Noise and Spyder

I'm all but a Spyder owner (prepurchase inspection is being done tomorrow, but the car is likely to pass and I've agreed to purchase it pending this inspection).
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Even after going through artillery school in the 70's and standing too close to a few bands in the 60's my hearing is good enough to notice that the Spyder (Beck) is a bit loud.
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I live in a quiet neighborhood, and am wondering if something like an "add on" muffler tip might be a quick way to bring down the noise - before I start spending lots of money on something like the Vintage exhaust replacement.
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Would something like this work? Any downside?
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PENCIL-STYLE EXHAUST TIPS
Glass-packed resonators reduce even the loudest exhaust sound to a pleasant tone!

$44.99
INFO/BUY
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from JC Whitney url:
www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Browse/tf-Browse/s-10101/Nao-10/showCustom-0/N-111+10201+600001736/c-10101

I bet you could rumble a few seniors in your neighborhood. Try posting over on SpeedsterOwners.com. There are lots of people who have dealt with exhaust on their speedsters.
-=theron

We'll definately be rattling a few dentures there....
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I checked the speedsterowners forum and found a mention of resonators which sound like a good quick and relatively cheap answer for now...
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www.pacesetterexhaust.com/tips.htm
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thanks much Theron!

RickJ,

I just added a single turbo muffler to the old beck and it sounds much better, cost something like $30 for the muffler. Some folks have welded a flange on theirs to bolt up the muffler. I just wielded a short piece of 2.5" exhaust pipe and then clamped the muffler on that. I wanted to try a FlowMaster muffler, but, this ws a cheap test and I really like the sound now. My neighbors like it better also.

Lewis
Beck 060

I thought the idea was to be noticed!
I Must have missed the point?
Happy New Year ( Nearly)

Magwa

I did buy the Spyder.....and brought the noise down in two steps.
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1. "Turbo" type muffler - cheap - cut noise by a fair amount.
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2. refitted exhaust system to remove exhaust gas leaks, and put in new carburetor linkage so that the idle wouldn't tend to run up - now idling is in the 700-800rpm range.
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the combination makes the car seem almost civilized when idling/at low rpms to get in and out of my neighborhood - still sufficiently loud/"sporting" when on the throttle.....
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lots of good information here and on spyderclub helped with background but in this case the exhaust leaks contributed much of the noise and all of the (now nonexistant) backfiring.
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Rick

RickJ,

I like the way the turbo muffler toned down the sound of the exhaust, it still sounds good and can be civilized,but, i really want to try a "FlowMaster" mufffler and see what the difference would be.

Enjoy the Spyder,
Lewis

Lewis,

Upon a conversation with Greg recently I replaced my Vintage exhaust system that had Turbo mufflers, with a more recent Vintage exhaust with Flowmasters. The Flowmasters are much louder, but they also are much more free flowing. My seat of the pants guess is I picked up several HP by moving from the more restrictive turbo mufflers to the Flowmasters. And it sounds more like a performance car and less like a 63 Buick.... I recommend the Flowmasters, but mine have a distinctive and apparent bark to them....I like them...

Jim,

you were not susposed to say that!!!!!!!! Now I will have to try the Flowmaster sooner. However, mine does ot sound like a Buick. I fired it up this agternoon and two of my neighbors came out to see if they were going to get a ride. So, it still has a voice. ( a buick?)

I am still running the orignal early Beck, 4 into 1 exhaust.

Lewis
beck 060

have you seen the "super trap"? I have one on mine and I like it. It's a little loud, but nothing like the Beck 4 in one.

Lewis,

I am working on my 3rd exhaust system. My first was the TR stinger, very similar to the Beck I think. It was pretty loud and I liked it, but I didn't like having to remove the stinger to change out the transmission lube. A friend offered me an older Vintage set up that had the Turbo mufflers. It was too quiet and too restrictive, in retrospect. I was complaining about it and Greg Leech from Vintage offered me a new set up with the dual Flowmasters with ceramic coating as a solution to my problem. It solved the flow problem, added some HP, and made it sound like a car again.....it is a very different sound from my original TR "sound". Is it louder? I don't know about that, it has a very different and "deeper" sound under full throttle and very much has a bark when you let off to shift and the like....if you want quiet, you most likely don't want flowmasters...

Jim

point of clarification. greg uses magnaflows, not flowmasters. on other applications, i've noticed that flowmasters tend to have more of a deep american rumble versus the magnaflows' more german turbine-like growl. magnaflows are also true straight-through exhausts, and thus can be flipped around, unlike the flowmasters.

Simon,

These really are flowmasters. When I get back from London I will post photos that show the name stamped in them. As I best recall Greg said he had them built for a customer who then found them too loud.....where as I like the sound just fine....

Jim

really??? mine are magnaflows, which i believe is what he's using now. dunno if he switches back and forth or what. i'd be interested in hearing a flowmaster to compare w/ my car...