Under and Over SEAC Exhaust system
Discussion
For Adam and others who may be considering the SEAC style under axle Exhaust system as opposed to the 400SE style over drive shaft system.
The SEAC has a 3 inch outlet pipe from the centre box - which the divides into 2 X 2 inch pipe, takes a 90 degree left, and a 90 degree right and goes up to join into another 3 inch final outlet pipe.
Here are a few pictures:
As you can see pipe is central and has 2 hangers - one in the centre of the car and another near the tail pipe area (not actually on there at the moment)
Slightly more detailed picture - pipes on the floor (offset just for the photo)- you can probably see I have cheated and had my centre box made very shallow (3.5 inches
):
Overhead view:
Side view:
Detailed view of bashing to help get ground clearance in axle frame area:
Upsweep of pipes to tail piece
So, as you can see if is fairly elaborate but would be much simpler if made from a single 2.5 inch pipe .. as that is what is used on the 400/450SE centre box outlet and is all the pipe size that is required.
2 x 90 degree bends and a few feet of 2.5 inch pipe are all that's required. Cost of the parts is about £30 in stainless..
The SEAC has a 3 inch outlet pipe from the centre box - which the divides into 2 X 2 inch pipe, takes a 90 degree left, and a 90 degree right and goes up to join into another 3 inch final outlet pipe.
Here are a few pictures:
As you can see pipe is central and has 2 hangers - one in the centre of the car and another near the tail pipe area (not actually on there at the moment)
Slightly more detailed picture - pipes on the floor (offset just for the photo)- you can probably see I have cheated and had my centre box made very shallow (3.5 inches
):Overhead view:
Side view:
Detailed view of bashing to help get ground clearance in axle frame area:
Upsweep of pipes to tail piece
So, as you can see if is fairly elaborate but would be much simpler if made from a single 2.5 inch pipe .. as that is what is used on the 400/450SE centre box outlet and is all the pipe size that is required.
2 x 90 degree bends and a few feet of 2.5 inch pipe are all that's required. Cost of the parts is about £30 in stainless..
Edited by rev-erend on Monday 26th April 21:34
Rev - what diameter is the centre-box big pipe, and the two smaller side-by-side pipes?
Does it go directly under the diff?
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
Does it go directly under the diff?
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
adam quantrill said:
Rev - what diameter is the centre-box big pipe, and the two smaller side-by-side pipes?
SEAC is 3 inch and 2 X 2inch.
Does it go directly under the diff?
yes
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
yes but bear in mind the SEAC system uses 3 inch pipe - so a 2 1/2 inch pipe will be a little slimmer anyway but it stick down as you say but I suspect it will not be an issue as the centre box is always lowest.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
SEAC is 3 inch and 2 X 2inch.
Does it go directly under the diff?
yes
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
yes but bear in mind the SEAC system uses 3 inch pipe - so a 2 1/2 inch pipe will be a little slimmer anyway but it stick down as you say but I suspect it will not be an issue as the centre box is always lowest.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
adam quantrill said:
Rev - what diameter is the centre-box big pipe, and the two smaller side-by-side pipes?
Does it go directly under the diff?
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
I have donethis on mine in steel, comes out of the silencer in the middle straight drainpipe 2 3/4 in I think then a right angle that sweeps up and collects the original 400 style Does it go directly under the diff?
It does look simple to recreate in 2.5" pipe, however the section under the diff has been made flatter than a circular cross section so it can be as high as possible to avoid clearance issues further back.
On the SE (and SX) the centre box exit goes off to the side, so the pipe would end up under the driveshaft, so it could be slightly higher and have less chance of catching on anything.
Works ok and still the silencer is the lowest part and no fowling on suspension or diff etc
So I spent a half hour lying on my carpet under the wedge. It looks like the under-the diff option is less appealing.
a) on mine the centre box has a right-angle to the passenger side lading to a flange. This would have to ba hacked off and a new straight bit welded on.
b) under the diff the clearance would be less with a 2 1/2" pipe. So I'd have to have 2 2" pipes side by side like Rev's and even then it's about even. Yhis means having a splitter and collector.
c) It means heating up the diff
d) further back there's a problem getting it up with more bends going towards the rear valance.
So I've thought about it and I'm probably going to get an over-axle pipe made up in bits. This means one more bend than I was planning for but it's only a 125 degree bend over the axle. Total pipe length is about 2m.
Hopefully all the bits will be about a tun and then I get to weld it all together - this time not upside down and I'll have plenty of gas to stave off the rice krispie syndrome!
Incidentally has anyone looked at how these things went on in the first place? It looks like all one piece so the rear suspension wasn't there when it was fitted - or am I missing something? Perhaps it comes out through the wheelarch? Anyhoo if it doesn't come off easily then it's angle grinder time ;^)
a) on mine the centre box has a right-angle to the passenger side lading to a flange. This would have to ba hacked off and a new straight bit welded on.
b) under the diff the clearance would be less with a 2 1/2" pipe. So I'd have to have 2 2" pipes side by side like Rev's and even then it's about even. Yhis means having a splitter and collector.
c) It means heating up the diff
d) further back there's a problem getting it up with more bends going towards the rear valance.
So I've thought about it and I'm probably going to get an over-axle pipe made up in bits. This means one more bend than I was planning for but it's only a 125 degree bend over the axle. Total pipe length is about 2m.
Hopefully all the bits will be about a tun and then I get to weld it all together - this time not upside down and I'll have plenty of gas to stave off the rice krispie syndrome!
Incidentally has anyone looked at how these things went on in the first place? It looks like all one piece so the rear suspension wasn't there when it was fitted - or am I missing something? Perhaps it comes out through the wheelarch? Anyhoo if it doesn't come off easily then it's angle grinder time ;^)
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