exhausting matters

[3Dee]

Oh contrare, darlings!!

I bought my engine in 2007 from GM via JS, way before the factory started doing LS7's
As for the exhaust, well, it is stainless. I think the factory is mild steel from anecdotes here, or was.

If I am causing myself so much trouble, prey tell me why the factory uses 'O' profile gaskets, yet everybody (apart from the factory)seems to tell me that the 'D' profile is fine?

So are the factory wrong?

I am confused!

...and I am raising this, so that some others might just get some useful info - after all, isn't this forum all about giving and receiving for the common cause?

Problems are for solving... with a little bit of help from your friends!

If there were not problems to solve, it would be pretty boring!

Edited by 3Dee on Saturday 25th August 18:30

[deadscoob]

Re the factory manifolds, one reason for me going a different route (apart from the mild vs stainless, and disregard alledged restrictive comments on the factory system) is I simply didn't want the headers so close to the tanks.

[MarkWebb]

Valid point. But they make for a much neater install and with shielding????

[deadscoob]

A much neater install? You mean they're out of site I assume?

Having manifolds up and over give you more packaging options as you have the use of space otherwise taken up by the factory down and backwards design.

I also prefer the look manifolds like mine/Keith's have.

I have enough neatness from production cars with all the plastic covers on them, and why hide something when they look as good as they do, unless there are proven benefits (which there aren't).

[UltimaCH]

Any pictures of the exhaust please?

[spatz]

I figure I have the same problem, so i need at least 4 of these sealings for round tube headers, apart from the factory who has them,
preferrable in germany .....

[3Dee]

UltimaCH said:

Any pictures of the exhaust please?

Here you go...



Keith

[UltimaCH]

Very nice and professional looking

[spatz]

best solution I have seen so far

[3Dee]

I had the headers and cats zircoteked in silver, but after my wallet was raped for that exercise, decided to cover the centre-and rear boxes with silver-backed kevlar matt, and wrapped all the other pipes with Titanium-wrap, the latter is a not-unpleasing copper colour, very tough and even with one layer seems very effective.

The Zircotec does reduce the heat, but seemingly not as much as the other stuff I have used.

Currently I am carpeting the interior etc.

BTW, off-topic does anyone know of a clear spray or coating that can protect and harden a vinyl surface against scratches?

[deadscoob]

You'll be amazed at how cool the rear silencers stay Keith if you've got the same packing as me.

Re the protection, can you use something simple like 3m film?

[3Dee]

Yep I did wonder about using film, but the vinyl has a textured finish, which I suspect will screw that idea!

[TangoGTR]

3Dee said:

Here you go...



Keith

Slightly OT, but what you made you go for this exhaust Keith over the AB exhaust, which I assume it's based on ? Correct me if I'm wrong on the last bit, but they look way too similar

Dave

[3Dee]

I have no idea - the headers are quite different though....and the centre box is smaller - seemed a good idea at the time!

[3Dee]

...and I was in a certain place at an opportune time!

[TangoGTR]

3Dee said:

...and I was in a certain place at an opportune time!

Glad I'm not the only impulse buyer then

[deadscoob]

It's not based on the AB exhaust, but if you want a cross over and quiet system on an LS it's very difficult to package differently to that. The AB headers, main and rear silencer sizes and layout are all different.

[alfasteve]

3Dee said:

I had the headers and cats zircoteked in silver, but after my wallet was raped for that exercise, decided to cover the centre-and rear boxes with silver-backed kevlar matt, and wrapped all the other pipes with Titanium-wrap, the latter is a not-unpleasing copper colour, very tough and even with one layer seems very effective.

The Zircotec does reduce the heat, but seemingly not as much as the other stuff I have used.

Currently I am carpeting the interior etc.

BTW, off-topic does anyone know of a clear spray or coating that can protect and harden a vinyl surface against scratches?

Hi I am really impressed with the finish but would like to understand better
you are talking about what is silver baked kevlar matt; what does it look like (Pictures) and where can you buy such and what are the cost
same for Titanium wrap
also why not do all in titanium or kevlar matt ?

[Storer]

This is a nice neat system with, in my case, 3 repackable silencers which have given me a noise reading of 97.8db.

The Zircotec coating has, I am sure, assisted in keeping under clip temperatures acceptable.

The AB headers are quite a bit longer and must transfer more heat to the fuel tanks due to their proximity.


Paul

[356Speedster]

Storer said:

The AB headers are quite a bit longer and must transfer more heat to the fuel tanks due to their proximity.

Paul

They "spread" a little further, but there's not much in it.... temps are easily deflected with a bit of Nimbus too.

I find the various header designs & the science behind them bery interesting... diameter, length, distance to O2 probes, etc all being key factors, but interpreted in different ways by builders.