New Exhaust, way too loud!

[rangerin]

The old exhaust on my '84 ranger (2.8) quite literally fell off in a parking lot so I ended up replacing it with a bunch of Walker direct fit pipes. I changed everything from the y-pipe to the tail-pipe (cat included). While I was at it, I got rid of the air pump and plugged the little bridging pipe also. Problem is, the new exhaust is LOUD; in order to talk to a passenger while driving down the highway you have to nearly yell.

Even worse, it doesn't even sound good. The racket is coming from the y-pipe area which I find interesting. Is there a way to get the noise back to normal? I'm tired of driving around sounding like my muffler fell off.

 

[ab_slack]

Sounds like you got a leak in that area. You got gasket in there? Something open? Certainly if you had a leak there, prior to muffler it would be loud.

I recently replaced my exhaust (87 BII) and was a bit wary of the walker direct fit because the only option was one where the name suggested it be louder but really it was very good. I had rust-thru at my muffler prior to the work and it had gotten loud enough although it didn't seem to affect talking too much.

 

[90longbed]

its gotta be a leak somewhere or a loud muffler

 

[black_demon69]

just plug leak at the end with a banana !!!!! LOL

vote for leak also

 

[rangerin]

Hmmm. I'll double check for leaks, but I'm nearly positive its good. I welded it together and it's not leaking from the cat's gaskets either (that I know for sure). In the morn, I'll re-check. How big of a leak would make a racket? I'm sure there's a small pin-hole leak or two, but nothing sizable.

I'll also add, that the noise is perfectly fine at the tail end. In fact, that part actually sounds good.

 

[ab_slack]

A pinhole wouldn't be loud.

Missing a third of a gasket between Y pipe and cat would be pretty loud. Whatever it is, it is going to be before the muffler.

No crack in the Y pipe between the pipe tube and flange end? Particularly on top side where not easy to see? Or top side of the Y pipe flange to cat flange, did it close all the way? Those are the key ones that come to mind, but there could be something between cat and muffler or maybe with all the work something opened up where y-pipe connects to manifold.

Is it loud at idle? Make sure vehicle can't move and crawl under and listen (be careful), use glove and feel around the joints. Sound will change if you cover the leak with your hand. If not loud at idle you can do the same but need to have someone give it gas for you. Just don't run yourself over!

I suppose there is potential a hole got punctured someplace or maybe one of the welds was bad on the new muffler or cat (referring to the ones at factory not the ones you did).

 

[the_novice]

Where the egr pipes came out of the back of the manifolds there is a 5/8 ish hole in the each manifold check those. I had the same problem. I ended up plugging them with muffler cement and the screen that came with it. Worked wonderful.

 

[ab_slack]

Where the egr pipes came out of the back of the manifolds there is a 5/8 ish hole in the each manifold check those. I had the same problem. I ended up plugging them with muffler cement and the screen that came with it. Worked wonderful.

would that be related to removing the air pump? I presumed that any openings from doing that would have been sealed because if not, that certainly be an obvious source.

 

[ab_slack]

I should have asked this earlier. Why would you replace the cap after deleting the air pump. Isn't the air from that the source of fresh O2 that the cat needs to function?

 

[the_novice]

I'm not sure half of that stuff including the cat were removed before I got my truck.