Review: 90 dB Laguna Pipes by TC Design and Fabrication
05-26-2016, 12:08 AM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Review: 90 dB Laguna Pipes by TC Design and Fabrication
Hello Rennlisters,
Tony Colicchio of TC Design and Fabrication in Campbell, CA fabbed me up a set of pipes so that I could to pass the 90 dB sound limit at track days held at Laguna Seca. TC sets up and builds street, track, and race cars, and is also well known for his roll cages.
I decided to try a purely mechanical muffler/pipe solution vs. the software/hardware/pipe MECH33 solution. I do admire the clever MECH33 solution very much though.
TC made me a set of pipes out of 16 gauge (1/16", 0.0625", 1.5875 mm) 304 stainless capped off by Supertrapps. The pipes weigh about 11 lbs. The build of materials and quality is substantial and pure TC. No flex detected in the system and it did not seem to need additional support by a rear tow hook bracket or some such. I was not sure how many Supertrapp plates to put in, so I rolled the dice and added a total of 18 plates per pipe. I made sure that I did not tighten the fasteners too tight (for expansion) and used copper anti-seize to prevent galling.
I participated in a Laguna track day last Monday, it was a cool & clear day. No humidity or fog was present which can affect the sound check. I have been meatballed there prior a number of times, so I am familiar with the unexpected surprises that sound measurements can provide depending on the local atmospheric conditions.
My first session and for the rest of the day I pinned it up the hill past the sound booth without any meatballs or being escorted off the grounds of the park. One sound check I requested yielded a 90.2 dB result. I note that unofficially some slack is cut, perhaps as much as 2 dB on most days. In any case, I passed sound all day with 18 plates per pipe.
The sound of the car was healthy but more quiet from a spectator and driver perspective. The car seemed slightly down on power due to the more restrictive nature of the pipes, but nothing that jumped out as a big negative, the car was not choked out. Sometimes a loud exhaust makes you think you are going faster. No engine lights or problems. Notably, the bumper cover was only warm to the touch, and unaffected by the exhaust heat. This may be due to the combination of the heat shield, the standoff of the pipes from the bumper cover, and the less restrictive number of plates I had installed.
So there are positives and negatives in comparison to other ways to pass sound. For the TC pipes you add 11 lbs and perhaps lose some HP. On the other hand it is a simple solution that is easy to bolt on and off at the track. I just drove to Laguna from my house and hoped the CHP did not stop me because the rear license plate was obscured. I was lucky that day.
For those that are interested please feel free to contact TC directly.
http://www.tcdesignfab.com/
PS: CA state sound limit for vehicles other than motorcycles under 6,000 lbs is 95 dB.
See code 27150.2. (a) Stations providing referee functions pursuant to
Section 44036 of the Health and Safety Code shall provide for the
testing of vehicular exhaust systems and the issuance of certificates
of compliance only for those vehicles that have received a citation
for a violation of Section 27150 or 27151.
(b) A certificate of compliance for a vehicular exhaust system
shall be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) if the vehicle complies
with Sections 27150 and 27151. Exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds comply with Sections 27150
and 27151 if they emit no more than 95 dbA when tested in accordance
with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998.
Tony Colicchio of TC Design and Fabrication in Campbell, CA fabbed me up a set of pipes so that I could to pass the 90 dB sound limit at track days held at Laguna Seca. TC sets up and builds street, track, and race cars, and is also well known for his roll cages.
I decided to try a purely mechanical muffler/pipe solution vs. the software/hardware/pipe MECH33 solution. I do admire the clever MECH33 solution very much though.
TC made me a set of pipes out of 16 gauge (1/16", 0.0625", 1.5875 mm) 304 stainless capped off by Supertrapps. The pipes weigh about 11 lbs. The build of materials and quality is substantial and pure TC. No flex detected in the system and it did not seem to need additional support by a rear tow hook bracket or some such. I was not sure how many Supertrapp plates to put in, so I rolled the dice and added a total of 18 plates per pipe. I made sure that I did not tighten the fasteners too tight (for expansion) and used copper anti-seize to prevent galling.
I participated in a Laguna track day last Monday, it was a cool & clear day. No humidity or fog was present which can affect the sound check. I have been meatballed there prior a number of times, so I am familiar with the unexpected surprises that sound measurements can provide depending on the local atmospheric conditions.
My first session and for the rest of the day I pinned it up the hill past the sound booth without any meatballs or being escorted off the grounds of the park. One sound check I requested yielded a 90.2 dB result. I note that unofficially some slack is cut, perhaps as much as 2 dB on most days. In any case, I passed sound all day with 18 plates per pipe.
The sound of the car was healthy but more quiet from a spectator and driver perspective. The car seemed slightly down on power due to the more restrictive nature of the pipes, but nothing that jumped out as a big negative, the car was not choked out. Sometimes a loud exhaust makes you think you are going faster. No engine lights or problems. Notably, the bumper cover was only warm to the touch, and unaffected by the exhaust heat. This may be due to the combination of the heat shield, the standoff of the pipes from the bumper cover, and the less restrictive number of plates I had installed.
So there are positives and negatives in comparison to other ways to pass sound. For the TC pipes you add 11 lbs and perhaps lose some HP. On the other hand it is a simple solution that is easy to bolt on and off at the track. I just drove to Laguna from my house and hoped the CHP did not stop me because the rear license plate was obscured. I was lucky that day.
For those that are interested please feel free to contact TC directly.
http://www.tcdesignfab.com/
PS: CA state sound limit for vehicles other than motorcycles under 6,000 lbs is 95 dB.
See code 27150.2. (a) Stations providing referee functions pursuant to
Section 44036 of the Health and Safety Code shall provide for the
testing of vehicular exhaust systems and the issuance of certificates
of compliance only for those vehicles that have received a citation
for a violation of Section 27150 or 27151.
(b) A certificate of compliance for a vehicular exhaust system
shall be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) if the vehicle complies
with Sections 27150 and 27151. Exhaust systems installed on motor
vehicles, other than motorcycles, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of less than 6,000 pounds comply with Sections 27150
and 27151 if they emit no more than 95 dbA when tested in accordance
with Society of Automotive Engineers Standard J1169 May 1998.
Last edited by unclejosh; 05-26-2016 at 04:36 PM.
05-26-2016, 12:21 AM
#2
Cost? PM to me?
05-26-2016, 01:04 AM
#4
Got it. Thanks!
05-26-2016, 03:24 AM
#5
GT3 player par excellence
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
good stuff
tony does it right
i handed him 6 different type of studs and two sets of wheels with different bore thickness.
" try them all and tell me which is best and why"
most ppl cant' even understand what i say let alone get the work done.
tony did it.
tony does it right
i handed him 6 different type of studs and two sets of wheels with different bore thickness.
" try them all and tell me which is best and why"
most ppl cant' even understand what i say let alone get the work done.
tony did it.
05-30-2016, 12:06 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Mini Update, TC Pipes
Ran 2nd day at Laguna and car was 88 dB on a foggy morning. I am going to add more Supertrapp plates to decrease restriction and gain back more HP.
Adding higher octane gas made a positive difference in seat of the pants HP and sound of car as ignition advanced in response.
Adding higher octane gas made a positive difference in seat of the pants HP and sound of car as ignition advanced in response.