VR Senator with LSx454

Trouble is, 3dB is a drop of half the noise level, another 3dB is half again, another 3 is half of that. The trouble is the low frequency thump of the 454, so its not so much that its overtly loud to the human ear, but to the noise level meter its like an earthquake going off. Its all good though, was having a good poke around yesterday. I would really like to tuck the drivers side exhaust up a little, as it sits maybe 25mm lower than the passenger side, I think that's now that its got some miles on it and gone through some heat cycles. So I will just take my time and get it all perfect. I also thought given the rear pipes bolt onto the back of the varex with a flange I might buy polishable grade tubes to make them form so it looks a little more trick from behind. So hopefully turn a negative into a positive.

 

Thank you, I actually spoke to Doug a couple of times via email since the test, he was involved I believe with the Chrysler Charger Bathurst race program back in the day. This is part of what he sent me on Friday

"Dear Gary,
I too found it a good day.
In 1972 300 hp in the E49 Charger was considered the limit of what could be put to the road in a street car.
Who could have imagined that over twice that could be driven with wide throttle openings through a double lane change?"

Gotta say I got a kick out of that, for me the whole build has been about the car as an entire package. I know I have gone a bit overboard in places, but what was really satisfying about the testing was how the car performed as a whole. At one stage Doug even commented on how the engine never got anywhere near half on the temperature, despite what he was doing, I then talked him through the thought and effort that went into the oil cooling as well as the water cooling system. So for me the car is getting very close now to the complete package have wanted. I think the varex will be perfect for this car. I made this up and posted it on the other thread for shits and giggles

 

Well spent the night out under the car as Suesy isn't home. Pulled off the drivers side collector, cut off the flange and angled it up a degree or so, the two flanges on either side are dead level now. Looks like a little cut and shut of the drivers side pipe that angles in to the centre of the car and the whole front section should sit sweet. As it was I was having to fight it a little to get the bolts in, I really want it to just want to naturally sit in the right spot. I had a wacky idea of flanging the tail section so the pipes were separate then sending them off to be ceramic coated, but I did such a neat job of those up sweeps I am loathe to touch them. Anybody know if I hit the pipes with some of that aluminum oxide exhaust spray they would stay looking half reasonable or should i just leave them as they are?

Also hung the Varex under there on a couple of tie downs, actually it sits better than I thought. Definitely should be able to get away with just reducing the width a little of the wheel well. Only hassle is to weld the new panel in means fuel tank out, but has to be done, that's one good thing about the Bain tank being a single unit though, I only need to disconnect supply and return and the filler/breather and the whole system drops out.

So have ordered all the pipes and bends etc, so hopefully maybe another night this week, or at least on the week end will get some more done, probably going to take a couple of week ends thought to get it perfect, but reckon I have a plan.

 

Yea, and its a bolt in, so worse case scenario i put something else in. All good.

 

I love getting bits

 

This arrived today, mint, looks perfect.

 

I respect your opinion naaf, but I am going to go with it as much to try it as anything. The varex is flanged each end so it gives me the ability to unbolt it if I really have to and try something else. Lets see how it goes.

 

Got heaps done on the week end, not a lot to show yet, no pics. Redid the drivers side front pipe to get it up a bit higher and dead level with the passenger side. Also hit the pipework with some high temp aluminized paint, looks schmick. Cut out the side of the wheel well and spent a while positioning the Varex. Made up a couple of nice little bolt in mount plates and am using late model Commodore rubbers instead of the hopeless old figure 8 style.

Cut off the old Di Fillipo rear muffler, and remade the ends to suit the varex and tigged it all up. Pretty happy how my welding is coming along for a rank amateur. Painted the rear pipes too, they are drying. So next week end I will remove the fuel tank so I can weld in the new side to the wheel well, and then I need to make the new rear pipes from the varex to the tips. Put it all back together and see how it sounds. Might run into another week end, depends how it all goes.

 

Lol, sorry ,mate all the front half is all back together, def doing a vid with varex open/closed but. If I ever have it off again I will do one for you

 

Yea mate, actually just got it, really happy with it. Love the way he has used the light, finally a pic of the bay that I think looks more like real life

 

Be interesting to see the feedback it gets from various quarters this time given the controversy the last photography caused.

 

Cheers mate, I really appreciate you saying that. I am just going to be honest at the risk of sounding up myself. I am just bloody over the moon, I sat down last night and thought fark me, I built that, truly the car is exactly what I had in mind, I just wanted a mixture or raw power and refinement. I just love that three quarter rear pic on the second page.