280i silencers/mufflers/resonators
Discussion
Hi all,
I need to replace the old exhaust that came on my S2 280i USA spec. Dropped by one of the local, decent, independent muffler shops and they thought the same thing about what's on the car that I do. Bin everything except the manifolds.
No idea what was on the car from the factory as the current exhaust is so low that I have scraped new ventilation in it over the speed bumps (sleeping policemen). That cannot be original. The shop suggests that we need to source 11" mufflers (silencers). Which is proving difficult here in the land of Biggus Truckus. There are 14" mufflers just ahead of the rear fascia currently but they don't fit very well and are also shot.
Rather than re-invent the wheel, what solution have others found? (I did a search of PH but did not discover an answer, if this has been discussed before. Everything I found suggested bespoke at a good independent.)
Caveats. I do the musician thing so I like my hearing. I like my neighbours too. Purposeful sound is a definite need. Small diameter exhaust please, I'm not looking for the ash can sound.
Cheers!
Michael
I need to replace the old exhaust that came on my S2 280i USA spec. Dropped by one of the local, decent, independent muffler shops and they thought the same thing about what's on the car that I do. Bin everything except the manifolds.
No idea what was on the car from the factory as the current exhaust is so low that I have scraped new ventilation in it over the speed bumps (sleeping policemen). That cannot be original. The shop suggests that we need to source 11" mufflers (silencers). Which is proving difficult here in the land of Biggus Truckus. There are 14" mufflers just ahead of the rear fascia currently but they don't fit very well and are also shot.
Rather than re-invent the wheel, what solution have others found? (I did a search of PH but did not discover an answer, if this has been discussed before. Everything I found suggested bespoke at a good independent.)
Caveats. I do the musician thing so I like my hearing. I like my neighbours too. Purposeful sound is a definite need. Small diameter exhaust please, I'm not looking for the ash can sound.
Cheers!
Michael
I'd be interested in what you find. I have true duals (no crossover, however). The original under seat mufflers are still in place but I'm sure are useless. When I first bought the car and in a misguided attempt to pass our pollution inspection, I added 2 small cats near the rear wheels (alas too far from the engine to do any good). At some point/for some reason I had the cats removed and replaced with straight pipes.
I liked the sound with the cats (throaty and semi-loud with V-6 authority) but can't stand the rice-rocket sound as is. On the list to redo. Grady
I liked the sound with the cats (throaty and semi-loud with V-6 authority) but can't stand the rice-rocket sound as is. On the list to redo. Grady
I still have the mufflers under the seats but the CAT has gone from under the sump. Mufflers at the back are gone and have been replaced by two small high flow CATs. Apparently it passed CA smog with this setup. I grounded it real good the other day. At the lowest point it's a huge 4 inches off the ground.
previous owner had a custom exhaust made , it's straight through with no cats or anything else just magnaflows at the end , sounds great , no louder than a Harley Davidson! with no pipes ...police don't pull them over ! (that's my Argument anyway)!
.......probably not for you ! I often see a guy with a similar set up but he has packed steal wool in the rear muffler and that has quieted it down
.......probably not for you ! I often see a guy with a similar set up but he has packed steal wool in the rear muffler and that has quieted it down
The custom route with something like Flowmasters at the back is probably the way to go. Just finding something in the 11 inch size is proving interesting. It`s pretty tight back there. With the number of vehicles around here with Flowmaster, etc. mufflers they are all WAAAYYY quieter than a bloody Harley with straight pipes. Had one of those on my left on the highway from Abbotsford to Vancouver last week. Literally a pain.
Zig has a YouTube video up with the Cherry Bomb setup he had in Delilah. A ton of fun but not the sound or decibel level I`m aiming for. But, has anyone used a similar setup with round mufflers in the centre or rear that give more of a prowling King of the Jungle tune.
Hoping out British friends chime in with ideas.
Zig has a YouTube video up with the Cherry Bomb setup he had in Delilah. A ton of fun but not the sound or decibel level I`m aiming for. But, has anyone used a similar setup with round mufflers in the centre or rear that give more of a prowling King of the Jungle tune.
Hoping out British friends chime in with ideas.
calgarytrainnut said:
Zig has a YouTube video up with the Cherry Bomb setup he had in Delilah. A ton of fun but not the sound or decibel level I`m aiming for.
It was only 119db mate..
I think they left the factory at around 98-102db..Not sure what the US cars had but mine had two single pipes from the downpipes and then a ford rectangular mid box under the seat and then two round rear mufflers just behind the valance.
Its also a matter of finding what shape you are after to achieve the tone you are looking for..Most people with a TVR want to make it "LOUD" not quiet...
I should imagine it will either be a custom made part or something that needs to be fettled to fit....Ziga
bobs280i said:
if I had any complaints about the exhaust is it runs so close to the gearbox it was almost impossible to drain the oil , as me and son found out this weekend , I would like to think factory installed ones wouldn't have this problem???
Sounds about right mate...The way some of them run they are almost touching props..Gearboxes..Starter motors and chassis...I think TVR forgot about the exhaust until they rolled the first road going prototype Wedge off the production line and said.."Fook me that effing loud"..Then some bright spark says.."Where do these go then"... 
