CC Silencer Inserts

Independent sound comparison

Joe Mezera

10/25/05

OK. Here goes. Lots of discussion about how to lower the noise volume. Lots of opinions. Not enough facts. So, I bit the bullet and bought a sound level meter and have a couple of different sidepipe configurations. More money than I care to admit on spending but the right volume and sound are important to me.

DISCLAIMER...This is MY experience. I am not affiliated with any of the product names mentioned in these tests.

Baseline setup...351W Carbed with J-pipe (that's going to change). Testing done in my driveway from a distance of 10' all the way around the car. The distance may not be ideal but that is what I did.

Test #1 Lobaks and Vortex Cone installed at turn-down...Idle (700 RPM)...1:City w:st="on"> Readings ...Front 90Db...Driver 94Db...Pass 94Db...Rear 91Db

Test #2 Lobaks and Vortex Cone installed at turn-down...Engine speed (3000 RPM)... Readings ...Front 100Db...Driver 105Db...Pass 105Db...Rear 101Db

Test #3 Lobaks and NO Vortex Cone installed at turn-down...Idle (700 RPM)... Readings ...Front 90Db...Driver 94Db...Pass 94Db...Rear 91Db

Test #4 Lobaks and NO Vortex Cone installed at turn-down...Engine speed (3000 RPM)... Readings ...Front 100Db...Driver 105Db...Pass 105Db...Rear 101Db

NEXT CONFIGURATION

I bought Car Chemistry's Side Pipe Silencer and installed them in the original glass-pack side pipes FFR supplied. They had about 4K miles on them.

Preliminary Test...This test was done IN MY GARAGE (with doors open) so it is not valid but I couldn't wait. Additionally the car didn't warm up enough to get down to idle speed before smoking me out of the garage. Engine was at about 1100RPM. No tuning to the Car Chemistry inserts. No end caps installed. Turn downs at the same angle as the Lobak side pipes...parallel with the ground. Reading was 98Db from 10'.

The big difference for me is the sound. Lobaks sounded "tinny" to me when I switched from glass-packs. The glass-packs with the Car Chemistry Side Pipe Silencer inserts have a lower bassy sound but without the roar.

UPDATE

Test #5 Glass-packs with CC Sidepipe Silencer with turn downs angled slightly downward...caps on insert pipe with 1/2inch holes...Idle (700 RPM)...Readings...Front 85Db...Driver 89/90Db...Pass 89/90Db...Rear 86Db

I only drove it down my street so I haven't had a chance to open it up or run higher RPMs yet. Out of time now. More tests to come later today or this weekend.

UPDATE

Test #6 Glass-packs with CC Sidepipe Silencer with turn downs angled slightly downward...top cap, stock hole size...bottom cap off on insert pipe...Idle (700 RPM)...Readings...Front 88Db...Driver 91Db...Pass 91Db...Rear 88Db

I took the car out to where I could get on it a little bit. Sound in the car is definitely down from the Lobaks at idle (stop signs, etc). It is a lower sound. Car still gets loud at WOT. It is hard to tell overall performance. My initial seat of the pants opinion is that it is a little choked. I am waiting for guidance from Ken on tuning the insert (hole sizes, stainless steel wool) for cancelling noise but allowing good airflow. I will do a run with no caps on at all and post results.
--------------------
FFR 4187, 351W .040, Edelbrock aluminum heads & manifold, Holley 670 Avenger, T5Z, 3.55, 3 Link, 5 lug Team III, Flaming River, Spectra Blue/ Arctic White stripes