Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) help with Exhaust tuning.

[torquechop]

I like the sound of my 3" straight pipe, but I want more sound.

I came across the Banks 4" power elbow and down pipe and wanted to know if anyone got a noticable sound change?

... and if anyone knew where I could find some sound files of different muffler/pipe combos? I like the idea of stacks, but how do they sound?

thanks,

George

 

[RBallard]

I have tried several setups,



4" dynomax catback where I cut the factory pipe just after the down pipe and installed 4" pipe. The system came with a 4" walker muffler.



I next replaced the muffler with a 4" piece of straight pipe and it was louder.



Next I added a 5" tip from summit racing. The tip seemed to act like a megaphone, this set up was quite loud.



Next I replaced the entire setup with a 4" down pipe to 5" straight pipe to a 5" tail pipe. This was not as loud as the previous set up but seemed to have a deeper tone. The wife still complained about waking the kids when I leave and com home from work so I decided to add a resonator which leaves me with my current setup.



4" down pipe, 5" straight pipe to 5" x 18" Nelson resonator. The resonator reduced the overall sound by 1 db but more noticeably reduced the db of certain frequencies. I don't have the results handy now but if interested I can email them to you later.



I also have sound clips of the 4" straight and 4" with walker muffler on my website



I have clips of the 5" straight pipe with and without the resonator but I haven't uploaded them yet. I can email them direct if your interested.



My recommendation for loud is 4" down pipe, I bought mine from Rip Rooks-TDR member, and the 4" straight pipe from Napa.



Hopes this helps,



Bob

 

[torquechop]

Some fine tuning

I liked the sound of three inch pipe but, four inch srtaight

sounds awesome!! I stand in the drive way and listen to it idle!! (even in the rain. ) I installed my 4" system in the rain!! my friends said I was crazy to do it in the driveway but I told them it was Diesel passion!! I under estimated how hard it would be to cut through the stock three inch pipe with a hacksaw on the ground in the gravel!! but it was worth it!! every bit! I stopped at a friends muffler shop and had him weld on a six inch tip. The tip added a lower tone, that makes me smile as I drive . he complimented me on my work, but still called me a sick, sick man!!!! Rballard's exhaust combo sounds really helped me find the sound I was looking for. thanks Rob

 

[gsdog1]

I am running a 4" turbo to tail straight piped version of the Banks Monster Exhaust. FWIW, it's the only product of theirs I will run for reasons I won't go into here. I will say this, it fitted up great, required no welding, and with my muffler delete option, sounds great!



Now, great IMHO is loud. I have no drone issues with my gearing and tires, coupled up to the manual transmission. BTW - truck is a 1999 and accordingly very loud to begin with.



I have two friends who have similar trucks but went different routes with the exhaust. One with a 99 just like mine. He just cut the res and muff out and replaced with straight pipe. Mine sounds better, in both of our opinions. My EGT's are much lower as well under same driving conditions.



Another buddy, with a freshly built 2004, replaced the muffler with straight pipe. No comparison. Very attributable to the HPCR and varying dimensions of the exhaust system.



Sorry I have no sound clips.



Also, I am looking at a 5" dual stacked exhaust system when I upgrade the engine further - injectors, twins, and so forth. General rule of thumb that I have gathered -



4" up to 500 rwhp, after that 5".



I think that it is also generally accepted that you don't need the Banks Power Elbow. I considered this as well, and the feedback I got was to put the cash in to savings for other work. If you upgrade your turbo, you will throw the elbow away.



Happy tuning!



Matt

 

[TN farmer]

sound clips

RBallard, I have a 5" stack and would like to hear your sound clips with the resonater and without if you don't mind.



My e-mail is rthornton2002(at)hotmail.com



Thanks

 

[Six_Man_Diesel]

I have 4 inch straight pipe off the turbo then turned out in front of the passenger side tire, finished off with a 5 inch tip. With the box turned up lets just say you can hear the turbo when I let off to shift. I have been told by several people that it is the loudest Dodge they have ever heard, I disagree, but I guess it does make alot of noise. I wasn't trying for noise, just effeciency. By the way, drone is horrible at 60 mph, all is fine at 70.



Peace,

Willie

 

[RBallard]

Diesel. . FIEND - You are a nut! I am glad you got everything on OK and you are happy with the sound. Sorry I neglected to tell you about the sawzall part. You weren't the only one playing in the rain, I ended up washing the truck in rain. I figured I would take advantage of the weather since it was above freezing and wash all the PennDOT chemicals off the truck. Do you attend the shows in Carlisle?



Talk to you later,



Bob

 

[RBallard]

TN Farmer,



I couldn't get you email to work. I have the recording for my 5" system with resonator on my website, click here . I also included the readings for decibels and frequency response between the straight 5" with and without the resonator.



Bob