Exhaust cutouts...

I'm being encouraged by my son to do something about my exhaust note, he says I need to up the volume. I'm sorta intrigued by the thought, bringing back my inner child and the cards I used to poke into the spokes of my bicycle to add the rumble.

Problem is, I visit the hospital all too often for checkups, and I don't need the cops there giving me the work-over for excessive noise. Recently a technology I remember from the '50s has again caught my attention - exhaust cutout valves. I've found two types so far, the Doug's cutoff valve which uses a sliding plate and another by various manufacturers that uses a butterfly valve. Doug's, with accessories gets expensive and the ones with the butterfly valve seem to have motor issues - are there others I haven't found?

Does anyone have a favorite, like to review one, like to advise against one or more? Does anyone know of another way to skin this cat?

 

You and I sound about the same age with the same health issues going on. When I was younger I would do exhaust cut outs but my opinion now is that it would be too loud and obnoxious. On my 2002 Sequoia and my 2004 Tundra I just had a muffler shop replace the muffler with a Flowmaster (but any brand would do) and now have a nice aggressive sound in each vehicle that is not over bearing.

 

@dirtydeeds here has an electronic cutout valve exhaust sytem that he makes. I'm not sure if it's for 1st gen trucks, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

 

Keith will give you the low down.
I also would like to know how a 3rd gen would sound with cutouts.

 

Not to be a dic, but wouldn't the cut outs sound like crap unless you are running headers??

 

I'd give serious consideration to this suggestion long before cut-outs. I too remember the days of chevy 350's and ford 302's and 351's when we were happy and excited when the stock exhaust pipes finally rusted out so we would have a macho rumble while cruising the mall and movie theater on weekends....Step away from the hot tub time machine and act your age.

 

@PCJ...I've looked hard at the Flowmaster 50 Delta, deciding it to be my favorite were I to go that route, but even with this one it gets a little bit loud at times. My thinking is that with the cut outs, I could quiet things down when necessary yet still have the rumble when out and about in the boonies or country roads. It is a shame, though, that you get all or nothing...I saw a video of a muffler system (Xforce Varex) last night wherein the driver could adjust, using their phone, the amount of restriction from closed to 25%, 50%, 75%, and fully opened. Further, you could program it to automatically adjust itself in areas where you programmed it earlier to be quiet, or at a certain level. Very costly at >$800 on a single catback system, but limited compatibility I believe with the package deal. [I believe the muffler and controller alone, axle back, can be purchased at American Muscle for a 2.5" exhaust pipe.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2QNpdNmXSI

 

Oh come on, stop being a spoil sport. In the first place, I hate hot tubs. In the second place, what if I am experiencing a late second childhood? To shake loose from the conservative lifestyle of middle age and thumb my nose at convention? To remain respectful among my neighbors, yet able to kick up my heels in freedom at a whim while knowing there are only so many days left in which to do it. Call it a bucket thing, as I never was in a position to do it when I was younger.

 

This^^^^

 

Roger that. Stay safe out there.

 

There’s a YouTube video of them comparing the sound with the cutouts open and then closed

 

If you want a cheap, mechanical cut-out you can use old drive-by-cable throttle bodies (2000-2003 Chevy LS bodies to be exact). Run a bicycle shift cable into your cab and boom.

 

Man peel on!! Freedom!!

 

FREEDOM!!!

 

Double BOOM!!

 

Yes, I do remember the cable activated ones, my father as a young sailor had a Ford convertible that the previous owner, another sailor who had shipped out, had installed one in. This was back around 1956, and I was living near Oakland, CA., in a new subdivision called San Pablo on the way to Vallejo. I do remember that my dad didn't use it, and I recall just one time when he showed me how it worked (as to pulling the cable, only) and I was thrilled at the sounds. That was the sole time I ever heard it, which of course left me very intrigued about it. I forgot about it until I saw something on YouTube which reminded me. Now its also electric and vacuum activated, with the electric systems having a reputation of being problematic. Cable activation sucks, as I recall my various motorcycles, choke cables on my older trucks and those on lawn mowers. If ever, this is not one that I plan on installing any time soon, as I am just now beginning to research today's technology and its implementation in this area, but it does hold a strong position in my thoughts on installing an enhanced exhaust system - for fun!