Back in the fold!

[Dungman]

So 3 years after selling my old Vantage I could resist no longer.

Planning some exhaust work as I miss the sound of the 4.3.

Driving great now that the ancient front tyres are in the bin!

[Dewi 2]

Beautiful, Gavin.
The 'sweet spot' model, because it has the original body design together with all the 4.7 mods.
Mine is a 2009, but yours must be between 2009 and 2012.

I can probably help you ref. exhaust mods. There is a modest cost way, provided your car does not have manifold cats.
I think they were a requirement at some point during 2010.
Without manifold cats, means you will have one pair of single cats (same as the 4.3) containing a 400 cell matrix, plus a 900 cell matrix.
The 900 ones can be cut out from the inside. No cutting of the casing, so everything remains looking OEM.
BR did mine and I think it also involved an ECU tinker and the Prodrive air box modification. Importantly a hidden 3 way switch is fitted, so you can if you wish, close the exhaust valves at any engine speed.

Exhaust sound is fantastic. Inside the cabin there is little noise difference when on steady throttle, so remains comfortable. When cruising at 70mph you can hear a feint drone, but using the switch to close the valve stops that sound.
MoT emissions are no problem, in fact on some tests the figures have been better than before the mod.

My car has the twin plate clutch. Certainly worthwhile considering if you ever have a warn out clutch.

Enjoy your new car.

[ZT260SE]

Many congrats. Reminds me of my 2009 V8V with those wheels. Is it Meteorite?

[Import]

Nice way back in…still very much a looker..still love the clean lines of the first iteration vantages..and does look like meteorite…same as mine…congrats..

[Dungman]

Many thanks all.

It is a late 2009 model in Meteorite. I also prefer the early body style but with the later grille and dbs console.

I did consider gutting the oe cats. Did this a few times on TVR pre cats so assume the process is similar. I am also tempted by manifolds and sports cats. I could not justify the cost of the likes of BR, much as I admire their work. I would rather fit myself anyway.

Does anyone have specific info re the airbox mods?

[stevenichols]

That looks like McGurks!

[Import]

Mine has the factory power upgrade..so the air boxes and controllers were part of the package…

[Dewi 2]

Dungman said:

Many thanks all.

It is a late 2009 model in Meteorite. I also prefer the early body style but with the later grille and dbs console.

I did consider gutting the oe cats. Did this a few times on TVR pre cats so assume the process is similar. I am also tempted by manifolds and sports cats. I could not justify the cost of the likes of BR, much as I admire their work. I would rather fit myself anyway.

Does anyone have specific info re the airbox mods?

Your Bright Finish 6 Bar Grille was a new car cost option. I do have the price on file, if you are interested.

It sounds as if the exhaust 'improvements' would be well within your own capability.
I suppose one would need to know whether the 900 matrix is positioned forward or rearward in the cat. It would be a shame to cut out the wrong ones.
I am not sure, but I think the ECU adjustment is necessary to eliminate a LAMBA error message.
Whether AMDS is required for that, who knows.
The 3-way rocker switch is positioned neatly out of sight under the edge, on the right hand side of the transmission tunnel. I understand the relevant wiring is in that area. The switch does more than the usual remote or fuse removal, because by some electrical magic, it can make the valves close completely at all engine revs.
All that I know about the air box mods, is that it is related to the Prodrive power upgrade, offered at the time for the 4.3 cars. I too would be interested to know the details.

Before knowing about the early 4.7 cat possibilities, I had also thought about tubular manifolds and sports cats.
Extra power is released by both methods, but I was only interested in some more bark.
The cat adjustment was far cheaper than manifolds and sports cats would have been, so for me, a simple decision.
Very pleased with the result. Under bridges is hilarious, but I am not a hooligan if other people are present who might be deafened.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 16th November 10:12

[TR-Spider]

Dewi 2 said:

I suppose one would need to know whether the 900 matrix is positioned forward or rearward in the cat.

Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 16th November 08:32

You can easily see the difference by eye, the 900 matrix is way narrower than the 400 one.

BR mentioned in one of their videos that you can just cut a hole in the Filterbox (where the flap is located on the power pack ones) for the same gain.

And yes, gratulations to the beautiful shaped meteorite grey 09 Vantage - from a meteorite grey 07 Vantage owner...

