Exhaust Flutter
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From: New York
Exhaust Flutter
I am sure this topic has been brought up many times, but I am trying to find a solution to that dreaded exhaust fluttering before ponying up for new headers. I already replaced the exhaust system from the stock manifolds down. I don't know if the headers would help or make matters worse. My last SuperDuty was a SC with the V-8, so it didn't have this flutter. I love my new CrewCab V-10 but this fluttering is driving me nuts. I would appreciate any help on this. Has anyone successfully eliminated this flutter!?? Thanks!
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: USA
This is gonna sound stupid ,but it has been the cause of a noise that people say is flutter. Chk the inspection cover on the transmision for a rattle or looseness
guys have takin the cover off and put some stick on foam between the cover and the bell housing and the flutter goes away.
Rich
guys have takin the cover off and put some stick on foam between the cover and the bell housing and the flutter goes away.
Rich
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From: New York
I will take a look at that tranny inspection cover. This fluttering noise I am hearing is fairly loud and is most pronounced when accelerating with the RPM's around 1500-1800. It dissappears after hitting 2000 RPM's. This, even with the new exhaust system.
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Almost unbelievable...I went under and checked the inspection plate on the transmission. It wasn't loose and both bolts were fairly tight but I removed them and used 3M double sided tape and remounted it. No more flutter!!! Hopefully that was the cure. For now it is gone. Thanks FortyFords.
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Believe me, the fluttering noise was loud enough to bother me enough that I had the exhaust system replaced with duals (though now it is breathing much easier with a nice growl too)
I only put the double-sided tape on the bottom portion. I started from where the bolt holes are (including the holes) and went right along the entire bottom edge. I used 3M exterior double-sided mounting tape.
I only put the double-sided tape on the bottom portion. I started from where the bolt holes are (including the holes) and went right along the entire bottom edge. I used 3M exterior double-sided mounting tape.
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
AntelopeV10,
My flutter was solved by also shimming the upper non-removable shield too. I folded over two pieces of a aluminum tape to about 1/4" thick shoved them between the trans and the metal plate. Solved my flutter!
IMHO, there has got to be a better way to do this...I know someone on here fabbed up a new lower cover out of thicker metal so it won't vibrate as easily, but the upper shield is pretty much non-removable so we're SOL.
My flutter was solved by also shimming the upper non-removable shield too. I folded over two pieces of a aluminum tape to about 1/4" thick shoved them between the trans and the metal plate. Solved my flutter!
IMHO, there has got to be a better way to do this...I know someone on here fabbed up a new lower cover out of thicker metal so it won't vibrate as easily, but the upper shield is pretty much non-removable so we're SOL.
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Is that inspection plate necessary? I mean does it have to be there? I am thinking of fabricating a thicker one so it won't be able to wobble or anything. Does anyone know if air escapes through there from transmission movement? or is it making the fluttering noise because it is vibrating or rattling? Any harm if I just remove that plate and leave it off?
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Corpus Christi, TX
Phwlee,
I've had mine off for a while now, like more than a year, with no known ill effects so far. It's there to keep things clean inside the bellhousing...
I guess if I was running through mud every day I'd want that cover on there, but I was under the truck tonight trying to find a noise and everything looked OK to me.
I honestly believe it's got something to do with the V-10's exhaust pulse, I guess that little flimsy just hums like a mo'fo with the harmonics the engine gives out.
I've had mine off for a while now, like more than a year, with no known ill effects so far. It's there to keep things clean inside the bellhousing...
I guess if I was running through mud every day I'd want that cover on there, but I was under the truck tonight trying to find a noise and everything looked OK to me.
I honestly believe it's got something to do with the V-10's exhaust pulse, I guess that little flimsy just hums like a mo'fo with the harmonics the engine gives out.
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Munkey, thanks for the thought on the upper plate, I never touched that. I ran without the lower plate and it made no difference. I didn't have this flutter until I did the y-pipe mod so unless we hit something while doing the install, which we didn't, I still think it is the awful exhaust manifold style creating the flutter.
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The only way to be certain what is going on down there would be to mount a CCTV camera with a microphone too and take a drive. This way you could see and hear exactly if and how that plate is making noise. For now though, that double-sided mounting tape did the trick. No more flutter. I am anticipating that the tape might start to fail due to road muck and weather, so I am probably going to fabricate a new plate of thicker material.
It is weird though because that noise started around 1700 rpms under acceleration mostly so if it is the plate flapping or vibrating, it must be due to the engine load conditions more so than an air flow because the second I tapped on the gas at that rpm, the flutter would start - but in reality the truck didn't make any huge speed jumps that created a larger airflow.
I was going to change my headers but am not so sure right now because the fluttering seems to be under control. I might still change them for the improved airflow but hopefully that won't resurrect that flutter.
It is weird though because that noise started around 1700 rpms under acceleration mostly so if it is the plate flapping or vibrating, it must be due to the engine load conditions more so than an air flow because the second I tapped on the gas at that rpm, the flutter would start - but in reality the truck didn't make any huge speed jumps that created a larger airflow.
I was going to change my headers but am not so sure right now because the fluttering seems to be under control. I might still change them for the improved airflow but hopefully that won't resurrect that flutter.