools, barking dogs etc), smoke from bonfires, large amounts of dust and unwelcome odours. If you are suffering from the actions of a troublesome neighbour the first step is to try to sort the matter out amicably. If matters cannot be settled easily you may have to resort to legal action.
Pollution covers a range of ways in which your environment can be contaminated by harmful substances. For the individual the main causes for concern are air quality, litter and dog fouling, noise pollution, soil contamination and water issues. Many local authority websites offer advice on problems with neighbours and pollution issues. In addition there are a number of general sources of advice available.
I cant see car noise in there...So if my car disturbs you for the second's worth of noise as it goes past your house..Put your fingers in your ears you moron..Honestly!...Ziga
I had an issue with my MOT Centre when I changed from one 280i wedge to the other (different exhausts fitted to the two cars) They Assumed that because one was MUCH quiter then it had to be the "Standard" so the noisy one must be "wrong", after I explained to them about TVR and its "you can have what you like sir" policy on cars they relaxed and they just put it down as an "advisory" (I think to cover thier arses more than anything else) and it has passed fine ever since.
With the 89db that might be coming in how/what conditions will that be measured under?
I was at the "unveiling" of the new Jaguar F-type at my local dealers recently and they are SUPER quiet on tickover (I walked past one an barely noticed it was running!) but they do sound nice under part throttle and are not exactly quiet under load.
I'm of the opinion that unless your "being a boy racer" and waking everyone up by continually going round and round the same area then there should not be an issue.
My car is Garaged in a residential area and is not exactly quiet on tick over but I try to get it out and gone asap to minimise the disruption to the neighbours when I take it out, I also (if possible) don't drive it in or out between midnight and 6am. I have had the odd occasion where I needed to get it out earlier and I have also been back "late" once, but I do try my best to avoid those hours.
I think if people can see your trying to enjoy your car with the minimum disruption to others they will normally leave you alone.
In a similar situation to Zig I have had a "tug" by the guys at Customs on my way to France, but again they just liked the look of the car and wanted time to enjoy it a bit longer.
With the 89db that might be coming in how/what conditions will that be measured under?
I was at the "unveiling" of the new Jaguar F-type at my local dealers recently and they are SUPER quiet on tickover (I walked past one an barely noticed it was running!) but they do sound nice under part throttle and are not exactly quiet under load.
I'm of the opinion that unless your "being a boy racer" and waking everyone up by continually going round and round the same area then there should not be an issue.
My car is Garaged in a residential area and is not exactly quiet on tick over but I try to get it out and gone asap to minimise the disruption to the neighbours when I take it out, I also (if possible) don't drive it in or out between midnight and 6am. I have had the odd occasion where I needed to get it out earlier and I have also been back "late" once, but I do try my best to avoid those hours.
I think if people can see your trying to enjoy your car with the minimum disruption to others they will normally leave you alone.
In a similar situation to Zig I have had a "tug" by the guys at Customs on my way to France, but again they just liked the look of the car and wanted time to enjoy it a bit longer.
the MOT manual at the mo states unreasonably loud compared to a standard system in reasonable condition 
And is only assessed at the applicable rpm for whichever emissions test needs to be carried out, not when just giving it some beans
Had a Maserati 3200 thing in a while ago with a standard system and that was rediculously loud and droned
And is only assessed at the applicable rpm for whichever emissions test needs to be carried out, not when just giving it some beans
Had a Maserati 3200 thing in a while ago with a standard system and that was rediculously loud and droned
My emissions are checked at tickover and its not louder than 89DB on idle...Its probably because i drive past the MOT station everytime i use the car and they hear me a mile up the road..Coming and going..There is a tyre fitters local to me as well and everytime i go past them they stand there with their fingers in their ears...They got it sussed..Simples!!!...Ziga
Mine has never been tested for noise at MOT time and was, until the other day, very very loud. Only time it's been an issue has been at race tracks 
Warren's just fitted brand new system with 3 silencers. Much much quieter (only picked it back up this afternoon) but goes well and he states much less restrictive. Fortunately, I have plenty of induction noise to make up for the loss in exhaust noise
Warren's just fitted brand new system with 3 silencers. Much much quieter (only picked it back up this afternoon) but goes well and he states much less restrictive. Fortunately, I have plenty of induction noise to make up for the loss in exhaust noise
...I think another thread is in order as it seems we have hijacked Ian's thread..Sorry Ian..Ralph brought a cctv colour camera along to the FHC which looks similar to yours..Helped us see right into the fuel tanks and up amoung the cobwebs..A very useful bit o kit..Better than the endoscope i bought..You wouldnt be able to see up a cat's backside with it its so poop..(Sorry mimi)..
..But i will start a new thread just out of interest...Im curious to see what the DB is of a variety of wedges as regards to fiddled with or un-fiddled with....cirks said:
Wasn't trying to hi-jack - sorry. However, Ian, if you want my old silencer to play with (ie cut open completely) just give Topcats a call and Warren will get it out of the skip for you 
Thanks... I think I guess there's a good reason it's in the skip, I have enough 'projects' so maybe it should stay there 
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