Help Please - QuickSilver Exhaust Problems!
Discussion
Hi Guys - went to Donnington today, and bought a quicksilver exhaust for my 111R. What a pain in the arse fitting it turned out to be. Got it all fitted to find it was blowing slightly, so everything off again, put some sealant on, and that sorted the problem. Then put undertray back on, to find that the heat shield was fouling the undertray! On closer inspection, it apears that the Quicksilver exhaust sits lower than the standard, by about 12mm.
Please could anyone with a Quicksilver give me some advice on how to rectify the problem. I have managed to get a 3mm gap between the heat shield and undertray, by bending it up a bit, but it still rattles a little.
How much clearance should I have?
Also, is it normal for the undertray to be red hot after a burn around? I took the Liz out for a spin to listen to the sound of the exhaust (which is spot on) and when I came back the undertray was red hot. It may always be this way, but it is the forst time I have noticed it.
Any advice would be much appreciated - preferably without having to take the zorst off again.
Cheers,
Ed.
Please could anyone with a Quicksilver give me some advice on how to rectify the problem. I have managed to get a 3mm gap between the heat shield and undertray, by bending it up a bit, but it still rattles a little.
How much clearance should I have?
Also, is it normal for the undertray to be red hot after a burn around? I took the Liz out for a spin to listen to the sound of the exhaust (which is spot on) and when I came back the undertray was red hot. It may always be this way, but it is the forst time I have noticed it.
Any advice would be much appreciated - preferably without having to take the zorst off again.
Cheers,
Ed.
Just been looking through a few forums and it appears that this is a common problem resulting in deformation and cutting of the undertray........
One Elise 111R owner posted the following:
"Happened to my car too!
When you install the QS exhaust & rotate the tips to be parallel to the ground, it pushes the 180 degree loop on the left side down & the attached heat shield touches the diffuser. I did not notice it - even the quarter turn fastener (kit) hooked up easily.
Took about 1000 miles to saw (almost) through. I modified the heat shield & put a jack under the rear bolt holding the shield to the exhaust (which also hit) & pushed it up away from the diffuser.
The heat shield is steel - put a magnet on it, or cut it with a cutoff wheel - sharper & harder than the aluminum diffuser."
So how have 111R owners here in the UK resolved this problem? This to me is a design fault with the QS Zorst, as it is not an issue with the much larger standard OEM exhaust.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Ed.
One Elise 111R owner posted the following:
"Happened to my car too!
When you install the QS exhaust & rotate the tips to be parallel to the ground, it pushes the 180 degree loop on the left side down & the attached heat shield touches the diffuser. I did not notice it - even the quarter turn fastener (kit) hooked up easily.
Took about 1000 miles to saw (almost) through. I modified the heat shield & put a jack under the rear bolt holding the shield to the exhaust (which also hit) & pushed it up away from the diffuser.
The heat shield is steel - put a magnet on it, or cut it with a cutoff wheel - sharper & harder than the aluminum diffuser."
So how have 111R owners here in the UK resolved this problem? This to me is a design fault with the QS Zorst, as it is not an issue with the much larger standard OEM exhaust.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Ed.
Hi Ed,
We had a total nightmare fitting that sodding Pipe, in the end had to bend some of the heat shield's and remove other's until after the pipe was fitted, we didn't have to cut any of the undertray away thou. I wouldn't suggest you try that, I'd speak to Quicksilver first but I think you'll find you need to bend some of the heat shields to take the pipe then bend them back afterwards, I'm sorry I can't be of any further help but I'll say this we had that pipe on and off about 4 time's before we got it right it's a lot of fidderling about but believe me they sound Wicked
Boggy
We had a total nightmare fitting that sodding Pipe, in the end had to bend some of the heat shield's and remove other's until after the pipe was fitted, we didn't have to cut any of the undertray away thou. I wouldn't suggest you try that, I'd speak to Quicksilver first but I think you'll find you need to bend some of the heat shields to take the pipe then bend them back afterwards, I'm sorry I can't be of any further help but I'll say this we had that pipe on and off about 4 time's before we got it right it's a lot of fidderling about but believe me they sound Wicked
Boggy
Hi Boggy - thanks for the reply - it sounds as though you had a big a nightmare as me with this QS Exhaust!
A few questions regarding your QS to help as a comparsion:
How do your pipes exit from the undertray - horizontal/parallel to the ground or at an angle either up or down?
How much clearance do you now have between your heatshield and the undertray/diffuser?
Does you undertray/diffuser get really hot (untouchable) now that you have fitted the QS exhaust?
Did you have to put Gum Gum or similar sealant on the join between the QS and cat pipe? I had to as the QS was still blowing when I fitted the pipe and tightened the bracket fully.
I agree that the QS sounds amazing, what has taken the edge off the expereince so far, is fitting the damn thing. I have never known anything so damn difficult!
Cheers,
Ed.
A few questions regarding your QS to help as a comparsion:
How do your pipes exit from the undertray - horizontal/parallel to the ground or at an angle either up or down?
