B&B Exhaust - Need to lower noise levels in cabin

EMJ · 01-23-2010, 12:43 PM

My 88 3.2 has a B&B exhaust with headers and dual outlet muffler. After 5 years of almost daily driving in this application I'd like a more "throaty" and quiet sound in the cabin, as the current application has always been just a bit too loud in the cabin and I fgured it's time I do something about it if it's economical.

Removing the headers is not an option but I'd like your advice on some quick solutions. The car had a different set of muffler tips when I bought it but the noise levels were intolerable - just too loud. The ones I replaced them with - the ones on the car now - are better, but I'd like it even quieter and smoother.

So, my question is, what muffler tips would you recommend for this application for a throaty and quiet sound without giving up performance? Spent some time using search here on this topic, btw. If the muffler tips alone won't do it, any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks a bunch in advance for the advice.

Oh Haha · 01-23-2010, 01:06 PM

cap off one outlet.

mtnfir · 01-23-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

cap off one outlet.

yup

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Find someone that wants a dual out and swap.

WIL84911 · WIL84911's Garage

I suggest going with the latest generation of M&K 2/1 but I don't think it fits B&B headers. It resolved that issue for me.

EMJ · 01-23-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

cap off one outlet.

Seems feasible, good idea. How and what would I use to cap off the outlet?

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

I welded two tabs in one of my outlets, drilled and tapped a hole in each. Then I made a plate to fil the interior of the outlet and a gasket of exhaust wrap and bolted the cap in when I took my wife in the car. That's back in the day, when she would still ride in the car...

glennspiegler · glennspiegler's Garage

I had the same 3.2 daily driver with B&B 2 in 1 out and it was still loud. After 4 years of no in car possible conversation, I bought on this forum a sport muffler that one of us had two pipes welded in to match the B&B. It is great. Saved the heat exch headers witch were good, got a great sound and sold my B&B for twice what I paid for the custom. I'm not sure, but I believe the muffler guys can do this easily. Good luck, Glenn

doublestuff · doublestuff's Garage

EMJ,

There was a post here a while back from a guy who gutted his stock muffler and converted it to a 2-out. See the photo -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads7/Carrera+Muffler+Mod1140535444.jpg

You should be able to have a muffler shop cut off most of one of the tips and weld on a flange, to which you can then bolt a cap, which would seal that outlet. Then they could weld a matching flange on the end of the cut-off pipe so you could bolt it back on if you wanted to run 2-out again. Or, if you're certain you never want to go back to 2-out, they could just cut off the 2nd outlet and weld in a patch. Either way shouldn't be to difficult.

Just my .02...

Quicksilver · 01-23-2010, 06:08 PM

I've got a B+B dual in single out in the garage that I haven't got around to selling...

Seeing that I drive with both throttle positions (idle and floored) I wanted the car as quiet as possible to keep from attracting attention. I built a setup with a 17725 Dynomax similar to Moses' setup but without the cats and with an extra silencer chamber. It is noticeably quieter which I like but most people like the louder "card in the spokes" sound of the 2 in 1 out.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

If this is a B&B muffler too, I'd start out by trashing it. They are notorious for being junk. That may be part of your problem. I've got B&B headers, which seem to be fine, but I've got a Flowmaster 2 in/2out muffler. I get a bit of drone from 2800-2900 r's, but is fine, other than it is "authoritative" in all other R's. The cap took that short spot of drone away and quieted it down some. It also cost me exactly 7 HP as I tested on a dyno with and without.

Kevin Stewart · 01-23-2010, 08:06 PM

the only thing you have to do is go to a muffler shop and take the 4 inch tail pipes off and have them put on 2-2,5 inch pipes comming off the muffler learned this from jack olsen my car is super quiet now and awseome sound, Kevin

EMJ · 01-24-2010, 07:08 AM

These all sound like very good options. I'm going to a muffler shop this week and will discuss them all. Seems the shorter tail pipes may be a quick and economical soution. May lean toward that option first. I'll report back what I find.

