[72chevelle383]

okay. i know right now most people are laughing saying "this is a joke, right?" But everytime i read a forum on types of mufflers all i hear about is drone, drone, drone. I dont know what the helll it is, and it bothers me. I guess i have never experienced it in my chevelle. I drive it around all the time and dont notice anything that some say, "drives them crazy" drone. I am assuming i just dont have any, but i know this is a stupid question, but could someone please explain to me what exhaust drone is? thanks haha yes i know its a funny question.

[87caprice]

I dont know if I'm correct or not but I think its like when you get to a certain RPM there comes a point where you cant hear inside of the car. AGAIN I THINK THATS HOW I GOT IT. But I hear most ppl say that it happens with flowmasters and I have flowmasters and before I recently installed the Xpipe last weekend I could not talk on the phone while on the interstate but since the Xpipe I can now hear. So maybe im wrong but thats what I always thought "drone" was.

[Tonys72SS]

The way it was for me with my Flowmaster Super 40's was starting around 2000-2500 RPM which is where most of my cruising RPM was it became really buzzy inside of the car. Like everything would vibrate if that makes sense. I was not running an H-Pipe of X-Pipe, but I have switched over to Pypes Violator mufflers with an H-Pipe and no more drone.

[thunderstruck507]

drone= flowmasters



haha seriously though it's that deep constant bass sound that rattles everything in the car at certain rpms

[Greg Owens]

It is when they hit a point where it kind of howls like when you blow across the top of a beer bottle. Some times it is steady, some times it resonates up and down. Something to do with the way the sound waves bounce around inside your car.

Funny thing is I had Flowmaster 50 series with no issues. Went to Ultra Flos with an X pipe and now it drones.

[novaderrik]

when you have it, you know it.. it's when the frequency of the exhaust matches the frequency that makes the entire car vibrate.. every car and every engine/exhaust combo is different.

[RAMBO]

it is a resonatating sound- usually varies by RPM, and its created by many different factors.

People blame flowmasters, but its ususally more related to the way the exhaust work was done and the type & location of the muffler & exhaust hangers.

Many muffler shops that fully weld their exhaust wind up "loading it" meaning its sprung together- So when you add engine vibration to that, it RINGS at certain RPMS.

Many muffler shops also make their own muffler hangers, use cheap stuff- too few or too many, poor rubber insators where they attach to the frame- and that can affect the way it RINGS....

The factory exhaust sytems was fully bolted together not welded, it had hangers that used 2" bands of rubber to insulate from the frame... and they used quiet mufflers- that all combined to provide a quiet resonance free exhaust.

There are plenty of systems installed w/o resonance, but it takes a little bit of trial and error to resolve it if you have it. Most people just complain and remove the mufflers instead of trying to solve the problem.

[hpsherlin]

Originally Posted by RAMBO

it is a resonatating sound- usually varies by RPM, and its created by many different factors.

People blame flowmasters, but its ususally more related to the way the exhaust work was done and the type & location of the muffler & exhaust hangers.

Many muffler shops that fully weld their exhaust wind up "loading it" meaning its sprung together- So when you add engine vibration to that, it RINGS at certain RPMS.

Many muffler shops also make their own muffler hangers, use cheap stuff- too few or too many, poor rubber insators where they attach to the frame- and that can affect the way it RINGS....

The factory exhaust sytems was fully bolted together not welded, it had hangers that used 2" bands of rubber to insulate from the frame... and they used quiet mufflers- that all combined to provide a quiet resonance free exhaust.

There are plenty of systems installed w/o resonance, but it takes a little bit of trial and error to resolve it if you have it. Most people just complain and remove the mufflers instead of trying to solve the problem.

X2
Interesting question as I have Flowmaster Super 40's and don't have any drone either but it seems to be a constant criticism on this site.

[mmurphy77]

Originally Posted by hpsherlin

X2
Interesting question as I have Flowmaster Super 40's and don't have any drone either but it seems to be a constant criticism on this site.

X3. My Flowmaster system on my Chevelle had no drone whatsoever but my Dynamax system on my 442 drones at 1800 rpm to where you can't hear yourself think. It is a stock replacement system (w/ X-pipe added) with factory hangers BUT it is completely welded. Go figure.

[bikeron]

And now for a little science:

http://www.autolounge.net/calculator...resonance.html

Here is a set up for measuring drone:

http://www.kettering.edu/physics/dru...ers-Frame.html

Ron

[bikeron]

I knew there was a famous paper done in the 50's about this..I found it!

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/crgis/imag...f_Mufflers.pdf

Ron

[GRN69CHV]

FM 70 Series on mine now do not have any drone. Just the opposite, very quiet.

[jbarberggd]

Originally Posted by bikeron

I knew there was a famous paper done in the 50's about this..I found it!

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/crgis/imag...f_Mufflers.pdf

Ron

I just read that whole article and it does not address the alleged"Flowmaster Drone"http://www.chevelles.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Sinister]

I like the term "ring" that was used earlier. I feel like my ears are ringing and slightly clogged so you can't "think." lol Mine doesn't have any drone it is just loud as hell.

[rodderscorner]

drone, it's a p.i.t.a. my 86 SS does it at 65 with flowmasters 40's
it's louder than the factory radio, and worse with the windows up..
it's sucks because the sound out the exhaust is music..