Muffler drone... anyone running the Dynomax VT?

[AKFJ80]

So I am loving my truck with its 5.3 vortec but I am not exactly in high school anymore and the v-8 muffler drone on the highway is getting pretty annoying.

I am a little behind the times regarding advancements in exhaust and such however I found a pretty sweet muffler system made by Dynomax that has a dual chamber muffler. Looks like it opens up a valve under heavy acceleration from normal pressures and gives you a performance sound, and during light loads cruising closes the spring loaded valve and routes it to a baffled, quieter side.

Pretty cool if you ask me. The youtube videos suggest it works quite well with people using real worls tests with radio shack db meters.

Dynomax® Performance Exhaust | Mufflers | Dynomax VT™ Muffler

So I will be installing one of these next week but wanted to see if any of you have used one on any of your vehicles, cruiser or even Hondas.

Luke

 

[dbleon]

What are you running now?

I like my magnaflow. Quiet at idle, and sounds hot when on the throttle, but it does drone at certain RPM's.. right at 2,000-2,300 it drones pretty bad.

Why not just run a stock muffler, cut one off a junkyard truck... I regret not doing this to being with.

 

[AKFJ80]

Looks like a no name off the shelf muffler to me. It is pretty dang loud. Love the sound but hate the in cab drone. It gets pretty bad on the highway at around 1700 to ~ rpm's.

Junkyard idea is okay but everything on this truck is new so I would prefer to keep it all clean and the muffler is not expensive anyway.

 

[Skniper]

Sounds pretty cool AK, wonder what the life of that muffler is with its moving parts.(??), neat idea.

Thanks for bringing this up....when I ripped out the stock exhaust on my 62 I put in a Magnaflo, good product but have never liked it behind the 3FE. For me it's too noisy on an already noisy vehicle. Sound deadener throughout would help but it still vibrates the s*** out of the whole truck.

I want to change it eventually, just haven't researched what would be a good fit.

Keep us posted.

 

[AKFJ80]

No problem.

I had the same question about a mechanical part in the muffler rattling around and apparently Dynomax had a small recall issue they dealt with from people hearing excess rattling from poor tolerances with the valve.

Has been fixed since apparently.

I am also ordering some second skin for the entire truck. Stupid expensive but I have done this to other cars and you can literally turn a tin can truck into a near Lexus tomb if done correctly.

 

[dbleon]

I am also ordering some second skin for the entire truck. Stupid expensive but I have done this to other cars and you can literally turn a tin can truck into a near Lexus tomb if done correctly.

Great stuff, but not worth price IMHO...

I have used damn near every sound deadner on the market including the CLD tiles from Don @ sound-deadner-showdown.

I personally use "Peal and Seal". Heat slightly and apply a couple layers to center of panel. Its just as good as the high end stuff, will never come off, and 300% less expensive.

Off topic sorry....

 

[AKFJ80]

No I have to agree with you. In fact my bone stock 62 has the peel and seal treatment and so far so good. I did not do much else beyond that but I tend to agree with you as far as effectiveness and only deadening center of panel...that is all that is needed and it is funny when folks find it necessary to cover every square inch. Simply overkill.

Sound deadener showdown looks great but I am still waititng on a reply from the owner. Not as easy to order.

 

[Skniper]

Hijack...AK, what's the story on the old Caddy? Wish I had my grandmothers similar vintage deVille these days, pretty sweet old sled with something like a 478 block in it.
A kid in high school in the mid 80's had a 2 door that his dad thought would be a nice safe starter car for him, well he worked on it some, that thing was a badass rod. Fun stuff.

 

[dbleon]

Also keep in mind deadeners are just mass loaders to reduce structure born noise(ie. rattles).

Most road noise reduction is achieved through other barrier type products. Things like jute, foam, MLV, carpet etc.

 

[AKFJ80]

No worries, I have never actually posted pics of it or anything.

It was sort of a "barnyard find". Found it on craigslist here in Anchorage and the owner inherited it from his father who passed. It sat in storage for 10 year in Fairbanks and then I picked it up from him.

It would not fit in his garage since it is about 21ft long and he did not want to see it go to waste.

No rust, everything works including the load leveling suspension, A/C, Climate control, heated seats, CruiseOmatic, Auto dimming and auto headlights, etc etc....
It is a Fletwood brougham extended wheelbase (acres of backseat legroom) with every factory option in its time including limited slip rear and of course the venerable 472 big block. It drives like a dream and it is in almost perfect condition. I am not exactly sure why I own it but I love driving it haha. Gas mileage is not as bad as you would think.


Now I am hijacking my own thread!

 

[AKFJ80]

Also keep in mind deadeners are just mass loaders to reduce structure born noise(ie. rattles).

Most road noise reduction is achieved through other barrier type products. Things like jute, foam, MLV, carpet etc.

Do you know of a good source for the closed cell foam stuff? These deadener vendors are really crazy with the price of this stuff. There has to be a similar product out there without a name brand tacked on jacking the price...