...Whoops wrong pic...
Of course this is purely a fictional scenario and does not represent anyone who worked for TVR....
My exhaust clears the gearbox drain plug by millimeters and not enough to pull the drain plug. I had to remove that crossover section of the exhaust in order to change the oil. I've had that crossover pipe on and off the car three times trying to get it all to seal again. Ended having to make a new exhaust flange gasket and a good helping of sealing paste.
calgarytrainnut said:
Ummmm. I'm not suggesting I want my car whisper quiet... It is a TVR. I don't drive beige.
...Sorry i didn't mean it like that.....I actually play the saxophone and have done for many years and would if i could afford it pay for a system on the V8 that is to my spec...But in a limited space vehicle its not as easy..
Its sounds like you had the same as what i had on my 1982 280i at the rear..They were around 14" round rear silencers.
These were the Ford items...Just the rectangle mid-boxes
Not sure about off the shelf stuff though...Have you any places that could make a copy of your old one?..Shouldnt be that more expensive than off the shelf...
My understanding has always been that apart from the cars with the silencers under the seats, the standard configuration was to have it slung under the central spine - with the attendant lack of ground clearance.
Now the word used to be that the very first cars had a single silencer mounted ABOVE the propshaft; it was moved to below the prop due to massive heat-soak into the cabin... but having looked at the space I'm not sure it would even have been feasible to get a silencer in there so maybe it's just folklore. Unless anyone knows differently for certain...
For the V8 owners, there are pics about of an early (prototype?) chassis that has the pipes doing a dog-leg through the vertical chassis rails, presumably to avoid that issue where the pipes get squeezed between the bellhousing and the chassis. It looks like it'd be a nightmare to thread it through once the shell was in place, maybe that's why they changed it sharpish.
Somewhere I have the Arvin Exhausts fabrication drawing for the single centre-box used on the Tasmin, it's dated early in production so the configuration was clearly determined early on.
Now the word used to be that the very first cars had a single silencer mounted ABOVE the propshaft; it was moved to below the prop due to massive heat-soak into the cabin... but having looked at the space I'm not sure it would even have been feasible to get a silencer in there so maybe it's just folklore. Unless anyone knows differently for certain...
For the V8 owners, there are pics about of an early (prototype?) chassis that has the pipes doing a dog-leg through the vertical chassis rails, presumably to avoid that issue where the pipes get squeezed between the bellhousing and the chassis. It looks like it'd be a nightmare to thread it through once the shell was in place, maybe that's why they changed it sharpish.
Somewhere I have the Arvin Exhausts fabrication drawing for the single centre-box used on the Tasmin, it's dated early in production so the configuration was clearly determined early on.
Mine was partially redone sometime between factory and my acquisition. It has the original front bits (including the cat - let's hear it for heat soak up into the pan!) then straight pipes fairly low slung with some sort of individual muffler where the original round resonators(?) were found. I found a picture of the original setup in the Bible last night. That would never last on our streets. I, or perhaps a PO, have already ventilated the straight pipe part.
Bob280i, are there any markings on your Flowmasters? Anything I could cross-reference? Maybe a pic I could show the shop?
Was asking the shop if the Flowmaster Super 10 Muffler 409S (842515) might fit. There tech was poo-pooing that idea and it's a touch more aggressive than my ideal and the bore size is large. Perhaps I'll peruse Jones tonight. Interesting that the originals at the rear were 14" but the shop is saying 11" is the max to get it to fit properly.
Bob280i, are there any markings on your Flowmasters? Anything I could cross-reference? Maybe a pic I could show the shop?
Was asking the shop if the Flowmaster Super 10 Muffler 409S (842515) might fit. There tech was poo-pooing that idea and it's a touch more aggressive than my ideal and the bore size is large. Perhaps I'll peruse Jones tonight. Interesting that the originals at the rear were 14" but the shop is saying 11" is the max to get it to fit properly.
I have 82 Tasmin 2+2 coupe, There were 6 or 7 imported to Canada.
It has the centre above prop silencer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has original stainless exhaust,and its pig to get at. Have to remove tranny which means engine to get clear access. been done once.
The muffler is custom job!!!!!
great heat in cabin in cold weather!
Car in bits being refurbished ,5speed T9 trans plus big Austin privcess brakes.
It has the centre above prop silencer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has original stainless exhaust,and its pig to get at. Have to remove tranny which means engine to get clear access. been done once.
The muffler is custom job!!!!!
great heat in cabin in cold weather!
Car in bits being refurbished ,5speed T9 trans plus big Austin privcess brakes.
in111oct said:
It has the centre above prop silencer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has original stainless exhaust,and its pig to get at. Have to remove tranny which means engine to get clear access.
There you go then, there is some truth to the story. Mind you I'd have thought the switch of silencer location would have been made a lot earlier than '82.It has original stainless exhaust,and its pig to get at. Have to remove tranny which means engine to get clear access.
Hi,according to the "Bible" my 2.8i has a Langford exhaust system, ie two boxes under each seat well? The boxes appear to have a stainless shield around them or is the system completely stainless? The reason for the query is; is it worth converting to a single centre box if these are available? Thankyou J C.
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