Resonator and muffler replacement

Topic: Resonator and muffler replacement (Read 12582 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #75 – April 25, 2012, 03:10:23 pm

Bob, There are few parts needed, a flex, a resonator, band clamps, maybe a 90 deg el, and/or a 45 deg , some straight pipe from origional can be used. It just takes getting into it and doing it or having it done.
Seems everyone that does the M11 or ISM is sorry they did not do it sooner.
Most laugh going up the hills, you can save fuel if you are strong willed and stay out of the throttle, however most just floor it and laugh passing everything.

Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #76 – April 25, 2012, 03:16:39 pm

Gordon, the relationship to the air intake vs exhaust needs to be paid attention to, if you can not install with good clearance then I would find something to shield it. I run the ISM 500 and the resonator is fairly near, I have pushed it on mountains with no issues.
Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #77 – April 25, 2012, 04:58:30 pm

Thanks Dave. I plan to install some reflective material on the air intake system and possible wrap the exhaust pipe (although I do have some concern that wrapping the exhaust may just move the heat down to the resonator). It is good to know you have not had any problems.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #78 – April 25, 2012, 06:53:06 pm

Any with experience adding a resonator to an ISL 400?

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #79 – April 25, 2012, 08:48:00 pm

If I had the ISL, it would have the resonator for sure. From what I gather, reading the comments, the C 8.3 Series gains nicely, the ISL is larger than the C 8.3, so that should be a good move. Not seen anything about the 5.9 Cummins w/resonator. Would be a good step for the DD 6V-92 boys too.
Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #80 – April 25, 2012, 08:51:12 pm

Boy, I'm probably going regret this because many of my favorite forum members have made the change to the resonator, but I think they sound terrible. They certainly don't sound like the refined machine that is a Foretravel. They are fine at idle but when they are revved up leaving a campground they sound guttural, like a bulldozer or something. Sorry! Please forgive me but everyone has their own opinion.

I was told by a senior tech rep for Cummins that the Cummins engines under 400hp would not be appreciable improved by removing the stock mufflers used by Foretravel. Our mufflers are relatively high flow, low restriction mufflers. He said it would not make any improvement to the 230hp, B5.9 used in the U225s. It wouldn't hurt but it wouldn't help either.

Now, with all of that said, I wonder what my Detroit 6V92 would sound like?

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #81 – April 25, 2012, 09:10:07 pm

Kent, It would sound great and run better, but I understand keeping it normal. I doubt the low restriction on the Cowl muffler FT uses, if it were a low restriction, noone would be seeing the hugh improvement in overall power.
As for the Cummins chap, I and others laugh at his comment about it not helping, there are a few with the 8.3 who love em. I am opinated too

Hope your back is getting better and better.
I am the lucky puppy with the heart operation, 3 1/2 days in hospital & go home. Still hurts a little when I sneeze, otherwise all great.
Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #82 – April 25, 2012, 09:21:23 pm

Quote from: Barry Beam – April 12, 2012, 01:04:02 am

I had my old muffler removed and replaced with an Aero AT5050XL 5 inch resonator.

DB before replacement was 93 - 95 db and after there was no change in db but a nicer sounding growl.
Photos of install Exhaust System Replacement - 2003 U320

Thanks for paving the way. Steve just bought an Aero AT5050XL via eBay for our coach. I particularly liked the sound files you posted for comparison - the Aero sounded more pleasing to my ear. A richer sound, slightly lower pitch than the stock muffler. Steve liked the improved chassis battery accessibility.

Michelle

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #83 – April 25, 2012, 09:26:17 pm

I guess I missed the post with the "sound" comparison. Where did you hear the difference?

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #84 – April 25, 2012, 09:28:49 pm

Quote from: Dave M – April 25, 2012, 03:10:23 pm

Bob, There are few parts needed, a flex, a resonator, band clamps, maybe a 90 deg el, and/or a 45 deg , some straight pipe from origional can be used. It just takes getting into it and doing it or having it done.
Seems everyone that does the M11 or ISM is sorry they did not do it sooner.
Most laugh going up the hills, you can save fuel if you are strong willed and stay out of the throttle, however most just floor it and laugh passing everything.
Dave M

You have to understand my background in the Rv business. I was foretravels sales manager in california from 86 to late 89. Saw a lot of fun toys.

