Do what you guys want, but I suggest anyone fully understand Tinnitus before abusing the ears long-term.
Unfortunately, when your hearing does start to go, it doesn't always lead to a peaceful and quite life where you can't hear the wife nagging -- you may end up with constant annoying noise that never goes away. Sorry to preach, but I know "others" here have the same experience.
I personally like the mechanical sounds of an engine, not the exhaust. To each his own
Besides, if I ever straight piped an engine, the cops would be all over me the first day...
Straight-piping might be the ONLY thing I could get away with. I have been around a few st-ppd. trucks and they didn't seem to HURT my ears or be obnoxiuos or annoying. They were all turboed though and that makes a huge difference.
I don't THINK any of them were at a decible level that could cause damage, at least in the cab. But I could be wrong, I thought I was wrong once but I was mistaken.
you'd be surprised how little the increase in volume it takes when you're talking about extended periods of exposure. when i was young and dumb (well, dumber than now at least) i maintained a lifestyle of loud music, loud equipment, power tools and now i'm hearing impaired. it's not enough to be legally deaf, but if somebody is over five feet away and not facing me, i can't understand what they're saying. the tinnitus is so bad now that i hear a constant high pitch buzzing 24/7.
if you want to straight pipe it, that's certainly your privelege but just go into the decision making process that there ARE adverse consequenses. i'd just hate for somebody else to not be able to hear the birds outside or a prowler outside the house at night like i am now.
just my take, it's worth what it cost ya.
After 40 years of loud music, loud machinery, loud trucks and all that cool stuff, I am legally deaf at 3500 htz. only.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears constantly for over 20 years, sounds like I am standing in the middle of a swap with crickets, frogs and all the animals singing up a storm.
There is actually nothing wrong with my hearing, but the crickets are so loud that at 3500 htz a sound has to be over 40 db before I can hear it.
If I can't read your lips, I don't know what you said.
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86 F250 HD 6.9 IDI ATS turbo "not exactly" stock 4x4 T19 BW1345 3.55LS both ends D60 front, 10.25" Sterling rear, ram air, dual stacks.
I've already had the loud music, power tools in a fab/electrical shop, gunfire etc. but in moderation or with ear protection. So far my hearing is still pretty good.
Maybe I'll put on two mufflers just to be safe, seriously though you give me something to think about.
After 40 years of loud music, loud machinery, loud trucks and all that cool stuff, I am legally deaf at 3500 htz. only.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears constantly for over 20 years, sounds like I am standing in the middle of a swap with crickets, frogs and all the animals singing up a storm.
There is actually nothing wrong with my hearing, but the crickets are so loud that at 3500 htz a sound has to be over 40 db before I can hear it.
Im the only one in our shop of 17 mechanics that wears ear protection and they ask me why. Although sometimes I would rather listen to crickets and frogs than all the comotion that goes on.
the way i make most of my living now is by listening to the audio portion of depositions and court transcripts to do verification to make sure what's in the transcript is what was actually said. i had to go to a $150 pair of Bose earphones to be able to hear. makes me wish that i hadn't had such a good time at concerts, etc. when younger. Dave, i appreciate the fact that you can't hear for the crickets. i feel your pain. that's why (too late now) i wear earplugs AND earmuffs when i'm doing construction or running the trackhoe. i'm just afraid my crickets are going to grow up to be guinea fowl.