How much clearance do you now have between your heatshield and the undertray/diffuser?
Does you undertray/diffuser get really hot (untouchable) now that you have fitted the QS exhaust?
Did you have to put Gum Gum or similar sealant on the join between the QS and cat pipe? I had to as the QS was still blowing when I fitted the pipe and tightened the bracket fully.
I agree that the QS sounds amazing, what has taken the edge off the expereince so far, is fitting the damn thing. I have never known anything so damn difficult!
Cheers,
Ed.
Hi Ed,
the pipe exit's upwards, I.e. with the two exit pipe's pointing towards the number plate
Without removing the under tray I can't remember the amount of clearance between the heat shield & under tray but there wasn't much an Inch or so, the bottom of the car doe's get very hot but as you already know the Qs has a much smaller box than the original pipe so it should cool down a lot quicker, the pipe didn't blow after we had fitted it we used Gum Gum to seal the joint. I think you should fit it as best you can then drive it to get it nice and hot this should also help the fit as the pipe should bend slightly, we also had to bend the fitting bar as it wouldn't sit correctly on the top. sorry I'm remembering more now just writing about it, God that was a Complete Nightmare. Maidstone Sport's car's offered to do it for £80 I tell you now if I were to change it I'd let them have the hassle
Boggy
the pipe exit's upwards, I.e. with the two exit pipe's pointing towards the number plate
Without removing the under tray I can't remember the amount of clearance between the heat shield & under tray but there wasn't much an Inch or so, the bottom of the car doe's get very hot but as you already know the Qs has a much smaller box than the original pipe so it should cool down a lot quicker, the pipe didn't blow after we had fitted it we used Gum Gum to seal the joint. I think you should fit it as best you can then drive it to get it nice and hot this should also help the fit as the pipe should bend slightly, we also had to bend the fitting bar as it wouldn't sit correctly on the top. sorry I'm remembering more now just writing about it, God that was a Complete Nightmare. Maidstone Sport's car's offered to do it for £80 I tell you now if I were to change it I'd let them have the hassle
Boggy
Boggy - sounds like I am bringing back bad memories!
Did you have the QS tips pointing upwards out of choice, or because that was the only way you could get the heatshield to fit under the tray?
If you could have a quick look at your car, through the holes either side of the number plate, and see how much gap you have between heatshield and undertray it would be much appreciated. My heat shield clears the undertray now - but only just (a couple of mm). If you can remember there are 2 bolts that hold the heatshield to the cat. You should just be able to see this trough the grille. This is where the heatshield is closest and then the space widens, as it slopes off with the contours of the tray.
I have my pipes exiting horizontal/parallel - which is the way I thought the QS was supposed to be. As there were no instructions/guidance notes, I just assumed that this was how the QS should be.
As I have sealed the pipes with Gun Gum, do you think I will end up with problems lossing off the clamp and rotating the box, to try and push the pipes upwards? I have never used this stuff before, but that was what was suggested by the local motor parts outlet.
Cheers for your help.
Ed.
Did you have the QS tips pointing upwards out of choice, or because that was the only way you could get the heatshield to fit under the tray?
If you could have a quick look at your car, through the holes either side of the number plate, and see how much gap you have between heatshield and undertray it would be much appreciated. My heat shield clears the undertray now - but only just (a couple of mm). If you can remember there are 2 bolts that hold the heatshield to the cat. You should just be able to see this trough the grille. This is where the heatshield is closest and then the space widens, as it slopes off with the contours of the tray.
I have my pipes exiting horizontal/parallel - which is the way I thought the QS was supposed to be. As there were no instructions/guidance notes, I just assumed that this was how the QS should be.
As I have sealed the pipes with Gun Gum, do you think I will end up with problems lossing off the clamp and rotating the box, to try and push the pipes upwards? I have never used this stuff before, but that was what was suggested by the local motor parts outlet.
Cheers for your help.
Ed.
S Works said:
IIRC boggy had his fitted by Norman at NTC cars in Dartford. Perhaps give him a call?
Yep here's his E-mail address
www.ntccars.com
Boggy
Ed Black 111R said:
Boggy - I am getting a little confused, as I thought that you fitted your QS exhaust? Your earlier threads suggest this.
Did you manage to have a look through the holes either side of the number plate to see what clearance you have for the heatshield and undertray?
Cheers,
Ed.
It's a long story & I won't bore you with all the detail, Norman who owns Ntc car's is a very good friend of my family, I'm always there at the weekend if I'm not out driving or with my wife & Son. If you'd been there you'd understand what I mean I often give him a had with bit's. I've just spoken to Norman and he said there should be a fair bit of space between the shield and the bottom as the pipe is a much smaller
Were are you based ?
Boggy
Hi Boggy,
I am based in a village Leicester way.