 

[Skniper]

No worries, I have never actually posted pics of it or anything.

It was sort of a "barnyard find". Found it on craigslist here in Anchorage and the owner inherited it from his father who passed. It sat in storage for 10 year in Fairbanks and then I picked it up from him.

It would not fit in his garage since it is about 21ft long and he did not want to see it go to waste.

No rust, everything works including the load leveling suspension, A/C, Climate control, heated seats, CruiseOmatic, Auto dimming and auto headlights, etc etc....
It is a Fletwood brougham extended wheelbase (acres of backseat legroom) with every factory option in its time including limited slip rear and of course the venerable 472 big block. It drives like a dream and it is in almost perfect condition. I am not exactly sure why I own it but I love driving it haha. Gas mileage is not as bad as you would think.


Now I am hijacking my own thread!

Freakin awesome!!, there's a special place in my heart for those old American behemoths. Thanks.

Back to sound deadening and mufflers.......

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Wow! the thread hi-jack is so worth it. I love those old Cadillacs, but I have no clue what muffler doesn't drone. Carry on.

TK

 

[AKFJ80]

haha thanks guys. Yes I have always loved these old tanks.

Funny thing...people used to refer the old caddy motors as "boat anchors" or whatever.

My cadillac 472 engine weighs 70lbs more than a small block chevy, is internally balanced and is proven to handle more than 1400HP on stock lower end.

Maximum torque specialties builds these motors and the drag racing crowd is finally realizing the potential of these motors.

I am a professional at changing out the left motor mount, I am going to have to chain it up sone of these days, the Torque wrap is that violent when you get on it.

 

[dbleon]

Do you know of a good source for the closed cell foam stuff? These deadener vendors are really crazy with the price of this stuff. There has to be a similar product out there without a name brand tacked on jacking the price...

3

Unless you're going to use MLV over the foam, I would just use a nice thick jute.

There's a reason why the factory uses it... cheap/effective.

If your set on the foam, search "Volara" and find an internet foam supplier.

 

[Skniper]

I've always thought the main problem with good old fashioned jute is that it holds water and dirt and coffee, etc...and mildews and just gets an overall funk to it over time.

Seems a closed cell sound foam wouldnt have these problems. Basically a lot cleaner and low maintenance.
Is this a correct assumption?

 

[AKFJ80]

I would assume the things. I just ordered some Fatmat floor mat which is about 1lb/ sqft as well as some foil backed tape stuff they sell, pretty cheap on Amazon. If you have ever come accross the website sound dedener showdown the guy has a very logical approach about using the deadeners on panels. Instead of covering every square inch just the flat areas to reduce resonance.

I also ordered some closed cell foam dirt cheap from amazon. I will let you guys know how it goes.

I am not too keen on jute because it is efective however does not hold up over time at all... it compresses to nothing and does retain moisture.

 

[Skniper]

I'm not a sound guy but have to agree on the coverage issue. Lots of folks here have blanketed their trucks with D'mat, Quietcrap, etc I'm sure with great results but way overkill. I plan to cover just the big main areas of the floor and body panels then add a foam blanket under the carpet. Probably still completely cover high noise areas like the fender wells.
I think a thin foam layer sandwiched between the int door panels and door frame would help tremendously.
I guess there's only a couple thousand other threads on this too!

 

[dbleon]

I'm not a sound guy but have to agree on the coverage issue. Lots of folks here have blanketed their trucks with D'mat, Quietcrap, etc I'm sure with great results but way overkill. I plan to cover just the big main areas of the floor and body panels then add a foam blanket under the carpet. Probably still completely cover high noise areas like the fender wells.
I think a thin foam layer sandwiched between the int door panels and door frame would help tremendously.
I guess there's only a couple thousand other threads on this too!

The problem with foam (if used by itself) vs. jute is that foam is a very poor sound barrier in most frequencies where road noise exists. Jute is much better in this regard.

You are very correct about jute trapping moisture, smells, etc. But carpet and floormats are protecting it. Unless you submerge your vehicle (I avoid at all costs), it's a non-issue.

NOW... Jute with a barrier like MLV (mass loaded vinyl) will produce tremendous results. The foam is just a decoupler, and does not need to be very thick.

Problem with MLV and foam method is COST $$$$$$

Jute is super duper duper cheap, and available locally. Cant say the same for the other combination.

Just my two cents of course. :whoops:

 

[dbleon]

I would assume the things. I just ordered some Fatmat floor mat which is about 1lb/ sqft as well as some foil backed tape stuff they sell, pretty cheap on Amazon. If you have ever come accross the website sound dedener showdown the guy has a very logical approach about using the deadeners on panels. Instead of covering every square inch just the flat areas to reduce resonance.

I also ordered some closed cell foam dirt cheap from amazon. I will let you guys know how it goes.

I am not too keen on jute because it is efective however does not hold up over time at all... it compresses to nothing and does retain moisture.

Care to post links to the stuff you used?

Should work WELL!