Wedge exhaust : Stainless vs mild steel ?

[TIM WOOD]

Well it looks like it's finally time to renew the full system on my 450 SE ( SEAC type ).

The thing is as my unit is some 10 yrs old and the 'wear' is mainly due to clearance damage, so why bother with stainless ?

With the average prices from the independents working out at a very cheap ( sic ! ) 700 - 900 gbp I don't see the benefits,
especially when you see the amount of posts viz. stress fractures etc....

I am seriously thinking about getting a complete unit manufactured specifically for my car and at 16 gbp/hour labour
charges I could probably have all the clearance issues dealt with and maybe even have a rear box with adjustable
baffles fabricated ?

Would be interested in any opinions or similar experiences please

Cheers

Tim 450SE - J814GGO

[Paul V]

Yeah but doesn’t your exhaust scrape due to the fact it doesn’t run the standard line? It may be worth getting the £16 ph people to do the exhaust in stainless, its not really going to add much cost to the price as the main price is the labour time.

[TIM WOOD]

My exhaust runs the 'standard' SEAC line i.e under the d/shafts in a straight line with just one large box.
I don't want to go the 400 way as it looks too contorted and is transferring even more heat to the inboard discs and diff. The other consideration for me is that just after the 'Y' piece at the front, the single pipe sits tight up against the gearbox sump. which is very bad.

My argument with stainless vs mild is that 10 years is good enough for any system. They will all need changing due to clearance damage and clogging up surely ?

Cheers

Tim

[Paul V]

Yeah but stainless looks better surely at £16 ph it can't take them more than 20 hrs so £320 plus materials is still not going to cost to much, might be worth finding out the difference in price of materials from these people, with the exhaust bits I recently had it was only a extra £40 I think so thought may as well go stainless. You could consider this especially if they are making a system that won’t ground out all the time.

[TIM WOOD]

Paul

The V8's create a great deal more heat under the hood
and I think this is why so many people suffer fractures
with the s/s systems. Mild steel will take a great deal more heat abuse.

Cheers

Tim

[Rus Wood]

I can recommend PD Gough (near Nottingham). They fitted my 390 with a stainless system one year and the manifolds the next. I drove the car up there one morning and collected it that evening. The system is as near as possible to the original except a heavy gauge protective plate under the centre box. The systems come with a lifetime guarantee.

You were very lucky to get ten years from a MS system.

[350matt]

I was quoted 295 quid + vat for each manifold from PD gough but they do offer a lifetime gaurentee, bizarrley they told me they didn't have a pattern for my car (350i) and would have to copy an existing set unless they don't know a 390 is the same as a 350.

Also Stainless is much better exhaust material as it retains much more strength at temperature than mild. The problems occur when the weld quality isn't good and then due the increased stiffness of het material over mild it can have a propensity to crack.

Matt

[Nacnud]

Me and my SEAC have just got back from Cornwall and the new exhaust system took a severe beating where it passes under the diff.

It can't stay like it is as I have negligiable ground clearance and I'm destroying the exhaust.

Any suggestions ?

[JMorgan]

Sure mine goes over the half shaft. The 350 did.

[kevinday]

quote:
Me and my SEAC have just got back from Cornwall and the new exhaust system took a severe beating where it passes under the diff.

It can't stay like it is as I have negligiable ground clearance and I'm destroying the exhaust.

Any suggestions ?

Sell me your SEAC pleeease

[Nacnud]

For some reason, SEACs have a different boot floor and the 'over the half shaft' option is a non-starter.

I've seen another SEAC which split the exhaust into two smaller bore pipes before going under the diff and rejoining before exiting the rear; even with the extra inch or so of ground clearance they needed a skid plate welded to the two pipes and it had considerable wear.

It ought to be possible to solve the problem by using small bore pipes exiting just in front of the rear wheels. I reckon it would sound / look good but I've been told that side-pipes may be illegal in the UK. Anybody know the score ?

quote:
Sure mine goes over the half shaft. The 350 did.

[jvaughan]

My 400SE has a stainless exhaust made by the guys at Powerflow. They got rid of the over the driveshaft and across the back bits, and went for a straight pipe front to back, doing a small twist and turn at the rear to exit the bodywork through the correct hole.
My exhaust goes under the diff hanger as a single 3" pipe. You can get better ground clearance if you use twin 1/2"pipes, and join them again at the back.
As for manifoulds .. I have stainless ones fitted by Peninsula. These fit into a stainless central silencer just infront of the gearbox.
The center pipe does ground out on speed bumps, but it also throws 3' flames on overrun !!!

[jvaughan]

My 400SE has a stainless exhaust made by the guys at Powerflow. They got rid of the over the driveshaft and across the back bits, and went for a straight pipe front to back, doing a small twist and turn at the rear to exit the bodywork through the correct hole.
My exhaust goes under the diff hanger as a single 3" pipe. You can get better ground clearance if you use twin 1/2"pipes, and join them again at the back.
As for manifoulds .. I have stainless ones fitted by Peninsula. These fit into a stainless central silencer just infront of the gearbox.
The center pipe does ground out on speed bumps, but it also throws 3' flames on overrun !!!

[jvaughan]

quote:


Paul

The V8's create a great deal more heat under the hood
and I think this is why so many people suffer fractures
with the s/s systems. Mild steel will take a great deal more heat abuse.

Cheers

Tim

I dont know though Tim, My wedge creates a shit load of heat, I also have exhaust wrap on my manifoulds and downpipes to help reduce underbonnet heat. My exhaust has not suffered and stress fractures. The exhaust is 4 years old. mind you, even with the simplicity of my design, the tailpipe is so hot after a good run it will sear bare flesh (I have the scars on my legs to proove it!)

I have a quote from a company in Cardiff that build exhausts in Stainless for Marcos's and the guys I spoke to last year only quoted me £350 inc VAT for a replacement performance tuned system.

[TIM WOOD]

Thanks for replys guys.......

Nacnud, I believe that Karl Cordwell has fitted a side
exiting pipe to his 450 SEAC ( I have been waiting for him to e-mail some shots for me ).

Jason, If your happy with the existing system why are
you considering a new one from the guys in Cardiff.

Is the old one crushed already ( or are you really that patriotic )

If enough are interested in some side exiting unit can we not get together on this ???

Cheers

Tim 450 SE

[jvaughan]

quote:

Jason, If your happy with the existing system why are
you considering a new one from the guys in Cardiff.

Is the old one crushed already ( or are you really that patriotic )

If enough are interested in some side exiting unit can we not get together on this ???

Cheers

Tim 450 SE

Basically Tim, the current one is Too loud. I cannot do track days. To add to that, the current system was great when I rented and didnt mind anoying my neighbours, but in the new house it really does reverberate throughout the entire street when I start the car in the garage. I guess im just getting old !