Soooo I replaced the dreaded cracked cast iron exhaust manifold with an e-bay header and my exhaust seems to actually be quieter as opposed to louder...anyone else experience this?

I have stock cat and pipe but a super 44 muffler and a 3" tail pipe the same length as stock.

I don't really mind but I did like the way it sounded before. It wasn't obnoxious but it was aggressive.

 

An exhaust leak is pretty loud. Now that you don't hear that anymore, could be a reason it's quieter

 

No. It was louder before the exhaust leak. The exhaust leak was just obnoxious.

 

Different material, different sound. It'll get louder over time, new exhaust is always quieter at first.

 

mine is noticeably louder

 

Yeah all my other vehicles were too. My 289 galaxie was waaay louder when we did the headers on it. Plus it's pretty much common knowledge headers=louder

 

That's true. Maybe it will.

 

Another thing, last time I replaced it with a manifold I used copper silicone on the gasket. When I took it off it was a mess. I didn't use any silicone his time. Noting but gasket. That's fine right?

 

yup

 

Headers make exhaust flow freely not louder...

 

yea i used to have an exhaust leak on my 00 sport. replaced with banks and installed new gasket. u always can tell when your exhaust leaks when u hear ticking noise. ebay header probably chinese made. hope it lasts

 

No it was US made. They didnt build it till I ordered it. Well so they say, but the one frame does add up and it's date stamped. Nice thick even welds.

 

Time frame. Not one frame

 

my ebay header is already cracking maybe 6 months later......

 

Which one? I was looking to get one off E-bay..