Neighbor Problems

[Jeff Higgins]

Wow, thanks for all the responses, folks. Boy, I sure hope none of you ever have to go through this. It would probably be easier if these folks were real arseholes about the whole thing. It would be easier if I hated them, they yelled at me, and they otherwise treated me poorly and had for the whole time we have been neighbors. It would sure make it easy to just blow them off. But they are good people. They have never raised their voices over this, never been angry with me, and are completely incapable of confrontation or violence. I think calling the cops is more an act of desperation than vengence, and they probably actually feel bad about it having "come to that". They come accross as a nice old couple pleading with me. "Can't you pleeeease do something about the noise?" (Yeah... I can step on the gas...)

This car was my daily driver for a couple of years. I leave quite early in the morning for work, usually before 5:30. When I drove it every day they never complained. Now that it comes out to play a couple of days a week and on weekends it has become an issue. Their fixation has little to do with the frequency with which they hear it or the actual sound level.

I've put a couple of Harley 2" drag pipe baffles in the outlets of the sport muffler. They work great and cut the noise way down. They only take a minute or two to slip in or out so I thought I had a good solution. Like the old margerine commercial used to say, though, "no differance" as far as they were concerned. I think the fan noise and general mechanical clatter coming from the old girl might be more annoying to them than the exhaust, in which case there really isn't anything to be done. I'm not sure I really want to explore the legality of its noise level either. It's probably over any kind of legal limit. I should check - I am curious, just for my own ammusement. I know a few folks with db meters, so maybe I will do that. Results will be top secret, of course...

Anyway, thanks again for the support. And the laughs - gotta love tab's headline and article.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
. I'm not sure I really want to explore the legality of its noise level either. It's probably over any kind of legal limit. I should check - I am curious, just for my own ammusement. I know a few folks with db meters, so maybe I will do that. Results will be top secret, of course...

Originally posted by RoninLB
fwiw.. Radio Shack sells a cheap sound level meter.

it's about $35

[yellowline]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
I think the fan noise and general mechanical clatter coming from the old girl might be more annoying to them than the exhaust, in which case there really isn't anything to be done.

Get a water-cooled Porsche?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by yellowline
Get a water-cooled Porsche?

I wasn't aware there were any. What do they look like?

[RoninLB]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by yellowline
Get a water-cooled Porsche?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wasn't aware there were any. What do they look like?


that's only a joke from another thread, i think

[yellowline]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
I wasn't aware there were any. What do they look like?

911 guys should recognize this view...:

[M.D. Holloway]

...pulled into a rest area...tail backing out...

[island911]

funny

and funnier


Okay, what am I missing here? . . you say the car is likely illegally LOUD . .. but your neighbor should just be understanding?

hmmm . .. you just need to explain to him, that it's not loud for attention whoring; . . . it's loud for that extra (peek) 1HP.
Sheesh, can't he just be a nice neighbor and endure the extra rip'n . . to allow you all the enjoyment of that extra 1HP?


Seriously, the guy doesn't sound like he's got long. And if he croaks right after you drive by, you'll be dealing with one pissed widow.

[rcecale]

Jeff,

Install a set of these for a week or two. When you remove them they'll thank you for the "silence"!!!

Randy

[Eric 951]

Jeff,

Since their mental capabilities are declining anyways, you should approach them and discuss in a very nice manner the fact that you are aware that the noise level of your car is causing them some grief, tell them you want to be a good neighbor and that you a e going to rectify the situation by installing a new exhaust system that is not as loud, new mufflers, etc. Park your car in the garage for a week, then debut it to them, saying things like "it was alot of work," or "although expensive, it was worth it to maintain good relations with you, meanwhile you haven't done a thing to the car. Sort of like a placebo for them--who knows, they may now hear the car as being quieter, etc. and thank you for going through the "expense" of the change.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, the car is quite loud. You have all heard sport mufflers on early cars and know what they sound like. I love the sound at speed. My car is not, however, ever "at speed" in the neighborhood. I live on a dead end road. There are lots of little kids that still play in the street; mine did when they were little. All of us idle through the 'hood at 5-10 mph or less and make sure our visiting guests do the same. Even my kid, and his buddies that are now also old enough to drive, respect that unspoken neighborhood rule. We all do. So the 911 never gets much off idle in first gear. The couple of Dodge 2500 diesels in the neighborhood are far louder at idle and putting through, rattling like a coffee can full of marbles.

