Discussion
My S2 has the old SS exhaust that used to be on Norman's "Gerald"
He got rid of it because of a "buzzing" from the front part of the silencer
At the time it was great replacement as my steel exhaust was totally shot and I had no funds for a new one. Luckily the buzzing stopped for a couple of years but now it's back and massively annoying me. One of the joys of the car had been that great exhaust note but when it isn't quite right it always nags at the back of my mind. It's also showing signs of age having had a front weld repair and it has a couple of minor leaks.
Has anyone successfully repaired a buzzing exhaust? What's inside the box and can it be effectively opened/sorted/closed up again?
(Note that I won't be doing this myself)
If I were to go for a new one are there any recommendations?
I've emailed ACT, Racetech and stainlesssteelexhausts and am awaiting replies
Would each have a different noise?
Who else makes decent exhausts?
I'm after a decent Tiv growl with finesse not just bad boy LOUD if you know what I mean.
Is it possible to be an exhaust connoisseur and recognise exhaust notes in a similar way to vintage wines?
Many thanks
Tim
He got rid of it because of a "buzzing" from the front part of the silencer
At the time it was great replacement as my steel exhaust was totally shot and I had no funds for a new one. Luckily the buzzing stopped for a couple of years but now it's back and massively annoying me. One of the joys of the car had been that great exhaust note but when it isn't quite right it always nags at the back of my mind. It's also showing signs of age having had a front weld repair and it has a couple of minor leaks.
Has anyone successfully repaired a buzzing exhaust? What's inside the box and can it be effectively opened/sorted/closed up again?
(Note that I won't be doing this myself)
If I were to go for a new one are there any recommendations?
I've emailed ACT, Racetech and stainlesssteelexhausts and am awaiting replies
Would each have a different noise?
Who else makes decent exhausts?
I'm after a decent Tiv growl with finesse not just bad boy LOUD if you know what I mean.
Is it possible to be an exhaust connoisseur and recognise exhaust notes in a similar way to vintage wines?
Many thanks
Tim
High end you are looking Haywood & Scott or Zorstec etc but this will be £1000+ with manifolds
JP made my manifolds and I have a Zorsttec rear section. Sounds lovely.
I tried the sport exhaust with v8 style pipes from ML (aka tvr car parts) but way too loud for me sounded almost nascar like in the mid range.
Good hunting
Damian S3
JP made my manifolds and I have a Zorsttec rear section. Sounds lovely.
I tried the sport exhaust with v8 style pipes from ML (aka tvr car parts) but way too loud for me sounded almost nascar like in the mid range.
Good hunting
Damian S3
I can recommend the system I bought from ACT - just the right blend of loud, with a great tone IMHO (S3 2.9)
I also have an original steel system complete taking up space in the garage - It was also rattling from the back but overall in not bad shape and could probably be repaired by someone with the right skills.
I also have an original steel system complete taking up space in the garage - It was also rattling from the back but overall in not bad shape and could probably be repaired by someone with the right skills.
Ref what's inside the exhaust. My main square box had a wavy piece of metal inside full of perforations you can see the waviness on the wall through the outside walls.
You should have had some packing inside as well
Didn't.
If you have the front section that the two pipes go into inside, this could have tubular pipes with perforations along the inside. Those on mine had rotted away inside ( a stainless steel exhaust!) and some of the tubular perforated pipe ends had later fallen out of place, creating a rattle.
You should have had some packing inside as well
Didn't.
If you have the front section that the two pipes go into inside, this could have tubular pipes with perforations along the inside. Those on mine had rotted away inside ( a stainless steel exhaust!) and some of the tubular perforated pipe ends had later fallen out of place, creating a rattle.
Elfit said:
Has anyone successfully repaired a buzzing exhaust? What's inside the box and can it be effectively opened/sorted/closed up again?
(Note that I won't be doing this myself)
If I were to go for a new one are there any recommendations?
I've emailed ACT, Racetech and stainlesssteelexhausts and am awaiting replies
Would each have a different noise?
Who else makes decent exhausts?
I'm after a decent Tiv growl with finesse not just bad boy LOUD if you know what I mean.
Is it possible to be an exhaust connoisseur and recognise exhaust notes in a similar way to vintage wines?
Many thanks
Tim
Hi Tim,(Note that I won't be doing this myself)
If I were to go for a new one are there any recommendations?
I've emailed ACT, Racetech and stainlesssteelexhausts and am awaiting replies
Would each have a different noise?
Who else makes decent exhausts?
I'm after a decent Tiv growl with finesse not just bad boy LOUD if you know what I mean.
Is it possible to be an exhaust connoisseur and recognise exhaust notes in a similar way to vintage wines?
Many thanks
Tim
There was a thread on here a couple of months ago where somebody opened up their ss exhaust & posted pics.
There was a welded-in wavey perforated sheet that formed the baffles, the welds can fracture & cause the buzzing. There should also be some sort of wadding inside, but I gather that in this case it was long gone.
The box can be cut open for repairs and then rewelded by somebody competent.
There was another poster on here who fabricated his own exhaust system, but he was still experimenting to get the sound "right".
The ACT exhausts are made by JP Exhausts of Macclesfield and I believe they are very good quality & sound good too.
At our Blyton trackday I was struck by the fact that each individual S had it's own distinctive sound.
