What's your favourite diesel muffler for a BJ60?

[ylexot]

Turbo as "muffler": Anything that makes my rig more comfortable for my wife is a relatively easy sell, especially if it can be done for less than a ~$300, as I understand the DIY turbo approach can be done with good results.

How effective is the turbo at quieting the beast? Is the quieting a function of peak/valley averaging, ie turbine chopping the exhuast stream at 15k rpm? Or something else? Is running a turbo and a muffler over kill, or is there still a significant dB reduction with a muffler in series?

thanks

[peterdouglas]

Update: on a whim, as I was driving by a Midas Muffler shop, I decided to pop in to see what they'd say. Not expecting miracles, since most places have quoted me $600 to $1000, I was pleasantly surprised by a quote of $450. They were the only shop to be honest enough to tell me that my front pipe (which is probably the most expensive to buy OEM or custom make due to all the bends), was in good condition and did not need replacing! They can custom make the rest of the pipes and install either a round or oval stock style muffler which will be quiet and have a lifetime warranty, or... a Thrush (I think it's a Thrush muffler, or some kind of turbo muffler), a touch louder but not excessive, for the same price. The tailpipe can exit at the side behind the drivers' wheel or in the stock location at the back. Not sure which to take... side exit and put diesel soot all over the car parked next to me, or rear exit exhaust but risk squashing it if I get into serious offroading.

For their honesty, I will go to them. Plus, they gave me the best price and at the moment, I'm on a budget. Just need to save up a few more pennies and decide which muffler I want.

[cruiser_guy]

Peter, that same muffler shop, who's name I will not mention again, installed the exhaust in the FJ55 after I had the 3B and turbo installed. It needed EVERYTHING from the turbo back.

The idiot that did the work installed a mitered elbow!?!? immediately after the turbo. Instant 90 degree bend, no radius nothing!! Needless to say it broke relatively quickly. The repair was a proper radiused elbow.

He also has the pipe touching the rear sway bar as well as the spare tire. All in all a pretty poor job in my humble opinion.

I had the same shop, different tech though, install the 2 1/2" pipe in the '60 and it was fine. That's why I went back there with the '55.

[peterdouglas]

Thanks, I'll watch out for that. I don't think there are any 90 degree bends needed for mine, as the front pipe is OK, so it's just the intermediate pipe on back. The guys working there look to be well experienced and really know their stuff, so I have a good feeling about them. Plus, at this point, saving a few hundred dollars would be very helpful. I can always get something fancier else done next year when I have more disposable income.

[earabadj]

Peter, following your original post, I bought both the front pipe and the next one before the muffler section for $70, and $117 at the local Toyota dealer. The rear muffler section is $217. Therefore, if you add the mid section and rear it's $334 in total, you also get some of the hangers. So, why even bother letting them practice matching the bends!
All the sections are flanged, thus no clamps.
I will be taking mine in on Monday to a local muffler shop to replace them, they were fine with me purchasing the original pipes. It'll likely be a $100 labour job, if that.

[peterdouglas]

Originally Posted by earabadj

Peter, following your original post, I bought both the front pipe and the next one before the muffler section for $70, and $117 at the local Toyota dealer. The rear muffler section is $217. Therefore, if you add the mid section and rear it's $334 in total, you also get some of the hangers. So, why even bother letting them practice matching the bends!
All the sections are flanged, thus no clamps.
I will be taking mine in on Monday to a local muffler shop to replace them, they were fine with me purchasing the original pipes. It'll likely be a $100 labour job, if that.

Wow! It might just be worth a drive out to Guelph! Those are great prices. I wonder if Toyota dealers can set their own prices?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by ylexot

How effective is the turbo at quieting the beast?

I found on my truck that the turbo was nearly as effective as the OEM muffler in filtering the noise EXCEPT out the back or when you are driving next to a wall such as in a tunnel. It does give a more throaty noise, much like a Harley!

Prior to the turbo I had the full OEM muffler and exhaust. After the turbo I went to a 2 1/2" system which followed the original path. That was 4-5 years ago. I have been literally ALL over the country and NO ONE has asked why the truck is so loud. I have been stopped by the police several times (checking our tags etc.) and even they have not questioned it.

The only time it's an issue, and I think the original muffler wasn't much better, is when I'm at a drive thru or the border crossings next to the window. In those cases I often need to shut down so we can all understand each other.

When I'm through Portland next you'll need to have a listen!!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by brownbear

I would go 2.5 inch aftermarket. Normal muffler. Stock routing, and exit out the side behind the rear drivers wheel.

Would you recommend doing the same thing for an HJ60?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by moondog

Would you recommend doing the same thing for an HJ60?

Are you running a turbo or do you have plans to do so?

