Author Topic: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud  (Read 4325 times)

96witton

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stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« on: June 10, 2019, 01:35:13 »
Hi, I have a 1969 280sl and it came with a new ss exhaust system and it is very loud. As I was going down the interstate today my wife said there must be motorcycle right behind us. No just my exhaust. I am wondering if I could just change my muffler to a steel one or will I have to change the resonator also? or will I need a complete new system to reduce the noise?
thanks for any help you can give.
Jim

Cees Klumper

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2019, 03:03:20 »
It depends a bit on how the system was installed, but likely with clamps. I would take it to a competent muffler shop and see what they can do, likely replace the muffler?
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

rjmarco

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2019, 04:52:13 »
I had a similar problem with my 230 SL.  The exhaust was excessively noisy in the interior and would drown out the radio. 

Turned out that I had an aftermarket exhaust that was sort of a force fit under the car.  My exhaust header was cut to fit this aftermarket system and it turned out that the exhaust piping was in direct contact with the floorboard.  So, noise was transferring directly from the header/exhaust pipes right into the car. 

I had the after market system replaced along with a salvage header to correct what had been modified.  It is far quieter and I imagine this was how the car was supposed to have sounded brand new. 
Rich
Alamo, CA

Jonny B

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2019, 13:02:47 »
I have a stainless steel system on my 280 SL, and I have not found the noise to be a problem at all. It is different but not bothersome.
Jonny B
1967 250 SL Auto, DB 568
1970 280 SL Auto, DB 904
1966 Morris Mini Minor

Shvegel

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2019, 15:38:26 »
my Timevalve system was loud at first but it quieted down over time.  Before it quieted down I would stuff an old gym sock in one tailpipe when I went on the highway.

Dudlow

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2019, 19:41:13 »
I recently changed my stainless system for a factory steel original from the downpipes back.
Transformed the noise, it just purrs now.

MikeSimon

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2019, 23:51:04 »
Is the factory steel still available? I had one installed back in 1984 and it had to be welded together. Expensive job.
1970/71 280SL Automatic
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Parchment Leather
Power Steering
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Hardtop
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Dudlow

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2019, 16:26:57 »
Still made, still welded, still expensive......

Benz Dr.

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2019, 19:50:30 »
I recently changed my stainless system for a factory steel original from the downpipes back.
Transformed the noise, it just purrs now.

Sock in your tail pipe? Not nearly as good as the time I found something really interesting inside a guy's engine.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

Iconic

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2019, 19:47:52 »
Sock in your tail pipe? Not nearly as good as the time I found something really interesting inside a guy's engine.
Dan,
Don't leave us hanging. What was it?  ???
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

MikeL43

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2019, 18:39:34 »
I have the timevalve (strange name) complete SS system on my 67 250 SL and haven't found that it is overly loud though it does sound a little different than the original rusty system I previously had.  While on this subject I  will note that the SS system was about 3 inches too long for my car and had to be shortened a bit to fit perfectly.  Also I have had to get the later model steel reinforced rubber thingies that hold the system up as the old 100 percent rubber ones kept breaking.

mnahon

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #11 on: June 17, 2019, 23:37:57 »
Iconic, here's the answer to your question; reply #7 in this thread:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=22854.msg163434#msg163434
Meyer Nahon
Montreal, Canada
1968 MB 280SL Auto Euro LHD Silver
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Benz Dr.

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2019, 03:22:58 »
Dan,
Don't leave us hanging. What was it?  ???

OK, I guess we're all adults here....... :-X

Guy came into my shop complaining about a strange noise coming from his late 280 engine. He had a real hottie driving his other car  -  she was much younger that he was.

 After we investigated we found a pair sexy black panties wound around his cam shaft. We removed the panties and put them in a plastic bag for him. I called and told him his car was ready.
When he arrived to pick up his car he had an older woman with him. Not pretty, rather heavy, not at all friendly, and for sure not blonde. I assumed it was his wife. ( it was )

When he asked me what we found I showed him the plastic bag. The story he told me was pretty good:

" So I'm out with the blonde ( no name, just '' the blonde '' ) and we stop at a gas station. I need some oil for the 280 so I add a liter but I forgot to put the oil cap back on. We were driving along and all of a sudden there's clouds of smoke coming out from under the hood. So I stop and have a look and see that the oil fill cap is gone. I was hoping that I had a rag or something to stick in the hole until I got home but I couldn't find anything. So the blonde says, " here, use these" and hands me her panties. I stuffed them in the hole and took her home. The next day I went to put my spare cap on and found that the hole was empty so I figured they flew out and didn't think much of it. Right after the the noise started.......

I handed the plastic bag to him, he just about had a heart attack, looked out the door in mortal terror, and then he promptly threw the plastic bag in my wood stove where it made a nice hot fire for a little while. Then he handed me a 50 dollar tip and I've never seen him again.

How's that for strange noises?

Actually, I was kind of pissed about the whole thing because I really did want to keep them for a show and tell item. Oh well............ :)
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

mrfatboy

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #13 on: June 18, 2019, 04:48:49 »
Lol. Funny story. My first guess was you were going to say it was a condom :o
1969 280sl (Aug 1968 build)
Signal Red
4 Speed

Iconic

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #14 on: June 18, 2019, 17:01:37 »
Thanks mnahon and Dan !!
1970 280 SL Automatic, USA version, Grey-Blue (906G/906G), Blue leather (245)
1968 SS396 Camaro Convertible (owned since 1977 -- my first car :D)
1984 Porsche Euro Carrera coupe, LSD, SlateBlueMet/Blue
1998 BMW M-Rdstr Estoril Blue
1970 280 SL Automatic, Anthracite Grey-173G, Red Interior-132 - sold

Garry

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #15 on: June 18, 2019, 22:22:20 »
Dan,


So instead of piston slap, he had knicker slap, in several different directions. :D :D ;D
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
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zak

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #16 on: June 18, 2019, 22:46:50 »
Hilarious!
1967 250 SL
1983 280 SL
2015 ML 250 Bluetec
2007 ML CDI
2004 E 320 Wagon
1999 E300 Turbodiesel

Benz Dr.

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #17 on: June 18, 2019, 23:56:00 »
Yeah, the best part was the holy **** look on his face when I pulled them out of a drawer. I figured the noise coming from his engine wouldn't have been nearly as loud as his screaming when his very pleasant wife saw them and started grabbing him by the balls.  :o :o :o

 I'll tell you, that woman was a real termagant.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

96witton

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #18 on: June 21, 2019, 23:25:18 »
thanks to everyone that replied
Jim

teahead

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #19 on: June 22, 2019, 18:14:35 »
Cheaper to get a louder radio.
1970 280SL auto, AC - aka "Edelweiss"

Tom in seattle

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #20 on: June 27, 2019, 14:34:37 »
This is really good humor.  Benz Dr you write well.  Also reminds me of a time I drove across a US/CAN border in a recently purchased used 911.  The border cops opened my front hood and pulled back the rubber mat to expose a compartment I did not know existed .  Fortunately they found a nearly used bottle of alcohol, obviously old.  They made their point.
Tom Averill
1967 250 SL Auto Euro Spec

JamesL

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #21 on: June 27, 2019, 16:28:56 »
Known as the Smuggler's Box... ;D
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

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Re: stainless steel exhaust system. to loud
« Reply #22 on: June 28, 2019, 10:30:47 »
Good story Dan!
As someone who prides himself on his vocabulary, I take particular pleasure in learning a new word: "termagant". I like it and will use it in my upcoming divorce negotiations!
Is it pronounced with a soft or hard "G"?
(As in Vagina ;D or vagabond)