I had commented on the List last week that my new Moss-supplied ANSA TR6
exhaust system was too loud for my tastes - it was hard to hold a conversation
at any steady throttle setting. It seemed to really boom at 2500 RPM where I
do most of my driving in 3rd and 4th, straight or OD. The ANSA system has a
lovely, rich, multi-toned sound, but it's tiresome on a longer drive - and
could be embarrassing (ie Harley-like) in traffic.
A while back, Mark Hooper from this List suggested that I try the motorcycle
baffles produced by JC Whitney. Mark had used these on his Falcon Sport
system and said they made a 'whale of a difference'. These are simple,
inexpensive, stainless steel baffles, about 4 inches long, that you insert in
a straight portion of your exhaust pipe. They come in two sizes: 1.25 and
1.50 inch diameter.
Here's the JC Whitney web link:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CAT
ENTRY_ID:2006266/showCustom-0/p-2006266/N-111+10211+600001975/c-10111
I took the TR6 to a local Midas shop last Saturday to have these installed.
They simply cut the two exhaust pipes in the middle of a straight run,
inserted the baffles, tack welded them in place and butt welded the cut pipes
back together. Other than the butt weld, the whole affair was quite invisible
- you would never know they were there.
Do the inserts work? Absolutely. I would say that the exhaust note is now
about 15 to 20% quieter, the lovely ANSA sound and multi-tones remain
unaffected, and it now meets my subjective loudness tolerance level. On the
whole, the ANSA system with the inserts is marginally louder than the stock
system, but not so much so that it's irritating.
So, for anyone who has an aftermarket exhaust system that's a bit too loud,
you should try these inserts. They won't cut the sound level down by half,
but they will take the edge off and they're virtually invisible from the
outside. Mark Hooper, if you're out there, thanks for the great advice.
Cheers,
Brian Lanoway
1973 TR6 CF6985U
Winnipeg, Canada
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