The original unicoach had a over chipped series 60 detroit that would do zero to 60 in 18 seconds. I had to ask people to hold on inside if I demoed them.

Funny part is that I had a trucker customer with a 8.3 38 and he told me he would only upgrade if I had a series 60 detroit like his trucks. It was hard to keep a straight face as I had him...

Tight skinflint with 10 million in the bank who wanted more power. Unfair of me.

Long story short he bought the coach at my price after grinding me and my gm for three days. Took delivery and after taking it out he told me it pulled 100mph UP canon pass out of riverside county.

He leaned over around a building corner and told me how much he liked the coach. I said "you realiy did not care what it cost, did you? As long as it scratched your itch? He looked around to see if anyone else was around and looked me in the eye and said "no"

He had a grin ear to ear you could not wipe off his face he told me. An old trucker with the fastest Rv made.

I miss Charlie Hobbs. Good guy.

Are we having fun yet? I understand the marine versions of the m11 celect plus are several hundred hp more than the Rv units. Hmmmmm

I used to take 300 cummins and take them to 409 hp and have the Allison guy sign the upgrade warranty form for the customer.

I am brave as long as these have enough cooling capacity like the boats. The 4060 will handle much more power in this lighter application. I think 600 hp is fairly easy with proper EGT monitoring. Better gas mileage always resulted.

My 450 red top seems like its being held back. The pipe is the start. You guys are in for it as I am a dice roller. Driven 700 hp 8v92's. Blew the blower off. Oh well.

More stories later

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #85 – April 25, 2012, 09:40:03 pm

Quote from: txforetravel – April 25, 2012, 09:26:17 pm

I guess I missed the post with the "sound" comparison. Where did you hear the difference?

The page on Barry's site Exhaust System Replacement - 2003 U320

Scroll down and there are some sound files of the before and after at regular and high idle. We had to download them in order to play them.

-M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #86 – April 26, 2012, 01:07:29 pm

I too would be interested to hear the results from someone that's installed a resonator on a 400ISL. I really like the stock sound but if it would make that much difference in power and performance than it seems sensible as long as it isn't obnoxious sounding. I listened to heavy equipment roar for 30 years so I wouldn't be interested in that type of noise.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #87 – April 26, 2012, 02:00:51 pm

Interesting about the Unicoach using the 60 Series DD engine, I wonder what year model they played that game ?
Would guess it was way too heavy for the early Unicoach frame work, but I do not know, so am asking, maybe Mr. Barry Beam would have some info on that subject.
And yes I have also had experience with strung out DD 8V-92 making crazy power, but in a MCI Bus conversion, Also a 12V-71TT, that was way over the top, too much.
Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #88 – April 26, 2012, 10:00:07 pm

Quote from: Dave M – April 26, 2012, 02:00:51 pm

Interesting about the Unicoach using the 60 Series DD engine, I wonder what year model they played that game ?
Would guess it was way too heavy for the early Unicoach frame work, but I do not know, so am asking, maybe Mr. Barry Beam would have some info on that subject.
And yes I have also had experience with strung out DD 8V-92 making crazy power, but in a MCI Bus conversion, Also a 12V-71TT, that was way over the top, too much.
Dave M

The dd series 60 was a one only as the coach payload was 1500 pounds. It also had long radiators along the sidewalls with hot antifreeze in them like a manual circulation aqua hot.

I tested it as I was curious and it worked great. Just took a lot of space up.

Wonder where that coach went? Fun fast. Time your coach zero to 60mph. A strong coach like the ored 300 cat 36 would do it in less than 30 seconds at 20,000 pounds. I remember a trucker up the grade on 40 into flagstaff telling his cb buddies to out run me up the hill. I passed them at 85mph up hill. The trucker said " grand villa, what are you running?" I remember telling him a 300 cat and twenty thousand pounds. He responded that that was not fair. 8 mpg at 90mph for hours. Broke it in for the woods as the next owner. A beaver marquis with the same 300 cat was 40 seconds. That meant 40mph up a 6 percent grade. Slow.....

You guys normally baby your rigs. Like you owned them versus mine were Foretavel owned demos. My bad... My only fringe benefit. Go rving on my days off. And I used them a lot. Why not?

