Griffith 500 too quiet
Discussion
Morning
I have just picked up my 96 Griffith 500. Very pleased although I have a few niggles to sort out which is part of the fun of British sportscars.
However its a little too quiet, previously owned Caterham's etc and would like a little more of the V8 sound. I have seen a few solutions:
- sleeving current exhaust - understand this add straight through pipes where the silencers were and is a cheap fix but can sound agricultural at tickover?
- Offords - sleeving but keeping the wadding, I don't think Offords exist anymore?
- ACT cheery bomb. Looks like a good solution but is quite pricey
Decat - cant be mesing about taking cats on and off for an MOT
Any comments experiences please? I would like to go hear some but may not get chance as the local meets are scheduled when I am away working.
Apologies if this subject has been done to death....
Matt
I have just picked up my 96 Griffith 500. Very pleased although I have a few niggles to sort out which is part of the fun of British sportscars.
However its a little too quiet, previously owned Caterham's etc and would like a little more of the V8 sound. I have seen a few solutions:
- sleeving current exhaust - understand this add straight through pipes where the silencers were and is a cheap fix but can sound agricultural at tickover?
- Offords - sleeving but keeping the wadding, I don't think Offords exist anymore?
- ACT cheery bomb. Looks like a good solution but is quite pricey
Decat - cant be mesing about taking cats on and off for an MOT
Any comments experiences please? I would like to go hear some but may not get chance as the local meets are scheduled when I am away working.
Apologies if this subject has been done to death....
Matt
Matt230 said:
Morning
I have just picked up my 96 Griffith 500. Very pleased although I have a few niggles to sort out which is part of the fun of British sportscars.
However its a little too quiet, previously owned Caterham's etc and would like a little more of the V8 sound. I have seen a few solutions:
- sleeving current exhaust - understand this add straight through pipes where the silencers were and is a cheap fix but can sound agricultural at tickover?
Matt
I went down this route on my Chimaera and absolutely love it. It does sound a tad agricultural when first starting up from cold, but once up to temperature it sounds glorious- lovely V8 noise with the accompanying pops/bangs a TVR should (in my opinion) produce I have just picked up my 96 Griffith 500. Very pleased although I have a few niggles to sort out which is part of the fun of British sportscars.
However its a little too quiet, previously owned Caterham's etc and would like a little more of the V8 sound. I have seen a few solutions:
- sleeving current exhaust - understand this add straight through pipes where the silencers were and is a cheap fix but can sound agricultural at tickover?
Matt
No droning at motorway cruising speed either. On the 200 mile motorway journey back from the Goodwood Revival (roof on due to the torrential rain!), me and the OH were able to hold regular conversation with no issues right up to the point where she fell asleep!
Had it sleeved for over a year now and I wouldn't go back- possibly the best £150 I've spent.
Jason on here (TVRJAS) was the man responsible for convincing me- he's got some Youtube videos of the sound of his likewise modified Chim (sleeved- no other exhaust mods), I'll see if I can link one.
ETA- taken last summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyakdnGFNjY
Edited by Squirrelofwoe on Friday 3rd November 10:44
I had the same experience when I got my 500 (back in 2007!).
I went the expensive route with ACT manifolds, sports cats and cherry bomb exhaust. No regrets.
I love the sound, it's a great rumble at idle and just builds as the revs do. Also no worries at MOT time
It means I would struggle to get on a track but I do that very rarely, and I have a pair of track cans I picked up second hand.
I went the expensive route with ACT manifolds, sports cats and cherry bomb exhaust. No regrets.
I love the sound, it's a great rumble at idle and just builds as the revs do. Also no worries at MOT time
It means I would struggle to get on a track but I do that very rarely, and I have a pair of track cans I picked up second hand.
I bought a sleeved exhaust system off Jeffsey 12 years ago; he had a modified engine and the noise was getting him in trouble with the local police, I added a standard silencer and it is very quiet, I remember a few guys just having the silencer being half sleeved after finding full sleeving was a bit over the top.
I got my Griff running this week after 4 years and that straight through v8 crackle and pop is just fab 
.
Downside not running a cat other than fitting back on for an mot is the massive headache from the exhaust fumes. Probably doesn’t help I suffered a stroke last month but running a cat does make things less on the headache.
You don’t get the over run pops and bangs with the cats fitted as they are essentially a silencer but with a straight through rear silencer you do get the noise from the v8 as is expected from these cars
.Downside not running a cat other than fitting back on for an mot is the massive headache from the exhaust fumes. Probably doesn’t help I suffered a stroke last month but running a cat does make things less on the headache.