Each one sounded great though, just different. 
My SS system is needing some attention soon, it has a very hard time on our local rough roads.
He did.....
AutoAndy said:
Ref what's inside the exhaust.
If you have the front section that the two pipes go into inside, this could have tubular pipes with perforations along the inside. Those on mine had rotted away inside ( a stainless steel exhaust!) and some of the tubular perforated pipe ends had later fallen out of place, creating a rattle.
If you have the front section that the two pipes go into inside, this could have tubular pipes with perforations along the inside. Those on mine had rotted away inside ( a stainless steel exhaust!) and some of the tubular perforated pipe ends had later fallen out of place, creating a rattle.
Interesting - I hadn't seen the picture inside of the back box before. That would explain things. When I got my car it rattled like hell. With a bit of judicious poking down the pipe with a bamboo cane I managed to 'adjust' it which stopped the rattle but made it very loud.
As above I now have the stainless ACT supplied one which is excellent - I keep trying to find someone who wants the original - Still no takers?
As above I now have the stainless ACT supplied one which is excellent - I keep trying to find someone who wants the original - Still no takers?
If you find yourself looking for a system replacement, these people did an excellent job on mine and the sound is a really fab growl. £550 fabricated and fitted while I waited in their amazing showroom warehouse.
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http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance
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http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance
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I have recently had exactly the same problem. I had a really annoying 'buzz' from the exhaust that was actually louder than the exhaust at some speeds! I had it up on the ramps and we found the noise was in the front section, and I can now understand why.
I gather that nobody has a picture of what is in there.....I can correct that!
The two tubes at the entry to the silencer system are siamesed into a 'flattened oval' of perforated stainless. That is running in the middle of the flattened oval you can see from outside. Between the two there should be sound absorption packing! I found about a mug full left! Without that packing there is no other structure between the inner and outer tube and resonance is very likely. In my case the outer tube had taken a bash (dont they all? Especially S1's like mine) and that had brought the two very close together and a blob of weld on the outer had been touching the inner.
You can get the front 'box' opened up, repacked and rewelded. You have no choice but to take the silencer system off. You then have two choices:
take it to a stainless exhaust fabricator and ask him what he will charge, or
buy the expanding type wadding from Demon Tweeks (or similar £15) and a small roll of stainless MIG wire (0.7kg, £25 ish), and a couple of the 1mm metal cutting discs for a grinder and do it yourself.
Cut along the length of the front part, both sides, and a cut across about 1" from each end. 1" gives you clearance from the existing end welds where the inner tube meets the outer. When cutting along you have a good 1" clearance, but be careful cutting across as you may have little clearance in places.
Cut carefully to give you the narrowest possible cut and the easiest weld back.
With half the box off, repack the full length of the box.
Tack the two parts together with the stainless MIG, then weld back together. Weld a bit at a time on each side, if you weld too much and get it too hot you are likely to distort the box. I found it was actually easier to weld than mild steel.
The effect was dramatic. Not only has the resonance completely gone, at any revs, but we can now hear that distinctive 'beat' of the exhaust and it is now very appreciably quieter. We can now have a conversation, and the radio is not just audible when parked.
It might sound like a lot of trouble but I can assure you it was VERY well worth doing and it has made it so much nicer to use the car.
I gather that nobody has a picture of what is in there.....I can correct that!
The two tubes at the entry to the silencer system are siamesed into a 'flattened oval' of perforated stainless. That is running in the middle of the flattened oval you can see from outside. Between the two there should be sound absorption packing! I found about a mug full left! Without that packing there is no other structure between the inner and outer tube and resonance is very likely. In my case the outer tube had taken a bash (dont they all? Especially S1's like mine) and that had brought the two very close together and a blob of weld on the outer had been touching the inner.
You can get the front 'box' opened up, repacked and rewelded. You have no choice but to take the silencer system off. You then have two choices:
take it to a stainless exhaust fabricator and ask him what he will charge, or
buy the expanding type wadding from Demon Tweeks (or similar £15) and a small roll of stainless MIG wire (0.7kg, £25 ish), and a couple of the 1mm metal cutting discs for a grinder and do it yourself.
Cut along the length of the front part, both sides, and a cut across about 1" from each end. 1" gives you clearance from the existing end welds where the inner tube meets the outer. When cutting along you have a good 1" clearance, but be careful cutting across as you may have little clearance in places.
Cut carefully to give you the narrowest possible cut and the easiest weld back.
With half the box off, repack the full length of the box.
Tack the two parts together with the stainless MIG, then weld back together. Weld a bit at a time on each side, if you weld too much and get it too hot you are likely to distort the box. I found it was actually easier to weld than mild steel.
The effect was dramatic. Not only has the resonance completely gone, at any revs, but we can now hear that distinctive 'beat' of the exhaust and it is now very appreciably quieter. We can now have a conversation, and the radio is not just audible when parked.
It might sound like a lot of trouble but I can assure you it was VERY well worth doing and it has made it so much nicer to use the car.
I should have clarified that the picture was taken after I had cut off half the length, hoping to find something loose there. When I understood the issue I then cut off the whole length. I should also clarify that the red blobs on the steel plate under the silencer are NOT my blood (engine paint), but do take care as cutting stainless leaves particularly savage edges.
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