All - When they started my car on the truck last night, I was shocked at how GREAT the A1 Sidewinder with center exit sounded. Totally shocked. Was not expecting such a rumble. It actually does not sound like a VW bug. I am comparing to my las speedster though with the 1600cc motor and normal exhaust. My new motor is bigger at 1915cc and this exhaust sounds really good!
Just and FYI for anyone thinking about a new exhaust.
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The real test will be to drive the car, with the top up, on the highway. My exhaust sounds great with the top down, but is very loud with the top up.
Ditto that. Since I take a long trip to Carlisle every year, and usually another one to the mountains, I am seriously thinking about how to tone things down on the highway. Right now I'm considering more sound insulation, the intake noise suppression that DannyP is doing, and a second muffler in-line with the first.
But yeah, around town with the top down it sounds great.
I've found that Bose noise-canceling headphones work great for the long drives. No music, just using them to combat the noise.
True, although they are illegal in many states.
Try the Sony ear buds rather than using big honkin' earphones. You still get noise cancelling with them. I use mine with an Ipod and can listen to al my music and have even listened to a few audio books. My Sony unit is model MDR-NC300D.
I suppose the buds are also frowned on too but they are pretty much invisible.
The Ipod makes a great road trip even greater!
And Lane--I had the same loud engine noise that gets old on long trips so I pulled the carpet out, installed Dynamat throughout and now thse sound is just pleasant.
Had I been more careful I could have reused the carpet but I ended up buying a new set from Vintage. While I had the carpet out and before putting the Dynamat in I was able to slather the pan with rubberized truck bed lining so I'm well-insulated and waterproofed too. With your tube frame maybe this wouldn't apply.
Pulling the carpet out is more trouble than I want to go to, but I might change my mind.
Sorry TDR, for hijacking your thread. For use as a cruiser with the occasional trip that's not too long, the A1 Sidewinder sound is hard to beat.
I don't know about anyone else, but I can (and do sometimes) listen to exhaust grunt, grumble, groan, drone all day long....it's like audio pornography.
I don't know about anyone else, but I can (and do sometimes) listen to exhaust grunt, grumble, groan, drone all day long....it's like audio pornography.
What MisterAC x2! Exhaust note (cruising or accellerating) is one of the sensory elements that factor in the SEG while driving one of these cars. Its all part of the 'Madness'!
If I don't want to listen to exhaust noise while I'm driving, I use my other car. Otherwise, earplugs would appear to be the easiest and cheapest method of noice abatement. 
I'm just saying...
Just crank up the volume!
I hear you Mr. AC and MusbJim. I don't mind locally, in fact it is one of the things I love about the car, top down and ripping around. But, top up, long highway trips at 100dB plus will wear on anybody! I bought Audio Technica active noise cancelling earbuds for about $50(amazon), and they are well worth it. They cut 20 dB off and make it tolerable. But I would like to take the edge off without them for the Carlisle/Pumpkin Run type trips. I do tow mine if I know it will be wet, but I'd rather drive it. Who knows, a go-West adventure may happen. Different strokes for everyone.
And really, it isn't the exhaust that gets you, it is the intake reversion at the carbs, which are about a foot and a half from your ear in a Spyder. What did you say, I have hearing damage!
Apologize for the hijack also. The A1 sounds great on a Speedster!
A bullet race...I bet that will sound awesome (with the top down).
My short. little muffler sounds great around town and I can't hear it on the highway, what with all the wind noise. For long drives I use noise cancelling ear buds, or Shure ear buds connected to my iPod. I keep my music level on the low side, so I can still hear what's going on around me.
Top up is another story, and the exhaust drone is only half the problem. The other half is the sucking sound from carb intakes and the general clatter from the air cooled engine.
TRD, you can solve this problem by never putting the top up. I wish I never had to!
Lane, I used some paint on soundproofing instead of Dynamat. I put it on the top side of the pan before the carpet. But, if your carpet is already installed you could probably put it on the underside of the pan.
I think this is the stuff: http://www.atsacoustics.com/quietcoat.html
I put multiple coats on until the gallon was used up.
Michael:
Once you were done with the entire gallon, how much thickness did it add, and are you pleased with the results? No problem with the carpet adhesive adhering to this stuff?
Thanks,
Bob
Bob G, I'm sorry I can't give a before and after report. I did this as I was building the car. I assume it helped but I have nothing to compare it to.
Maybe I can find someone at Carlisle with an A-1 exhaust and no sound deadening.
I also never cut into it to check the thickness. I put more on the floor and that might be 3/32" thick. I also put it in the back seat area and the kick panels in front of the doors.
I used liquid adhesive for the carpet and that had no trouble adhering. I used liquid instead of spray because I was concerned about overspray. Also, the liquid helped the carpet conform to difficult curves like the gas tank bulge.
I have very little deadening (for now), Mike, and you're welcome to ride in mine.