You don’t get the over run pops and bangs with the cats fitted as they are essentially a silencer but with a straight through rear silencer you do get the noise from the v8 as is expected from these cars
You could take out the main CAT - the Y piece - and retain the precats in the manifolds or vice versa which should be fine MOT time.
I have to say the sweetest RV8 I've heard had a set of equal length manifolds but these are pricey.
Sleeving the exhaust is pretty easy. Although, cutting out the silencer and adding two cherry bombs is just as easy.
I have to say the sweetest RV8 I've heard had a set of equal length manifolds but these are pricey.
Sleeving the exhaust is pretty easy. Although, cutting out the silencer and adding two cherry bombs is just as easy.
Note the comment about track day noise limits.
You either have it loud.........or you take the car where you can really enjoy the performance to the full, the only speed limits being the proximity of the next corner and your ability.
So think about what your plans are before jumping.
There are very few track days with limits over 105 dB(a).
Any track close to you will do a noise test for you if you ask nicely.
You either have it loud.........or you take the car where you can really enjoy the performance to the full, the only speed limits being the proximity of the next corner and your ability.
So think about what your plans are before jumping.
There are very few track days with limits over 105 dB(a).
Any track close to you will do a noise test for you if you ask nicely.
RobXjcoupe said:
You don’t get the over run pops and bangs with the cats fitted as they are essentially a silencer but with a straight through rear silencer you do get the noise from the v8 as is expected from these cars
Well Of course I have to beg to differ as that's my clip Dave (Squirrelofwoe) posted popping and banging and it still has all cats in place. Great day that was too Dave
TVRJAS said:
RobXjcoupe said:
You don’t get the over run pops and bangs with the cats fitted as they are essentially a silencer but with a straight through rear silencer you do get the noise from the v8 as is expected from these cars
Well Of course I have to beg to differ as that's my clip Dave (Squirrelofwoe) posted popping and banging and it still has all cats in place. Great day that was too Dave
I know on my car it’s too loud for a track day without the cats but if fitted it’s fine for a track day. The cats I have are the straight through type which don’t restrict the exhaust gas and it makes the same power fitted or not. Just reduced V8 noise when fitted.
RobXjcoupe said:
Wow wouldn’t have thought you had much of a cat left with those pops and bangs
... I have no intention of investigating to see what they look like,but it's been sleeved for over 3 years now and strangely I've been thinking of converting it back,I don't do track days and at 123.8db there's no chance of me getting near one which is fine.I converted mine after doing my 1st thunder in the tunnels event when It was standard and I felt inferior
but now when I hear a standard set up I can't help but like the sound. I may be letting the Chimaera go next year and really not sure if the sound is for everyone,I get way more positive feedback on the sound,in fact to my face I can't even think I've had any negative comments on the sound. It's one of those situations where what ever I do it will be the wrong one.
After some thought the car is currently having the precats removed from the manifold and a Clive Y piece decat being fitted. Will be interesting to see what this sounds like. Would really like the ACT cherry bomb exhaust but cost is a bit prohibitive at the moment. If its still too quiet might sleeve until i've saved my pennies for the ACT
Matt
Matt
TVRJAS said:
... I have no intention of investigating to see what they look like,but it's been sleeved for over 3 years now and strangely I've been thinking of converting it back,I don't do track days and at 123.8db there's no chance of me getting near one which is fine.I converted mine after doing my 1st thunder in the tunnels event when It was standard and I felt inferior
but now when I hear a standard set up I can't help but like the sound. I may be letting the Chimaera go next year and really not sure if the sound is for everyone,I get way more positive feedback on the sound,in fact to my face I can't even think I've had any negative comments on the sound. It's one of those situations where what ever I do it will be the wrong one.
But all the same, I went fully decatted and Clive Y before the next one and loved it, but with a standard silencer, so we are talking 103-107 dB - right on the track day noise limits.
Since I turbocharged the car, one unexpected consequence is that the turbo, sitting in the middle of the Y, muffles and mellows the sound, and the car is currently around 95 dB. I have to say I prefer it, but I don't get the admiring looks from 40+ car nuts any more. But on a long drive it is far more restful.
I find the sleeved exhausts a bit on the too loud side and a bit agricultural at low revs (clattery) and you get the at weird clapping sound that Harleys on straight through pipes have.
IMHO the best sound comes from the ACT Cherry bomb system. It give a nice rumble at low revs and when trundling around, but really lets the car scream at high revs. It's also really well made and easy to fit.
IMHO the best sound comes from the ACT Cherry bomb system. It give a nice rumble at low revs and when trundling around, but really lets the car scream at high revs. It's also really well made and easy to fit.
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