Edited by TR-Spider on Saturday 16th November 09:44

[XMark]

Lovely car, enjoy! I also crave more noise


Regarding the sport cats or gutted cats throwing a code, do O2 sensor spacers work with these cars?

Also, I know this is a diy job but found these holes to be a common mod on the U.S. 6 speed forum

[Dewi 2]

XMark said:

Lovely car, enjoy! I also crave more noise

Regarding the sport cats or gutted cats throwing a code, do O2 sensor spacers work with these cars?

I have posted all that I know about the 4.3 and early 4.7 cat mod., so unable to answer your question, Mark.
BR did the work for me.
Very pleased with the result. Can be very loud on full acceleration, or as subdued as original in the cabin, when cruising.

Some have said that the standard 4.3 has a louder exhaust sound, than the early 4.7.
This might be true, because in my 4.7 before any mods. from the inside, I could not detect any difference between valves open or closed.
Strange, because I thought the exhaust systems are identical.
After the cat. mods, I can hear a difference as the valves are being opened, or closed.

[Dungman]

Thanks all for the info, especially Dewi 2 for the thorough responses.

Didn’t realise the grille was an option. I used the VIN decoder and don’t recall it being documented so may have been a later addition.

I would be interested to see exactly where the extra airbox openings are on the power pack / BR offerings. Wouldn’t want to risk water ingestion.

Regarding O2 sensor spacers - I have no idea how effective they are but there is at least one company that supply cats and manifolds that offers them FOC if it throws codes.

[XMark]

Dewi 2 said:

I have posted all that I know about the 4.3 and early 4.7 cat mod., so unable to answer your question, Mark.
BR did the work for me.
Very pleased with the result. Can be very loud on full acceleration, or as subdued as original in the cabin, when cruising.

Some have said that the standard 4.3 has a louder exhaust sound, than the early 4.7.
This might be true, because in my 4.7 before any mods. from the inside, I could not detect any difference between valves open or closed.
Strange, because I thought the exhaust systems are identical.
After the cat. mods, I can hear a difference as the valves are being opened, or closed.

Thanks for that I would rather change the cats though, I always like to leave a car the way I found it when I sell, loud isn’t for everyone!

[XMark]

Dungman said:

Thanks all for the info, especially Dewi 2 for the thorough responses.

Didn’t realise the grille was an option. I used the VIN decoder and don’t recall it being documented so may have been a later addition.

I would be interested to see exactly where the extra airbox openings are on the power pack / BR offerings. Wouldn’t want to risk water ingestion.

Regarding O2 sensor spacers - I have no idea how effective they are but there is at least one company that supply cats and manifolds that offers them FOC if it throws codes.

I wouldn’t worry too much about water ingress, I wouldn’t be driving through standing water and the front side is open to the duct anyway.
Interesting on the spacers, what company was that?

I found these that have spacers inbuilt
https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/harrison-sig...

[Dewi 2]

XMark said:

Thanks for that I would rather change the cats though, I always like to leave a car the way I found it when I sell, loud isn’t for everyone!

My car is a keeper, so not applicable.
If it were for sale, it would take someone with both a keen ear and intimate knowledge of early Vantages, to notice that anything had changed. At cold tickover (revs held higher), I know that it is slightly louder (just right), because I remember OEM, but few would notice. The difference is not shouty. Switch the exhaust valves closed, then even experts would not tell the difference.

For anyone wanting to eventually return to OEM, one alternative that an accountant might suggest, is to buy a pair of cats in readiness for the car sale, then the 400 cell cats would become available for onward sale, perhaps even at extra cost to the buyer of the car.





( Marketing would say, should have advertised at £995 or Best Offer. )

Edited by Dewi 2 on Sunday 17th November 09:28

[TR-Spider]

Dungman said:

I would be interested to see exactly where the extra airbox openings are on the power pack / BR offerings. Wouldn’t want to risk water ingestion.

The flap openings are oriented towards the front.

Picture needs to be rotatated 100° CCW, so shows the RHS box.

[Dungman]

TR spider - thank for the photo that is very helpful.

XMark - company called Direct Fit Exhausts offer cats and manifolds. I noted in the reviews they sent a buyer the spacers out foc when they had a code.

[Go60 Jay]

Congratulations 🙌
That’s such a pretty shape. My first Aston was a 56 plate Meteorite Vantage. I have a 2012 Vantage S now, which looks more aggressive than pretty.

I hope you enjoy many reliable and happy miles.

John

[Go60 Jay]