V Band Clamps - Griff 500 serpentine exhaust Y piece
Discussion
Sorry to butt in on the Chimp section but can anyone help?
The thread on one of the V Band Clamps for the exhaust header Y piece on my serpentine Griff 500 stripped when I was replacing the exhaust manifold gasket. While I am at it I am planning to replace both clamps. The price for a new TVR item SO161 is extortionate, the cheapest I have seen is £25 plus delivery per clamp.
I have done some investigation and you can get some very nice stainless steel V Band Clamps for less than half the price of the TVR items - I like the price but I particularly like the fact that they are stainless steel. The attached advert for the TVR item says that SO161 tightens from 125mm to 115mm, however I am not sure whether that refers to dimension AA or dimension BB (see attached sketch)
I am getting some excellent help from Dan from RND Motorsport. The 4.0” clamp RND stock measures 120mm at BB dimension. Dan thinks the required size is probably a 4.25” clamp but he is currently out of stock of that particular size. Is anybody able to confirm the dimensions for AA and BB for me? I am currently in Kazakhstan and can't walk outside with a pair of calipers and measure up myself, although I would like to get them ordered so I can fit them on my return.
Obviously if I can establish the V Band Clamp size and get hold of some then I will pass on info on sizes and suppliers for those of you who may require the same.
The thread on one of the V Band Clamps for the exhaust header Y piece on my serpentine Griff 500 stripped when I was replacing the exhaust manifold gasket. While I am at it I am planning to replace both clamps. The price for a new TVR item SO161 is extortionate, the cheapest I have seen is £25 plus delivery per clamp.
I have done some investigation and you can get some very nice stainless steel V Band Clamps for less than half the price of the TVR items - I like the price but I particularly like the fact that they are stainless steel. The attached advert for the TVR item says that SO161 tightens from 125mm to 115mm, however I am not sure whether that refers to dimension AA or dimension BB (see attached sketch)
I am getting some excellent help from Dan from RND Motorsport. The 4.0” clamp RND stock measures 120mm at BB dimension. Dan thinks the required size is probably a 4.25” clamp but he is currently out of stock of that particular size. Is anybody able to confirm the dimensions for AA and BB for me? I am currently in Kazakhstan and can't walk outside with a pair of calipers and measure up myself, although I would like to get them ordered so I can fit them on my return.
Obviously if I can establish the V Band Clamp size and get hold of some then I will pass on info on sizes and suppliers for those of you who may require the same.
I recently repaired one of mine for next to nothing.
I'd managed to snap the threaded stud by over tightening the nut in an attempt to stop a slight exhaust leak.
Rather than buy a whole new band clamp I simply used a barrel nut and bolt.
the fix cost me £1.00 and worked perfectly, 3,000 miles later its still perfect.
My bolt & barrel nut actually allowed me to nip up the band clamp more securely than in its original form.
so no more exhaust leak and all for a pound.
I'd managed to snap the threaded stud by over tightening the nut in an attempt to stop a slight exhaust leak.
Rather than buy a whole new band clamp I simply used a barrel nut and bolt.
the fix cost me £1.00 and worked perfectly, 3,000 miles later its still perfect.
My bolt & barrel nut actually allowed me to nip up the band clamp more securely than in its original form.
so no more exhaust leak and all for a pound.
MADMAX2 said:
there is your first mistake highlighted in bold... typical Griff Girl tightfisted over a pair of clamps for £50....
No sense of humour. 
Actually it is not so much the money, its more the fact that I would like them in stainless steel so I don't get those rusty old clamps I've got on now.
Anyway I think I've got my answer on the Griff pages. If I get a reasonable supplier of the stainless clamps then I will post it here as well for those who may be interested.
The V band design originate from commercials I remember seeing these fitted to tipper lorries etc before TVR use see what I mean http://www.gtpltd.co.uk/products/iveco/exhaust-sys...
see what I mean http://www.gtpltd.co.uk/products/iveco/exhaust-sys...Edited by Sardonicus on Thursday 24th October 11:23
ChimpOnGas said:
I recently repaired one of mine for next to nothing.
I'd managed to snap the threaded stud by over tightening the nut in an attempt to stop a slight exhaust leak.
Rather than buy a whole new band clamp I simply used a barrel nut and bolt.
the fix cost me £1.00 and worked perfectly, 3,000 miles later its still perfect.
My bolt & barrel nut actually allowed me to nip up the band clamp more securely than in its original form.
so no more exhaust leak and all for a pound.
