Sound level difference: 2.5" vs 3" exhaust - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

plastrd · 08-08-2011, 03:40 PM

Is there an appreciable difference in volume between 2.5" and 3" exhausts?

It seems choices in exhaust come into two main categories:
Raspy (Corsa, Stainless Works, etc)
Deep (Borla, Flowmaster, etc)

The raspy systems seem to have a reputation for being drone-free probably due to the higher sound frequency while the deeper sounding ones are more likely to resonate in the trunk/cabin and cause drone.

I'm kind of torn between the sounds I like best but currently my number one concern is total volume. I live in a condo complex where my garage is directly underneath my upstairs neighbor's unit and faces another identical condo so I'm a little concerned about the bark at startup. I also have to drive slowly through pretty much the whole complex to reach the exit.

I'm leaning towards either the Corsa or Stainless Works systems right now, but these also seem to be the loudest and I don't want to wake the dead when I take off for work every morning. Almost none of the sound clips point out if they're 2.5 or 3" systems so I'm wondering if the smaller exhaust will have the same tone but be less loud?

Long story short, has anyone else been through the stock-is-too-damn-quiet-but-I-don't-want-to-piss-off-the-neighbors ordeal and reached a satisfying conclusion?

Sour DeeZ · 08-08-2011, 04:09 PM

3" you will have drone for sure. It is a personal choice. For me I love the drone from my 3" Kooks.

hypurone · 08-08-2011, 04:18 PM

The 3" systems tend to be deeper sound that carries a bit. My Magnaflow 3" SS Competition reverberates insidiously when in the garage and only a bit less when outside.

A 3" may not be the best choice if you are parked in or under anything as it will resonate into the structure. Not sure there is a win/win in your scenario (neighbors)...

masterwinning · 08-08-2011, 04:21 PM

Stainless works is anything but Raspy. I have found the bigger the pipe, the deeper the rumble, the smaller the more raspy, tin can, ricer sounding.

Apex Motorsports · 08-08-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterwinning

Stainless works is anything but Raspy.

+1

Tube diameter does have an impact on over all sound but muffler design has a lot to do with sound quality, volume, and drone as well. Here are a couple of videos to compare. Below is a video we shot this weekend of the 3 inch Stainless Works Retro Chambered. It has a nice deep tone with zero drone.

Here is a video we shot a few weeks ago of the 2.5 inch Borla ATAK.

ZachSGMSS · 08-08-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterwinning

Stainless works is anything but Raspy. I have found the bigger the pipe, the deeper the rumble, the smaller the more raspy, tin can, ricer sounding.

I was looking at both the ATAK system and the SW retro chambered system and I ended up with SW because there was no rasp from what I heard and from the ATAK videos I listened to there was rasp every time. SW has a really nice, deep, muscle car tone to it with no rasp.

BubbaSS · 08-08-2011, 11:42 PM

I think that anything that frees up the flow of exhaust will increase it's volume respectively. 3" should be louder than 2.5" if all parts are the same. If the muffler is raspy, you'll hear more rasp at 3".

Ronn · 08-09-2011, 10:24 AM

My neighbours woke up one morning when I idled into my driveway at 1am.... I've got the 3" flowmaster american thunder. The sound sure does carry.

Cruzin SS · 08-09-2011, 11:41 AM

I have Stainless Works Retro 3" cat back system love deep tone at start up and no drone at any speed 2011 SS auto trans Perfect!

The Stig · 08-09-2011, 11:50 AM

I've got JBA's 3" exhaust and let's just say the sound carries. I park in an underground garage and whenever I start her up a car alarm goes off (usually more than one)

plastrd · 08-09-2011, 12:02 PM

I must have had the SW mixed up with something else. Apex Chase's video is probably one of the first I've seen where the camera isn't on the ground directly under the tips or the car isn't flying by at WOT. Based on that one the SW Retro actually sounds pretty reasonable.

BowlingSS · 08-09-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieger

I've got JBA's 3" exhaust and let's just say the sound carries. I park in an underground garage and whenever I start her up a car alarm goes off (usually more than one)

That is soo cool.

Bill

BowlingSS · 08-09-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

+1

Tube diameter does have an impact on over all sound but muffler design has a lot to do with sound quality, volume, and drone as well. Here are a couple of videos to compare. Below is a video we shot this weekend of the 3 inch Stainless Works Retro Chambered. It has a nice deep tone with zero drone.

Here is a video we shot a few weeks ago of the 2.5 inch Borla ATAK.

What happen to the first video?

Bill

Juiced1 · 08-09-2011, 07:21 PM

I wouldn't worry about tube diameter so much. A 2.5" systems are plenty loud, don't forget your exhaust would have more velocity through a smaller tube. This can make things raspy and loud! But that isn't really the case on a stock motor. For you, I would recomend hearing some cars before you buy anything. If you're condo is going to be an issue for volume, you might want to hear some things first hand.