Like I said, I don't think it's the exhaust noise. The complaints started long before I put the sport muffler on the car, back when it had the stock single out. I tried the motorcycle baffles in the sport muffler. I even ran the single out again for awhile. No difference; it was still "too loud". The difference in noise levels at idle and "neighborhood cruise" speed is almost unnoticable to my wife and other neighbors, most of whom I've asked. And they are all honest enough and good enough friends to where they won't sugar coat it for me and just tell me they don't notice.

I'm starting to think old George is like the guy in the Toyota commercial. The one with the little red car parked under the trees, just sitting there. The dog comes running around the corner barking and runs right into the side of it. The old man comes by and yells at it "slow down, this is a neighborhood!"

[Milu]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins I've put a couple of Harley 2" drag pipe baffles in the outlets of the sport muffler. They work great and cut the noise way down. They only take a minute or two to slip in or out so I thought I had a good solution. [/B]

This is very interesting idea. One of my cars is audibly a little noticable and an on/off system like this would be great. Can you post a bit more information please and if you're going to run a db metre how much difference it makes.

[Superman]

I've got a Triad final exhaust. When's the BBQ?

[Isabo]

Originally posted by Milu
One of my cars is audibly a little noticable and an on/off system like this would be great. Can you post a bit more information please and if you're going to run a db metre how much difference it makes.

A Miluism of an understatement for wails like a jetfighter on steroids when the accelerator is floored

I'd also be interested as my girl is also a little antisocial in town.

[Isabo]

For the neighbours. Just try and drive gently and be polite to them. Don't let them play with your lifestyle.

[M.D. Holloway]

Isabo - I was thinking about you!

Your solution to the chickens came to mind...

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by Milu
This is very interesting idea. One of my cars is audibly a little noticable and an on/off system like this would be great. Can you post a bit more information please and if you're going to run a db metre how much difference it makes.

I'll post some pics when I get home. Pretty simple really. Any Harley shop has, or can order, drag pipe baffles in 1 3/4" or 2" diameter. If you are lucky enough that your sport muffler outlets have either dimension for their inside diameter, you're in business.

[WolfeMacleod]

Jeff, remember what I said yesterday about your car having an upper midrange punch to it? I'm pretty sure that's the reason why. As ears get old, they hear sounds differently.
I listened to the tone of all the cars as they passed by. Some were pleasing to the ear with a nice "purr" and some just set my teeth on edge. Mostly, it was the ones with the extreme upper midrange spike. Some had a metal on metal sound that was also a bit grating.
I'll bet if you can lower the resonant frequency of your car to give it a low mid peak, you neighbor will not complain as much.
Start thinking of your exhaust system as an instrument. What kind of metal is your system made of? Regular steel? Stainless?

[vash]

get them a fruitcake, and tell them your car is your second or third love. tell them you will make some effort to minimize the noise impact to them. then try...

if they dont agree, forget about it. seems you are friendlier to them than they are to you.

cliff
good luck

[Jeff Higgins]

When "car guys" talk "upper mid range punch", we mean torque and horsepower. I know you are listening with a musician's ear and mean tonal quality; octaves rather than rpm's. Just so the other "car guys" know what we are talking about; my car never hits car guys' "upper mid range" in the 'hood. So I wonder if it has the same tonal quality at idle and just off idle as it does when screaming down the track like you heard it. Probably not, with the revs being so much lower. George has never heard that side of it; he only has heard the idle and the low speed neighborhood cruise speed. He probably would have that heart attack if he ever heard it in the setting you did.