New Exhaust Very Happy!

[Dan2722]

So after 4 years of running a 3” exhaust I decided I was tired of the slight drone at certain speeds and wanted to go back to as close to a stock sound as possible without losing performance. I went to a very reputable muffler man in the San Diego area named Ed Hanson Muffler Shop Spring Valley, CA - Ed Hanson’s Muffler Service who blew my socks off with his knowledge of exhaust systems and sound technology.

Ed has been doing exhausts since 1957 and was a sound and radio technician in Viet Nam. He explains hertz, decibel, and how they relate to sound traveling through the exhaust and where I am getting sound eddies in my current system which increases the droning as we walk under my truck.

I’m sold and tell him to do whatever he thinks is best for my truck. We agree on a cat back 2.5” system using a Dynomax 17788 muffler, tucked up over the frame, running into a Magnaflow 11376 in the spare tire location acting as the resonator. Ed promised me I would achieve the results I wanted and gain some H.P. and mileage in the process.

After two days of driving I am extremely impressed. If this set up is not as quiet as stock it is very close. There is zero drone at any speed, performance does seem slightly improved and we’ll see if the MPG improves on a trip next week to Santa Cruz.

Here are a few pics. Sorry I did not have a camera at the shop so took these lying under the truck at home.

 

[Dan2722]

Few more pics....

 

[yoopercharged]

That looks real nice. Do you have the whistle noise (like stock)?

 

[yoopercharged]

BTW, Hertz (or cycles per second) is a measure of frequency. Decibels are an arbitrary logarithmic number to describe or relate sound pressure to a known level, or loudness.

 

[Dan2722]

That looks real nice. Do you have the whistle noise (like stock)?

Nope no whistle. We talked about the whistle effect in a stock system and he thought it maybe had to do with the step down to a 1.75" pipe through the muffler from the 2.25" and then back to a 2.25".

I didn't know there was a step down.

BTW, Hertz (or cycles per second) is a measure of frequency. Decibels are an arbitrary logarithmic number to describe or relate sound pressure to a known level, or loudness.

You are correct. I probably misunderstood what he was saying since we were talking about hertz, cycles, decibels and sound waves in an exhaust system in about 5 minutes. I am not too technical when it comes to this type of stuff.

 

[thestunts]

Hmmmm, I may have to copy this =) Thanks for sharing !

 

[mickeyt]

How much did it run you?

 

[pnolanIH8MUD]

Did you do anything to improve the heat shield under the passenger front compartment? I burned my wife's feet all the way to the beach last week and back.

 

[wfd175]

When I did the same I had them run it over the top of the frame post-cats because I kept smashing the pipe and tearing up rubber hangers. That said, if anyone decides to do this make sure to pull the front passenger seat and carpet and lay down some thermo-mat heat shields from the front passenger seat, under the rear heater fan box. or the insulation under the carpet will smoke.
Prior to putting in the thermo-matting, I tried a wrap heat shield from Napa(clamped to pipe) going over the frame, however, it didn't keep it cool enough.

 

[Corbet]

I like how the tail pipe is routed. Wish we had an exhaust shop intown that could do such good work.

 

[Dan2722]

How much did it run you?

425

Did you do anything to improve the heat shield under the passenger front compartment? I burned my wife's feet all the way to the beach last week and back.

No but the exhaust under there is not much different than the 3" I had on it before and I have had no problems. That being said I do have Second Skin Damplifier laid down throughout the truck and my rarely takes long trips with me in this truck.

 

[Atticus]

$425? That's a steal.

 

[sdnative]

How's this working for you? I am going to need to do something with my exhaust soon. Ed Hansen is local to me and I know he does good work. He did some work on my Camaro about 15 years ago.

Can he do mandrel bends? What about stainless or aluminized steel?

I am primarily looking for replacement cat-back and I want it quiet.

 

[western flyer]

And what did it do to your mileage??? Ed is local to me too... Thanks.

 

[Itchy Sides]

Nice set up and nice price!

Did your muffler man state how the sound would be without that second muffler as a resonator? And, did your previous exhaust have a second muffler/resonator?

Thanks!

 

[Dan2722]

How's this working for you? I am going to need to do something with my exhaust soon. Ed Hansen is local to me and I know he does good work. He did some work on my Camaro about 15 years ago.

Can he do mandrel bends? What about stainless or aluminized steel?

I am primarily looking for replacement cat-back and I want it quiet.

Hey Eric - After 6 months I am still very happy with this set up. From what I could see Ed can do just about anything you want with an exhaust system mandrel bends, stainless or alumanized steel. I would just set up an appointment and go in and tell him what you want and he will work with whatever you need.

It's worth the trip just to talk to him and get a lesson in sound technology. Super nice guy with lots of stories.

And what did it do to your mileage??? Ed is local to me too... Thanks.

Mileage went up maybe 1/2 to 1 mpg but I have not been keeping a real close eye on it.

Nice set up and nice price!

Did your muffler man state how the sound would be without that second muffler as a resonator? And, did your previous exhaust have a second muffler/resonator?

Thanks!

He did not state how it would be without the 2nd muffler but I expect it would be louder and have a drone. My previous system had a glasspack where the old resonator used to be and was still too loud for me. I told him I wanted as close to stock sound as possible and this is what he came up with.

 

[scrowley]

Exhaust looks great. I need a new one too. Looks like you should extend your rear sway end links a lil bit.

 

[OverLand Cruisers]

Looks great!
You could add a water tank where the non-usa aux fuel tank goes and have warm/hot water all the time...like giant heat exchanger........JK

 

[Itchy Sides]

Thanks for the reply!

 

[jvazquez53]

Did almost the same set up except I got rid of the cat, yes here is almost no problem to remove it, and with the Magna Flow alone the truck performance improved. On the Sound department, sounds a little louder than the OEM. I can compare because I have two Cruisers, the same year both. The one without the Magna Flow is a pig, specially when starting to accelerate while the other accelerates a lot quicker.