08-08-2011, 03:40 PM	#1
plastrd Indecisive Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 95 View My Garage	Sound level difference: 2.5" vs 3" exhaust Is there an appreciable difference in volume between 2.5" and 3" exhausts? It seems choices in exhaust come into two main categories: Raspy (Corsa, Stainless Works, etc) Deep (Borla, Flowmaster, etc) The raspy systems seem to have a reputation for being drone-free probably due to the higher sound frequency while the deeper sounding ones are more likely to resonate in the trunk/cabin and cause drone. I'm kind of torn between the sounds I like best but currently my number one concern is total volume. I live in a condo complex where my garage is directly underneath my upstairs neighbor's unit and faces another identical condo so I'm a little concerned about the bark at startup. I also have to drive slowly through pretty much the whole complex to reach the exit. I'm leaning towards either the Corsa or Stainless Works systems right now, but these also seem to be the loudest and I don't want to wake the dead when I take off for work every morning. Almost none of the sound clips point out if they're 2.5 or 3" systems so I'm wondering if the smaller exhaust will have the same tone but be less loud? Long story short, has anyone else been through the stock-is-too-damn-quiet-but-I-don't-want-to-piss-off-the-neighbors ordeal and reached a satisfying conclusion?

08-08-2011, 04:09 PM	#2
Sour DeeZ Drives: 2011 IOM 2SS RS M6 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 692	3" you will have drone for sure. It is a personal choice. For me I love the drone from my 3" Kooks. __________________ 2011 SS/RS IOM M6 --- Kooks 1 7/8" Long Tube Headers Coated, Kooks 3" HFC, Kooks X-pipe, Kooks 3" Cat-back, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Custom Quad Exhaust & Diffuser, Custom Tuned at Jannetty Racing. (2) 10" JL Audio w6's. Rockford Fosgate Power T500-1. Cache COE6.

08-08-2011, 04:18 PM	#3
hypurone I'm not totally useless.. Drives: ... Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ... Posts: 2,008 View My Garage	The 3" systems tend to be deeper sound that carries a bit. My Magnaflow 3" SS Competition reverberates insidiously when in the garage and only a bit less when outside. A 3" may not be the best choice if you are parked in or under anything as it will resonate into the structure. Not sure there is a win/win in your scenario (neighbors)... __________________ "You were really flyin' when I passed you back there!" - Born on 10/05/09 MyCamaroBuildInfo

08-08-2011, 11:42 PM	#7
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	I think that anything that frees up the flow of exhaust will increase it's volume respectively. 3" should be louder than 2.5" if all parts are the same. If the muffler is raspy, you'll hear more rasp at 3". __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

08-09-2011, 10:24 AM	#8
Ronn Drives: 2010 Camaro Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Northern Ontario Posts: 1,181	My neighbours woke up one morning when I idled into my driveway at 1am.... I've got the 3" flowmaster american thunder. The sound sure does carry. __________________ 1SS / RS / M6 / IOM / Black rally stripes / Polished wheels It's a high school prom, it's a Springsteen song, it's a ride in a Chevrolet...

08-08-2011, 04:21 PM	#4
masterwinning Drives: 2013 Volt Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Riverside Ohio Posts: 515	Stainless works is anything but Raspy. I have found the bigger the pipe, the deeper the rumble, the smaller the more raspy, tin can, ricer sounding.

08-09-2011, 11:41 AM	#9
Cruzin SS Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS Conv. Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Thompsons Station,Tn Posts: 2	I have Stainless Works Retro 3" cat back system love deep tone at start up and no drone at any speed 2011 SS auto trans Perfect!

08-09-2011, 11:50 AM	#10
The Stig knows 2 facts about ducks Drives: ...and they're both wrong Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The HMS Invincible Posts: 25,072 View My Garage	I've got JBA's 3" exhaust and let's just say the sound carries. I park in an underground garage and whenever I start her up a car alarm goes off (usually more than one) __________________

08-09-2011, 12:02 PM	#11
plastrd Indecisive Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 95 View My Garage	I must have had the SW mixed up with something else. Apex Chase's video is probably one of the first I've seen where the camera isn't on the ground directly under the tips or the car isn't flying by at WOT. Based on that one the SW Retro actually sounds pretty reasonable.

08-09-2011, 07:21 PM	#14
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	I wouldn't worry about tube diameter so much. A 2.5" systems are plenty loud, don't forget your exhaust would have more velocity through a smaller tube. This can make things raspy and loud! But that isn't really the case on a stock motor. For you, I would recomend hearing some cars before you buy anything. If you're condo is going to be an issue for volume, you might want to hear some things first hand.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
CNT RACING 3" CAT BACK EXHAUST	WHIPPLECHARGED	Camaro V8 LS3 / L99 Engine, Exhaust, and Bolt-Ons	21	05-22-2011 03:46 PM
3" exhaust vs 2.5"	MyCamaro5	Camaro V8 LS3 / L99 Engine, Exhaust, and Bolt-Ons	7	12-17-2010 07:47 PM
Got Pulled over...	TRSS2	Cosmetics and Lighting Modification Discussions	39	03-08-2010 11:57 AM
2SS Silver Ice Metallic at ATL Car SHow	Cmurf_SS	Camaro Photos \| Spyshots \| Video \| Media Gallery	40	11-09-2009 09:38 PM