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maytag · 08-09-2018, 07:39 AM

This looks like the right place to post some experience with the "Beluga" mufflers, from Ebay.
In another thread, I was downright insistent that mine did not drone. As a matter of fact, I suggested that others might not know what "drone" really is.

Fast-forward 2000 miles on the unit: yeah, mine began to drone. Between about 2200 rpm and 3000 rpm. It's not horrible, and certainly not "unbearable", as some report. But who knows: maybe it continues to get worse? I don't know. But it should have occurred to me that any muffler using a "packing" of any sort to attenuate sound would experience some changes as it ages.

In the meantime, however: What HAS become unbearable to me, is the rattling from inside the mufflers.

I first noticed it within about 2 weeks of installation. When I'd start the car, I'd hear a ringing-rattle from the left can. Once warm, it would diminish, or sometimes stop. But it became progressively worse. I contacted Beluga, in Galveston TX. They confirmed they have a 1-year warranty period for defects in workmanship, but they require I send the unit back to them for inspection. I decided to live with it until winter.
BUT: it kept gettting worse and worse, and eventually the right side was doing it as well. I once stuck a length of coat-hanger wire up the can, and managed to hook it on the perforated inner-pipe. Putting just the slightest tension on it made the sound go away entirely. So eventually I ran a borescope in and took a look. Sure enough: the inner, perforated steel pipe was rattling against the outer stainless housing. My guess is that they tack-weld it in place, and the welds are insufficient. That both sides did it concerns me that it may not be an isolated event.

I removed it to send back to them, since I was down and out for abit with a bad clutch. Holding it in my hands and shaking it, before I placed it int he box, I was able to reproduce the sound enough to confirm that they will be able to understand the problem when it gets back to Beluga, tomorrow.

I have no reason to expect they won't honor the warranty. I'll keep you updated.

08-09-2018, 07:39 AM	#9
maytag Who's askin'? Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Utah Posts: 2,448	This looks like the right place to post some experience with the "Beluga" mufflers, from Ebay. In another thread, I was downright insistent that mine did not drone. As a matter of fact, I suggested that others might not know what "drone" really is. Fast-forward 2000 miles on the unit: yeah, mine began to drone. Between about 2200 rpm and 3000 rpm. It's not horrible, and certainly not "unbearable", as some report. But who knows: maybe it continues to get worse? I don't know. But it should have occurred to me that any muffler using a "packing" of any sort to attenuate sound would experience some changes as it ages. In the meantime, however: What HAS become unbearable to me, is the rattling from inside the mufflers. I first noticed it within about 2 weeks of installation. When I'd start the car, I'd hear a ringing-rattle from the left can. Once warm, it would diminish, or sometimes stop. But it became progressively worse. I contacted Beluga, in Galveston TX. They confirmed they have a 1-year warranty period for defects in workmanship, but they require I send the unit back to them for inspection. I decided to live with it until winter. BUT: it kept gettting worse and worse, and eventually the right side was doing it as well. I once stuck a length of coat-hanger wire up the can, and managed to hook it on the perforated inner-pipe. Putting just the slightest tension on it made the sound go away entirely. So eventually I ran a borescope in and took a look. Sure enough: the inner, perforated steel pipe was rattling against the outer stainless housing. My guess is that they tack-weld it in place, and the welds are insufficient. That both sides did it concerns me that it may not be an isolated event. I removed it to send back to them, since I was down and out for abit with a bad clutch. Holding it in my hands and shaking it, before I placed it int he box, I was able to reproduce the sound enough to confirm that they will be able to understand the problem when it gets back to Beluga, tomorrow. I have no reason to expect they won't honor the warranty. I'll keep you updated.