Thanks so much for the great ideas. Man, I love this board...

Jim Garfield · 01-24-2010, 07:36 AM

Kevin is right. If you reduce the 2 out exhaust tips to 2.25" (diameter - not length) it makes a world of difference. No more teeth rattling drone at 2 -3K, and much quieter.

There have been a lot of posts about how bad the B&B mufflers are, but I have one that a previous owner installed and I've never had a problem with it (once I got the resonance issue resolved). I've had the car 9 years and I think the PO put the headers and muffler on in the mid to late 90s. It does have the gussets on the outlets, which is where a lot of people seemed to have problems with the muffler splitting. I wonder if it was just a bad batch of mufflers that led to the tarnished reputation?

Thrasher · Thrasher's Garage

I also have B&B headers and single-out muffler. I really like the exhaust system vs. stock, but I also hate the 2k-3k drone. I usually crack the driver side window a couple inches, even in cold weather to give the sound waves a way out. I guess it's a standing wave/resonance with the windows up? Even then, it's hard to converse with passenger(s) (my kids ride in the back seats frequently).

I am very interested in doing the 2.25" conversion. Does anyone have pictures/videos/sound clips?

PS: Wayne, if you're listening: It's very hard to search this forum for "B&B", glad this thread came up. I'm assuming the search engine behind the vBulletin forum sees the ampersand as a wildcard, and enclosing the term in quotes made no difference. Not sure if there's a way around this.

78-911SC · 01-24-2010, 09:36 AM

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EMJ · 01-25-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Stewart

the only thing you have to do is go to a muffler shop and take the 4 inch tail pipes off and have them put on 2-2,5 inch pipes comming off the muffler learned this from jack olsen my car is super quiet now and awseome sound, Kevin

Kevin,
Did you have the muffler shop custom fab the 2.5 diameter muffler tips to the muffler, or were you able to find tips that were bolt-on ready? I called up B&B and they don't have muffler tips that are smaller than 3 inches in diameter (What's on the car now).

EMJ · 01-25-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Garfield

Kevin is right. If you reduce the 2 out exhaust tips to 2.25" (diameter - not length) it makes a world of difference. No more teeth rattling drone at 2 -3K, and much quieter.

There have been a lot of posts about how bad the B&B mufflers are, but I have one that a previous owner installed and I've never had a problem with it (once I got the resonance issue resolved). I've had the car 9 years and I think the PO put the headers and muffler on in the mid to late 90s. It does have the gussets on the outlets, which is where a lot of people seemed to have problems with the muffler splitting. I wonder if it was just a bad batch of mufflers that led to the tarnished reputation?

Jim,
What 2.25 exhuast tips did you use to fix this drone problem? Did you have them custom fabbed? Thanks.

Thrasher · Thrasher's Garage

Since we are in effect talking about "choking down" the tip(s), would it be acceptable to insert something into the existing opening (and perhaps secure it with screws)?

I'd see a few reasons to go this route:

1. simplicity - no need to remove muffler and/or involve a shop
2. aesthetics - keep the big outlet that fills the bumper cutout, also keep the polished tip (welding on a replacment will like cause discoloration).
3. warranty - if B&B has a lifetime warranty on the muffler, I'm sure it's voided by cutting/welding. Most likely they'd ignore a few small holes drilled for screws.

Not sure what material, but pretty much anything that could withstand the heat/elements and could be secured should fit the bill. It's really just filler material. Plus this might allow tuning/trial fitment until you get the desired outcome.

Thoughts on this?

Jim Garfield · 01-25-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMJ

Jim,
What 2.25 exhuast tips did you use to fix this drone problem? Did you have them custom fabbed? Thanks.

I just had a local welder stretch and bend the 2.25" stock to fit over the 3" muffler outlet and come out where I wanted it to end up under the bumper. He had a hydraulic jig that many muffler shops use to do this type thing.