Exhaust Clearance

[bena80]

Any feedback on which exhausts offer best clearance will be gratefully received as I need to replace mine but really need to source the system with best clearance. I have mailed Leebee to ask what he has on offer, but othr options would be Peninsula/JP/Hayward and Scott (a' la NJW). If your about Nick how's your new system - I see you have had it a couple of months now so wondered how it has fared regarding ground clearance - obviouly it will be 20/10 for noise. .......Andy

[shpub]

Actually the suspension settings have more to do with exhaust clerance than anything else...

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Heath]

I recently bought a sport exhaust for my S3 from TVR dealer "Team Proactive" in Birmingham. The ground clearance is a little better because the box is oval shaped rather than square.

Also the exhaust sound is tremendous! For the first week I thought I'd made a mistake in buying it. It sounded fantastic but I could feel my bones shaking when I drove it and I had ear ache after a long run.

Fortunately the steel softened a little and the sound became less harsh and more rounded. My ears no longer hurt! But boy, was that the best buy for my car! At idle it sounds like a decent V8 but when it's shifting, jesus, car alarms go off, kiddies cry, and small furry dogs hide behind their owners. It is awesome!

It's made the whole experience better. An added bonus is that the pipes open out like the V8 version, they are the same diameter and slightly wider apart. Nothing wrong with that! I'm also sure it has given a slight boost to the power.

Team Proactive are on 0121 344 3400. They should remember the type of exhaust as my car was the only V6 car they had put a sports exhaust on. If you live in the Midlands I don't mind giving you a run out in it.

>> Edited by Heath on Sunday 13th October 10:56

[M@H]

Agree with steve.. barring the 2" pipe thickness and some exhaust clips, the standard exhaust can't really sit significantly lower than any other one.. the "step" down into the sguare box section is under an inch from memory. My standard exhaust tended to catch at the back just before where the first kink is, rather than much in the middle.

Perhaps oval pipes rather than round ones throughout would help

Cheers
Matt.

[tvrmark]

What clearance? Should there be clearance?

Mark

[HarryW]

Heath said: I recently bought a sport exhaust for my S3 from TVR dealer "Team Proactive".....

Also the exhaust sound is tremendous! For the first week I thought I'd made a mistake in buying it. It sounded fantastic but I could feel my bones shaking when I drove it and I had ear ache after a long run.

Fortunately the steel softened a little and the sound became less harsh and more rounded. My ears no longer hurt! ...........
>> Edited by Heath on Sunday 13th October 10:56

I take it your deaf now if it doesn't seem so loud .

I wonder how many S's ground out due to the change from 60 to 55 profile tyres? and has anyone gone back to 60 profile just to improve ride height and ground clearance.
The difference between the two is around 20mm in diameter, which is about 1/2" better clearence, to get the exhaust tucked up another 1/2" higher is not that easy.
I know johno went back to 60 profle in RE720's, did they improve any grounding problems johno?

Harry

[RichardR]

I had new downpipes (manifold to main section) fitted recently (bought from Peninsular), after which the bottom clamps starting grounding out really badly:



I solved this problem by fitting a different type of clamp that I bought from Autocross in Bracknell:



I have noticed more recently though, that one of the downpipes appears to be flattened slightly at the leading edge of the bend - not surprising I guess since this does appear to be the lowest point of the exhaust (this is with 60 profile tyres).

I've been working on the principle that the exhaust is simply prone to grounding, hence the design of the silencer. I've seen a couple of postings mentioning a skid plate for the downpipes - maybe this is the best bet (a passive rather than active approach)?

[shnozz]

Heath - just enquiring how much the new exhaust from Pro-active cost you?

[dern]

I have noticed more recently though, that one of the downpipes appears to be flattened slightly at the leading edge of the bend - not surprising I guess since this does appear to be the lowest point of the exhaust (this is with 60 profile tyres).

Like this?



Don't know what one of the previous owners hit but it must have been fairly substantial

I'd imagine if you fitted a skid under the downpipes you'd reduce ground clearance and increase the number of impacts. You'd save you downpipes but would be increasing the pressure up to the manifolds. Given downpipes are 50 quid and manifolds are 250 and a nightmare to remove I don't think I'd bother.

Regards,

Mark


>> Edited by dern on Monday 14th October 11:36

[M@H]

Mine were worse than that before I changed them.. one of mine was practically a D in cross section...

[GreenV8S]

Don't know what one of the previous owners hit but it must have been fairly substantial

I don't know if this is the same, but the original V8S downpipes come with a carefully formed dent in exactly the same place. I imagine it is some trick to tune the exhaust pulses, or (knowing TVR) maybe it is just so they fit on that shelf over there in the corner of the factory.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[Podie]

Is there any way that dent could improve the structure of the pipe? - make is less likey to deform?

Just a thought...

[dern]

Only one of them was dented in my case. I think I'd rather have them deform than transmit the shock up to the manifolds but I suppose it could help them keep their shape.

Mark

[M@H]

Podie said: Is there any way that dent could improve the structure of the pipe? - make it less likey to deform?

Just a thought...

Of course... as when there's an object in the road precisely where the dent is.. it won't hit the pipe therefore the pipe won't deform

[Podie]

Of course... as when there's an object in the road precisely where the dent is.. it won't hit the pipe therefore the pipe won't deform

smart arse



>> Edited by Podie on Monday 14th October 14:11

[M@H]

YEP

[keirangrogan]

I wonder how many S's ground out due to the change from 60 to 55 profile tyres? and has anyone gone back to 60 profile just to improve ride height and ground clearance.
The difference between the two is around 20mm in diameter, which is about 1/2" better clearence, to get the exhaust tucked up another 1/2" higher is not that easy.
I know johno went back to 60 profle in RE720's, did they improve any grounding problems johno?

Harry

Haven't done so yet, but as soon as I bought 55's I new that 60's were the way to go !!!

[RichardR]

dern said:

I have noticed more recently though, that one of the downpipes appears to be flattened slightly at the leading edge of the bend - not surprising I guess since this does appear to be the lowest point of the exhaust (this is with 60 profile tyres).

Like this?



More of a flattening on the leading edge than a sodding great dent, but a similar principle.

I just went out at lunch and managed to clout one of those bits of metal that sticks up out of the ground in the middle of bigs gates for the bolts to go into! Sounded bl00dy awful but no obvious damage. Might require a closer inspection this evening though. Doh!

[Heath]

Hi Schnozz,

Exhaust £350.00 plus VAT

Got them to fit it. Came to about £450.00 total. I was going to fit it myself but I thought that it may not be quite so simple fitting it to the manifold.

I went up to Donington in the beast this weekend, accompanied by a Tuscan and a V8S. This was easily the best sounding. Pops, crackles and bangs like a TVR should! Go for it!

[shnozz]

cheers Heath - I dont need a new one yet but am just interested thinking ahead for when it needs replacing. I was looking for a decent sound, best ground clearance possible, and preferably the wider split V8S style exit pipes.

sounds as if this is the puppy!

cheers once again!