If so, go aftermarket with the 2 1/2" pipe. Muffler without a turbo or no muffler if you have a turbo.

If no turbo is in the future I'd stick with OEM personally.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Are you running a turbo or do you have plans to do so?

If so, go aftermarket with the 2 1/2" pipe. Muffler without a turbo or no muffler if you have a turbo.

If no turbo is in the future I'd stick with OEM personally.

There's definitely a turbo in my future somewhere - but there isn't one on my truck right now. What sort of aftermarket muffler should I get?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by moondog

What sort of aftermarket muffler should I get?

Get them to put flanges on each end of the muffler and maybe make up a flanged piece to replace the muffler with.

Remind them that the diesel probably flows 50% more air than a comparible displacement gasser.

[peterdouglas]

Originally Posted by cruiser_guy

Remind them that the diesel probably flows 50% more air than a comparible displacement gasser.

So maybe I'd be better off with an aftermarket Thrush or turbo style muffler. It will be a bit louder, but not by much, and will probably be less restrictive. Midas gave me the option of that kind of muffler, or a stock style muffler, either round or oval. I'm not sure if it's the muffler specified for a BJ60 or just a generic universal fit OEM style muffler.

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by peterdouglas

and will probably be less restrictive.

This is ALWAYS a good thing! There is NO such thing as a minumum backpressure for engines to work right.

Backpressure = power loss

[peterdouglas]

I've heard that not enough backpressure can be a bad thing, although I know you and other guys have just straight pipes, with no muffler and apparently no bad consequences. I think the concern was more with using exhaust pipes that have too large a diameter, like 3" or more. That's what a guy at one of the exhaust shops told me.

What I'm worried about is that the lifetime warranty mufflers the Midas was suggesting might be intended for gassers. Maybe I should go with the Thrush muffler. It's probably guaranteed to have less backpressure and be OK for the 50% more air flow than a gasser would have. A Thrush muffler will be a bit louder, but I could live with it. Although, the quieter the better (don't want to disturb people in the early morning hours with a loud exhaust, and the diesel engine is loud enough as it is).

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by peterdouglas

I've heard that not enough backpressure can be a bad thing

Don't believe everything you hear! Look up in performance books and see what they say. Take a look at the dragstrip and see the mufflers they don't use, same on Nascar and any other place where performance is needed.

On the street the muffler is for noise ONLY.

[peterdouglas]

OK, gotcha regarding the muffler. But what about the exhaust pipe... obviously too small is a bad thing, but what about too big, say 3" or more? Again, rumours I've heard, but is there such a thing like a law of diminishing returns... when you can go past the optimal size of exhaust pipe and get too big which can have a negative effect?

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by peterdouglas

Again, rumours I've heard, but is there such a thing like a law of diminishing returns... when you can go past the optimal size of exhaust pipe and get too big which can have a negative effect?

The only negative effect is on your checkbook! It gets to a point where there simply isn't any worthwhile gain so why continue to go bigger?

[brownbear]

I would also think if you went too big the engine could not keep enough pressure in the exhaust to keep water out when you do a water crossing. I've had my exhaust submerged a few times, so thats something to consider.

I would think 2.5' for a B or HJ would be ok. Whats stock? 2 inch or so? So it's a little better going 2.5.

4 inch and bigger on the domestic diesels is just showing off

[Tapage]

I would recomend 2.5 for 2H .. nice back pressure and if you go turbo it function fine also with no EGT issues at all ..

[cruiser_guy]

Originally Posted by brownbear

I would also think if you went too big the engine could not keep enough pressure in the exhaust to keep water out when you do a water crossing. I've had my exhaust submerged a few times, so thats something to consider.

OK that is one other thing to consider besides the cost but there is no minimum backpressure required.

[peterdouglas]

Gotcha, thanks guys!

[83bj60]

Originally Posted by peterdouglas

(don't want to disturb people in the early morning hours with a loud exhaust, and the diesel engine is loud enough as it is).

Yep, the 3B can be loud compared to the 1HD-T, especially if it's older and needs valve and or injector adjustments!!! BUT, at idle, it has such a nice, rugged sound to it. Loved it, still do after all these years. A great sounding engine. Why don't you get the Crappy Tire muffler I suggested, it's quiet and at around 6" in diameter, fits right under the passenger side between the rail and the rocker. Unless the Gov't where ou live doesn't allow side exhausts in front of the rear wheel. Cheap, short yet fairly quiet.

You can also ask the clerk to let you in their warehouse and look at what they have in stock. That's how I got mine on the old truck. 2.5 years and still in good condition (as long as it's properly supported it will last reasonably long).

[brownbear]

One thing to note, do not allow the installer to let the pipes or muffler hang lower than the frame rails.. keep the stuff high. That way you don't have to worry about it when going out down a nice forest trail...