Sounds like a Spitfire

[LouLou73]

Hi All, first time on the forums here and looking for advice. I've got a '54 elise with supersport2 exhaust. it's just started spitting aspiration and sounding like a spitfire in decelaration. have a feeling it's a manifold gasket that's breached. anyone with any experience on this, either the problem, or fixing it...? any discussion would be appreciated as it's going for the 45k service on monday and i'd like to sound like i know a little about what i'm talking about Thanks!

[S Works]

Start it up and then open the engine compartment. You can control the throttle at the throttle body and located where it's blowing.

If it's well down on power it'll likely be the manifold, if it feels OK to drive but is very loud, it's probably blown the baffles out of the box.

[LouLou73]

Thanks S Works.

Car feels rapid as hell but is very slightly down on power. Also seems to be running just a touch hotter than normal. Engine light came on for about 5 minutes then went off and hasn't reappeared. I thought it might be baffles until i noticed it running at 90/91 more often than not.

Anyone any idea what the reparation for baffles, and/or manifold might involve?

[S Works]

Sounds like your back-box is shagged. £3-400 for a new one, plus half an hour to an hours labour to fit.

[LouLou73]

thanks again mate. checked throttle last night, couldn't feel any leakage so have a feeling you're right.

half an hour to an hours labour - sounds like it's diy-able...any tips on how to? more thanks and appreciation up front!

[S Works]

It's doable at home. Get the back of the car up on some thick planks to raise it enough that you can work safely under it. Let engine and exhaust cool.

Remove undertray, prop up underside of catalytic converter with block of wood, fight with exhaust/cat bolts until they release, taking care not to damage cat. Remove exhaust from hangers, fit new one in place making sure the pipes line up in the clam hole, fit with new gasket(s) and sealant, bolt back onto cat, test for blows.

Once happy, refit undertray, drive off ramps, bin old can.

TBH, if it's the original exhaust then the cat bolts could well be fecked and might need angle-grinding off. You can drop the undertray enough to inspect it without removing the whole thing (bend gently). If it looks rough, and you've not got the time, patience or tools, for the sake of an hours labour, I'd get a garage to do it.

[LouLou73]

great stuff S Works - thanks for all your advice mate.