Thanks Dave. The best low cost fix. The longer bolt and barrel nut will need far less brute strength to pull the two halves together when replacing a blown gasket.I'd managed to snap the threaded stud by over tightening the nut in an attempt to stop a slight exhaust leak.
Rather than buy a whole new band clamp I simply used a barrel nut and bolt.
the fix cost me £1.00 and worked perfectly, 3,000 miles later its still perfect.
My bolt & barrel nut actually allowed me to nip up the band clamp more securely than in its original form.
so no more exhaust leak and all for a pound.
Clean up the rusty shoulders with wire brush and file on the two halves of Y and manifold first + smear of grease.
If you look at the construction they don't look cheap to make anyway If you don't like my cheap as chips fix (which works perfectly BTW).
Then you could always splash out the £13.00 for one of these delivered to your door.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-4-5-Exhaust-V-Band-T...
Then you could always splash out the £13.00 for one of these delivered to your door.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-4-5-Exhaust-V-Band-T...
ChimpOnGas said:
If you don't like my cheap as chips fix (which works perfectly BTW).
Then you could always splash out the £13.00 for one of these delivered to your door.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-4-5-Exhaust-V-Band-T...
Well I'll be beggered Then you could always splash out the £13.00 for one of these delivered to your door.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-4-5-Exhaust-V-Band-T...
, just goes to show!WinstonWolf said:
Top tip, use ratchet luggage straps to pull the flanges into place, it saves over-stressing the clamps. Don't ask me how I know 
Don't do much for over stressing the manifold joints though 
cant say I have had to resort to this method personally 
with tubular manifolds it's not something I would recommend either 
Sardonicus said:
on't do much for over stressing the manifold joints though cant say I have had to resort to this method personally with tubular manifolds it's not something I would recommend either
Did mine with long levers using a front suspension top bolt location. It can be done. cant say I have had to resort to this method personally with tubular manifolds it's not something I would recommend either WinstonWolf said:
Top tip, use ratchet luggage straps to pull the flanges into place, it saves over-stressing the clamps. Don't ask me how I know
Probably a better tip is to loosen off the bottom clamp that clamps the Y piece to the exhaust, make sure the Y piece is loosened off from the exhaust and then tighten up the V Band Clamp. Once that is tight then re-tighten up the bottom exhaust clamp - thus no stress on the two flanges and it allows the V Band to pull the two edges together tight.In the end I bought 2 x stainless V Band Clamps from RND Motorsport at £14.50 each including delivery and VAT. I dealt with a guy called Dan Robbo and at the end of the day we went for the 4" clamps from the measurements given on a similar thread on the Griff column. Dan has agreed to change to larger size if necessary. RND were helpful but a bit frsutrating as they didn't give out a phone number so a quick enquiry ends up being a series of e-mails.
I can't fit these until I return to UK on the 8th November but I will keep you posted (for those who are interested) as to whether or not the bands are 4" or 4.25" or even 4.5". Meanwhile I think stainless steel looks the b
cks over the standard items.
Pete Mac said:
Probably a better tip is to loosen off the bottom clamp that clamps the Y piece to the exhaust, make sure the Y piece is loosened off from the exhaust and then tighten up the V Band Clamp. Once that is tight then re-tighten up the bottom exhaust clamp - thus no stress on the two flanges and it allows the V Band to pull the two edges together tight.
In the end I bought 2 x stainless V Band Clamps from RND Motorsport at £14.50 each including delivery and VAT. I dealt with a guy called Dan Robbo and at the end of the day we went for the 4" clamps from the measurements given on a similar thread on the Griff column. Dan has agreed to change to larger size if necessary. RND were helpful but a bit frsutrating as they didn't give out a phone number so a quick enquiry ends up being a series of e-mails.
I can't fit these until I return to UK on the 8th November but I will keep you posted (for those who are interested) as to whether or not the bands are 4" or 4.25" or even 4.5". Meanwhile I think stainless steel looks the bcks over the standard items.
The standard items are stainless In the end I bought 2 x stainless V Band Clamps from RND Motorsport at £14.50 each including delivery and VAT. I dealt with a guy called Dan Robbo and at the end of the day we went for the 4" clamps from the measurements given on a similar thread on the Griff column. Dan has agreed to change to larger size if necessary. RND were helpful but a bit frsutrating as they didn't give out a phone number so a quick enquiry ends up being a series of e-mails.
I can't fit these until I return to UK on the 8th November but I will keep you posted (for those who are interested) as to whether or not the bands are 4" or 4.25" or even 4.5". Meanwhile I think stainless steel looks the b
cks over the standard items.
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