Sports Exhausts

[MOD500]

I appreciate sports exhausts have been discussed at length before, but I cannot find any answers for my specific question

Am considering one for the 500, have spoken to Wedge in Sheffield (who going by previous threads build top-quality systems) - they offer a sports exhaust giving an extra 5 bhp over standard, and a super sports exhaust offering 10 bhp extra. The super sports system is meant to give similar sound to a de-catted car.

Are the power hikes realistic? Are sports exhausts (especially the super sports) tiresome (drone) on the motorway? Can you still hear the radio when crusing?

Thanks for any advice

[shpub]

Yet to see any exhaust system change that gains power on a TVR. IF there is, any change is usually the opposite. The noise can be very bad when cruising.

[biglump]

I had a "sports conversion" done on my 1999 500 which basically involved messing with the baffles. It seems true that no system will give gains unless you start messing the cats and or inlets the latter giving more gains than the former. As for the noise, what on earth are you doing listening to the radio anyway.....?

[IPAddis]

The noise on the motorway is fine for an hour or two but any more than than has you taking a less than healthy interest in BMW garages and TVR trade-in values.

I have some extra silencers (from Peninsula) which I use on long motorway journeys but as I've also had a de-precat, it's still louder than a normal Griff 500.

If you drive mostly around town (which I do) or weekends only, louder = better. If you want to cruise to the south of France, don't bother.

The decision between sports and GT car is important. Do you want a car that is extreemly fast, handles well and sounds mental or a car that is very fast, a bit squidgy and is a relaxed tourer. I believe the latter is called a Chimaera *exit stage left*

Ian A.
Griff 500

[MOD500]

Thanks for the comments, shall not rise to the bait regarding Chim vs Griff

I only use the car for pleasure, and my longest motorway journey in it would be 2.5 hrs. The only thing that concerns me is the potential loss in performance - I assume this varies with each individual car

Need to do more research I think

One more thing; I fitted the mod-wise 2-stage cooling kit on Saturday, is excellent. Went out on Monday night (v. hot), and it never went above 90, does'nt go above 80 when ambient temperature is 'normal'. Thanks for the installation advice David, sorry to have disturbed you from your hoovering and lawn-mowing

Am attempting to fit the aerial amp tonight, any tips

[M@H]

However, exhausts are in part used to tune the Torque from an engine.. bear in mind that in theory you could gain an extra few BHP therefore "does exactly what it says on the tin", however you could mess up the torque curve so you won't be able to use it anyway and the car would feel slower.

Cheers
Matt.

[whitechimp500]

I can only relate my own experience.But carried out the following mods on my car(in order),resulting in a performance increase each time.
1)removed pre-cats - B*stard of a job .
2)fitted sports exhaust-Wedge Automotive-with shorter centre boxes (not the old one with stuffing removed).
Seems to be of a higher grade stainless BTW (original had light surface "rusting" .
3)Tornado Chip from Mark Adams .
4)Run exclusivley on Optimax with a dash of octane booster.

Exhaust now emits a deep,authoritative, bass sound but not over loud for track days (regularly tested at 95/96 db).
500 is a faster car now than when i bought it - no question .

BTW the mods which have had the most profound effect at track days are - without doubt - the brake upgrades and Nitrons .

Regads.
Darren.