Our Aero muffler

Reply #89 – May 13, 2012, 12:19:26 am

We are installing Aero AT5050 Exhaust Resonator Turbine Muffler.

Our original exhaust was all 4" and we now have a short original piece of 4" attached to turbo and 5" from there to the back fiberglass exit hole. Since the fiberglass opening is still 4.5", we decided to temporarily use our 4" chrome tip attached to a 4" to 5" transition. Sometime later, we will remove the 4" tip, widen the fiberglass to 5.5" and bring 5" pipes out the rear.

Aero has two mufflers to choose from in the 5" range:
AT5050 which is 20" long x 7.5" diameter.
AT5050XL which is 30" long x 6" diameter.
AT4040 & AT4040XL are similar in the 4" range.

The 20" AT5050 fits better than the 30" XL in our coach.

Photos show comparison to original in side view and in in & out opening.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #90 – May 13, 2012, 11:00:25 am

For comparison, our original muffler for our Cummins C-8.3 engine was 36" x 12".

Length from the rear end of the muffler to the center of the 4" round side entry connection was 32".

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #91 – May 13, 2012, 11:07:40 am

Barry, I love the picture showing both the origional and the resonator, makes me laugh big.
A very large difference it heat radiation for sure.
Dave M

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #92 – May 13, 2012, 12:22:46 pm

Looks great! A 30" should fit our Detroit. Let us know how it sounds/works.

Yes, more heat out the exhaust, less in the compartment.

Pierce

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #93 – May 13, 2012, 11:37:43 pm

Our Aero muffler installation is completed and the tail pipe sound is certainly different.

Almost all connections are welded air tight.
New engine bracket formed to support turbo pipe.
Two hangers support welded assembly.
Rear tail pipe through fiberglass hole is centered by two turnbuckles.
4" to 5" near turbo.
5" to 4" at rear tail piece (to be replaced with a 5" tip when we get the fiberglass hole expanded.

Thanks to the person who first recommended Aero and all who have blazed the path for us.

In a week we will see how it all performs on the road from Santa Fe to Durango.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #94 – May 14, 2012, 07:53:36 am

It will be interesting to see your results on an 8.3 ISC.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #95 – May 14, 2012, 08:24:58 am

Barry, Good looking installation. Don't take this wrong, I would not trust the screw type clamps and turn buckles holding the tail pipe, these clamps have a way of either stripping out or loosening. Just my two cents.
Gary B

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #96 – May 14, 2012, 11:15:55 am

Good eye Gary.

Our Aero replacement project was not planned for our Santa Fe stop and when the opportunity came up, I looked for parts and found one small shop that only had the shorter Aero in 5". He also had two 5" to 4" reducers, but nowhere in town could I find 5" muffler clamps, so we used hose clamps as a temporary clamp.

It appears that anyone planning to do the replacement needs to gather parts ahead of time as 5" may be difficult to find on short notice.

We will be replacing the hose/band clamps with muffler clamps.

The turnbuckles are just used to position the pipe in the center of the hole. They do not support anything.

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #97 – May 16, 2012, 09:01:39 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – May 13, 2012, 11:37:43 pm

Our Aero muffler installation is completed and the tail pipe sound is certainly different.

Barry,
When you comment on performance would you also comment on "sound is certainly different".
Volume?
Tone?
etc.?

thanks

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #98 – May 16, 2012, 10:45:47 am

Barry, the 3rd picture shows I think the end pipe going very close to the air intake pipe and I thought maybe you may want to put some sort of heat baffle between them . Just a thought, and welcome to the "Resonator Club". You will like the difference if it is anywhere like our change in power!
John H

Re: Resonator and muffler replacement

Reply #99 – May 17, 2012, 08:11:15 am

Here is a picture of my muffler replacement that was done last year. I stayed with 4" pipe and the muffler is an Aeroturbine 4040XL. I used the 2 old rubber mounts from the original muffler that were still in good shape. Fabricated new brackets and bolted them to the frame. As you can see the shiny SS muffler discolors in use. Foretravel chrome exhaust tip is not shown. I have not noticed any improvement in mpg or performance, but hopefully there is some. The idle noise is a little louder, but going down the road I don't hear any difference even with the drivers window open.

Affiliate Notice