S2 exhaust volume and replacement cost

[AllanByrne]

I have just bought a 1990 S2, goes well but as noisy as hell especially at 80+ on the motorway. I have read about wind noise, but forget it, the exhaust drowns that out, no problem.

Anyone know how loud it should be and where to obtain new exhaust parts, cheaper alternatives, custom fabricators, any other help or advice.

Otherwise it is ear defenders..Cheers

[Le TVR]

Difficult to say how loud 'it should be' as most people have aftermarket sports exhausts.

Anyway my carte grise is marked 99dB(A) so obviously that was the figure given by TVR at the time of homologation. (Although whether that figure is correct could be open to debate )

[Wildfire]

Well doodze had a lound SS system fitted but it was custom made, if not try ACT at www.actproducts.co.uk They stock JP SS exhausts.

Also bear in mind that exhaust building is very relative to the engine, and if you over exhaust the car, you will lose power. One of the reasons JP leave the baffles in. It is not just a case of whacking the biggest pipe you can find on.

But the loud exhaust can get a bit much during long runs.

Usually around 100 dB depending on how the reading is taken.

>> Edited by Wildfire on Monday 19th September 14:46

[silverback mike]

Mine is absolutely deafening, and made by blue flame exhausts.
Always handy to have a set of gunfender squashy foam ear protectors handy as a long motorway trip liquifies the brain.

WHAT, CAN'T HEAR YOU.....

[AllanByrne]

I had a look at it today, it is stainless, but paper thin and I rather think that the silencer is more like amplifier. It sounds like a kettle drum when you hit it with your finger nail.

I think the ear defenders are the answer, I wonder why the last guy put a nice stereo in, wishful thinking?

Any other mods? I understand Dot5 fluid is a good idea for the clutch? Any cooling mod recomendations?

[AllanByrne]

How about these tail silencers for track days, £48 each is affordable do they work?

[silverback mike]

I think a custom made Jobby is about £300. It may be worth having one made to your specification and sound to fiddling with the one you already have. The silencing cans look a bit odd in my opinion.

[NicBowman]

Hi Allan

I have an S3 with a standard stainless exhaust, and it sounds fine, not too loud but throaty and 'sensible'. Perhaps I am getting old, but I want to travel without ear defenders! A new exhaust will cost you £400 odd minimum, plus fitting. I would seek a second hand standard system and fit it yourself. The performance is not affected in my opinion, as any car is only as good as its weakest link, and the standard 2.9 has plently of other weak links to keep the power at 172bhp.

Nic

[AllanByrne]

Is it possible to buy the exhaust in parts? My manifold pair are stainless and good, down and under sections (90deg sweep) are mild steel and damaged (being the lowest point), oval box and square box thin stainless and a bit dented, tail pipes okay. These sections would real easy to fit.

I have a Steve Heath manual thingy and cant find any data on spark plugs and gaps. Fitted are NGK BCPR6E but are these correct and should they be 0.7mm or 0.8mm?

How about timing too, I assume there isn't a "Haynes", could someone write one?

My oil pressure reads minus anyone know what signal the sender should send, so I can test it?

This is strange having to find stuff out in this way, but I am very grateful.

[Wildfire]

The Exhaust comes in 3 parts. The back box, the down pipes and the exhaust manifolds.

[NicBowman]

Get some Haynes manuals, I keep a Granada and Sierra one, they help alot. Oil sender, you should have a wiring diagram in the handbook, or get Steve Heaths book. Follow the wiring around first to make sure it all makes sense.

Have fun.

Nic

[doddze]

silverback mike said:

I think a custom made Jobby is about £300. It may be worth having one made to your specification and sound to fiddling with the one you already have. The silencing cans look a bit odd in my opinion.

eertry £600


Allan does yours look like this?

if so it is probably the original exhaust and will no doubt have holes in the box along the top which will make it noisy...

I think it is not neccesary how loud you want but the "quality" of the sound.... it needs to sound like a TVR.... if people don't roll their windows down whe you go past.... then it isn't sounding right IMHO



>> Edited by doddze on Tuesday 20th September 20:00

>> Edited by doddze on Wednesday 21st September 10:18

[steve j]

Doddze, having seen your exhaust and heard the sweet but awesome noise it produces, I WANT ONE!!!

[AllanByrne]

Ho Doddzy, It looks the same except for 2 things. Connection to the manifold pipes a little different and all but the first bend is stainless.

I dont think there are any holes and is sounds good and no real problem unless you travel over 20 miles, then I cant even here the wife for an hour after I stop.

Why is yours on the floor and not on the vehicle and what is the signicance of those white legs, is it for contrast?

>> Edited by AllanByrne on Wednesday 21st September 08:00

>> Edited by AllanByrne on Wednesday 21st September 08:02

[TOPTON]

It could be the steel on the box resonating. You did say this was paper thin and it will vibrate real loud. Mine done this,Almost doubled the noise, Well sounded like it! only answer was to cut top and bottom off the silencer box and weld on thicker steel.

[doddze]

AllanByrne said:

Ho Doddzy, It looks the same except for 2 things. Connection to the manifold pipes a little different and all but the first bend is stainless. I dont think there are any holes and is sounds good and no real problem unless you travel over 20 miles, then I cant even here the wife for an hour after I stop. Why is yours on the floor and not on the vehicle and what is the signicance of those white legs, is it for contrast? >> Edited by AllanByrne on Wednesday 21st September 08:00 >> Edited by AllanByrne on Wednesday 21st September 08:02

the connections will be different as mine had de cat pipes on it as it was an S3... On the floor as it was being replaced.... legs....... i have no idea.. not mine!!

[Wildfire]

AllanByrne said:

I dont think there are any holes and is sounds good and no real problem unless you travel over 20 miles, then I cant even here the wife for an hour after I stop.

20 miles!! Ya big Wuss!! I had the straight through System with bigger tail pipes fitted to mine and I used to do regular 150 mile journeys in it and then 6 hours every 2 months. Mind you I did have ringing ears the first few times before the inside was coated.

So I take it you don't want loud. I would probably go for a JP SS system then. Definitley nothing that says "sports".

Personally my S sounded better than my Griff, I'm considering sleving the exhaust on the Griff for more volume. Pre Cat + Sleved

[watto]

I wrapped the under bonnet sections of the exhaust between the manifold and the Y section with exhaust wrap stuff. It has muffled the noise of the exhaust in the cockpit to some degree. It also reduces under bonnet temperature and I am told helps with performance. Might be worth thinking about.

[AllanByrne]

Since most of the noise was coming from under my elbow I was wondering whether I could lag the top part of the silencer. This would have 2 effects (in theory) 1. it would stop the "waffer-thin" box from resonating and offer a degree of sound insulation.

I have just bought the car and dont get me wrong I dont want to kill the sound AT ALL, is sounds fantastic going down the Somerset lanes scaring the horses at tickover, just tweak the 70mph+ boom for motorway travel. I am an old git and "just canny take much more Jim."

The idea of lagging the manifold pipes is interesting, would this help prevent the clutch fluid from boiling at all? I have just changed to Dot 5 and the stuff that came out was black!!