The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Exhaust cutout??

As some of you may know I am building a 48 2 ton Chevy with a 4-53T Detroit Diesel engine.

I am thinking about my exhaust system I will build in the coming months. It will be at least 4" and probably 5", hopefully 409 stainless steel.

I know lots of people drive Diesel trucks without a muffler, and provided there is a turbo, as I have, they are not too loud.
One of my friends has the same engine in a pickup with 5" exhaust and no muffler. It sounds great, and he has no problems with the law.

I also plan to drive this truck all the time and on long trips, so I want a quiet exhaust most of the time.

And sometimes I want to make some noise, because a Detroit sounds so good under load with no muffler.

I know in most states and for sure in Virginia exhaust cutouts are not legal.
But if your truck does not need a muffler to start with is a cutout still not legal?

Right now I think I will use a good muffler. I also have a 4" Pacbrake, essentially a big butterfly valve for your exhaust pipe, I plan to use it as an air operated exhaust cutout branching off just prior to the muffler.

What do yall think about this?
Thanks,
Grigg

I saw on Trucks where they used the dual electrical exhaust cutouts on Copperhead and if I had the money I would put it on my truck. It is just too cool. I think it would work great. It would give you the option of running open headers when you pull up next to the old ladies and then you can close em off when the cops show up. Sounds like it would work to me. Good luck!

You can run it to the rear axle on your 2 ton and get the noisy end away from the driver but still hear it under load. Your truck is quite abit longer than a pick-up, could even dump it out the passenger side for even less noise for the driver to hear,
Scott

Scott,
I will run my exhaust out just in front of the passenger side rear wheels. I think I will also use a reasonably effective muffler.

Another thing I just thought of is the Jake brake on my engine. With an open exhaust it will make quite a racket, so better have the muffler.
And if I do use the 4" exhaust cutout it should make enough noise to get me in trouble if I try.

There are an awful lot of big trucks(semis)running straight pipes.They are not that loud unless you really get on them.And watchout for that jakebrake,it will shatter windows with straightpipes.If you drive sensibly and dont use the jake in town you should be allright with straights.

Why not compromise with a good throaty high flow muffler. Quiet in town and a good deep rumble under load and cruising. I ran cutouts when I was a high school on my Roadrunner and they were a lot of trouble. Hopefully the equipment has improved.

We must realise that a Detroit two stroke with strait pipes is a few notches louder than a 4 stroke diesel, make that several notches..

The cutout I have is betetr than any I have ever seen before, I don't expect any problems if I do us it. It is actually an exhaust brake, wich by design will hold lots of pressure and not leak, so used as a cutout it should be fine.

I suppose I could try it with a strait pipe to start with, and if I think it is too loud I'll use a good muffler and the cutout.
That will be less work and money any how if I like the strait pipe sound.
You guys have such good ideas, that's why I asked.

Grigg