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Banks or Hog??

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Well, The Monster exhaust is not disapointing anyone. Banks may be open to criticism on some products but not this one. I'll even give them the price benefit of the doubt due to the fit and finish. So let me ask you Banks guys: is this solution drone-free and very close to stock sound levels at idle? Some in the industry have gone to some length to acheive a reasonable sound level ("near stock" within 3dB is too loud) but with the sound quality or signature of the big rigs (no huff ,deep throaty sound). The most succesful shops do this with two in-line devices; an expansion chamber like device (inluding the Aeroturbine) in combination with a high flow muffler.



So I ask: is there a solution that:



1. fulfils the sound level requirement of "near stock" . DPP says "within 3 dB" and thats too loud. as an engineer and musician I must point out that 3 dB is twice the acoustic power in terms of sound energy, and easily detectable by the human ear. It goes without saying that the sound level when you're running hard is going to be louder as a natural consequence.



2. fulfils the sound quality requirement. I guess I'm picky but I dont' want any huff, and I want campground freindly big-rig sound that is instantly identifiable. I actually miss the sound of my 02, but that was mostly engine clatter and, alas, too loud and not campground freindly



3. accomodates an in-line e brake like the BD. , so that the likes of the DD 103 turbo can be used. Is there room for three in-line devices (muff, res, brake)?



4. is a true bolt-on customer install. that would save installation costs and would tend to justify the higher price. Customer service must be there for the backyard mechanic.



5. provides the quality fit and finish of the Banks reputation. that means little variability unit-to-unit so that the piece "I" get fits as well as "yours".
 
Dleno:

My Banks monster has NO drone. The sound at idle it almost imperceptibly louder than stock, but it is a little deeper. You dont really notice the sound until about 1700 rpm.



True customer install. Everything fits like a glove.



Not sure about the brake. You'd have to get either a new down pipe, or modify the banks down pipe.
 
Banks exhaust with Exhaust brake

The Banks down pipe has a 4-bolt flange which can be used to bolt in the exhaust brake. This makes the brake install a bolt in as well. Keep in mind that an exhaust brake should not be used with the 48RE, but does work just fine with the 6-speed.
 
So you have to use the Banks exhaust brake or will the Banks exhaust bolt up to a BD brake? the BD brake eliminates the cast elbow on the turbo, so if BD and Banks followed the same standard, it should work. I'm not visualizing this correctly perhaps: if the Banks downpipe (their market contribution to a full 4" pipe up to the turbo) replaces the same cast elbow that that BD brake replaces, then the two won't fit together.



no transmission worries; I have a 6 speed.
 
The current Banks brake is located at the end of the down pipe using the same 4-bolt flange as the stock down pipe. The Banks down pipe does replace the cast elbow at the turbo so any brake that replaces the cast elbow will not work with the Banks down pipe.
 
So the Banks exhaust is not available with a std size downpipe that would bolt up to the BD brake. thats too bad.



There must be enough relief and give in the Banks plumbing so that their brake inserts at the "other" end of their downpipe without introducing additional length to the pipe that is problematic?



correct me if I have that wrong on that.



mounting the exhaust brake at the "other" end of the downpipe isn't such a bad idea, actually. makes it more like an inline brake in that regard. But the only reason I can see to go "inline brake" is to preserve compatibility of the exhaust systrm with an after market turbocharger. And without an upgrade turbocharger there's an argument to bolt up the brake as close to the turbo as possible, to minimize the springy column of air between brake and turbo. So to the extent that one agrees with that reasoning, the Banks exhaust and e-brake combination would be compelling only if it would bolt up to a 4" turbo like, say, a B1 or DD turbo. For if you have to replace the fancy Banks downpipe to get the upgrade turbo, then suddenly the Banks brake won't fit at the other end. correct me if I'm wrong on that.



I guess I just dont like closed solutions that only work within the same brand. it increases the likelihood of getting trapped into an expensive solution that is expensive to get out of.
 
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