Thanks for asking Norman, but I still can't understand how there can be a big gap. Although the pipe is smaller the gap between the undertray and heat shield is dictated by the bend in the QS. When I put the QS on the metal pole that runs along the top of the system fitted very easily in the rubber mounts/clamps, and the pipes lined up easily too. The problem is that the cat is on a flexi joint and is not held by anything other than the joint itself and the backbox. The QS unit just seems to push the cat pipe down slightly, which in turn reduces the gap between the QS and the undertray. As I mentioned earlier, this appears to be a reltaively common problem in the US, and there are owners that have jacked the car up on the 180 degree cat pipe to bend everything up. I am not keen do this, infact that is a recepie for a big bill, as something will probably break.
The car is going into Lotus dealer to adjust the windows tomorrow, but I can't see them even entertaining looking at this when it is not a Lotus pipe.
Did you get the opportunity to look how much clearance you have?
Cheers,
Ed.
I am based in a village Leicester way.
Thanks for asking Norman, but I still can't understand how there can be a big gap. Although the pipe is smaller the gap between the undertray and heat shield is dictated by the bend in the QS. When I put the QS on the metal pole that runs along the top of the system fitted very easily in the rubber mounts/clamps, and the pipes lined up easily too. The problem is that the cat is on a flexi joint and is not held by anything other than the joint itself and the backbox. The QS unit just seems to push the cat pipe down slightly, which in turn reduces the gap between the QS and the undertray. As I mentioned earlier, this appears to be a reltaively common problem in the US, and there are owners that have jacked the car up on the 180 degree cat pipe to bend everything up. I am not keen do this, infact that is a recepie for a big bill, as something will probably break.
The car is going into Lotus dealer to adjust the windows tomorrow, but I can't see them even entertaining looking at this when it is not a Lotus pipe.
Did you get the opportunity to look how much clearance you have?
Cheers,
Ed.
Quiksilver must known these problems by now I guess?? why don't they do something about it? Also bad for their name and fame...I would think 3 times now to consider a QS pipe...if I would buy one, what are they saying about those fittings?
GTRene
>> Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 21st March 21:30
GTRene
>> Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 21st March 21:30
I took the QS off the car this evening to investigate the problem further. When you compare the gap between the metal pole (which holds the silencer in place) and the pipe fitting to the cat, there is a difference of 3.5 cm between the QS and Standard OEM silencer. This effectively pushes the cat (and heatshield) down by a similar amount when you fit the QS exhaust. This in turn reduces the gap between the undertray and heat shield dramatically, to the point that it fouls the undertray. After some consideration, and playing around under the car, I have managed to get a clearance of approx 1 cm between heat shield and undertray. In order to do this you have to ensure that the tail pipes are pointing slightly upwards (towards the number plate, and remove one the washers from the bolt that holds the heatshield to the cat.
This appears to be a real problem with the QS in the US, and if you look on Elise Talk there are pictures of the undertray being cut open by the heatshield when a QS is fitted.
I spoke to QS and they were not aware of any problems and asked that I speak with the supplier. I think that QS should modify the unit to ensure the distance between fixing pole and pipe fitting are the same as the standard pipes. At the end of the day, the QS is half the size of the standard back box and so this should not be a problem. It is a lovely exhaust, but for people who have no experience of fitting them, a real pain in the arse to fit! I thought my Esprit S4s pipes were bad to fit, but this system has taken frustration to a whole new level!
Hopefully now the QS is fitted well enough for me to enjoy the lovely note that is produces. It is a very well made unit, and I think minor revisions would make it perfect.
I have taken some pictures and have made a few notes/pointers that may be of use to others wanting to fit the system. Would they be of use?
Cheers for all your help with this problem.
Ed.
This appears to be a real problem with the QS in the US, and if you look on Elise Talk there are pictures of the undertray being cut open by the heatshield when a QS is fitted.
I spoke to QS and they were not aware of any problems and asked that I speak with the supplier. I think that QS should modify the unit to ensure the distance between fixing pole and pipe fitting are the same as the standard pipes. At the end of the day, the QS is half the size of the standard back box and so this should not be a problem. It is a lovely exhaust, but for people who have no experience of fitting them, a real pain in the arse to fit! I thought my Esprit S4s pipes were bad to fit, but this system has taken frustration to a whole new level!
Hopefully now the QS is fitted well enough for me to enjoy the lovely note that is produces. It is a very well made unit, and I think minor revisions would make it perfect.
I have taken some pictures and have made a few notes/pointers that may be of use to others wanting to fit the system. Would they be of use?
Cheers for all your help with this problem.
Ed.
S Works said:
You're a more patient man than I Ed. I'd have returned it as not fit for purpose and got my money back. Sounds like a lot of BS to fit something that should be a straightforward swap if it's been designed and manufactured properly.
Hiya Tim
Believe me I can completely see what Ed mean's, I think we spent about 5 Hour's taking it off then putting it back on to get it to fit properly. The best advice I could give anybody is to get the car on a set of those Mot style ramp's and this should make the job slightly easier but the pipe still needed to be bent a little well the top fitting bar we couldn't even get that to locate properly at first.
Let the dealer fit it and give them the Grief
Boggy
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