The 'E' Type Forum

Hi everyone. On my 3.8 FHC, I have replaced the old batterrred and bruised exhaust system with a brand new Bell Stainless Steel system. Whilst the new system looks great, I had underestimated what the difference in sound between the old system which I guess under all the crud was mild steel, and the new SS system would be. The tinny sound of the new system in comparison with the old system is quite noticeable, particularly on acceleration.
I expect it's a matter of me getting used to the difference, however if anyone has any advice on anything I can do to reduce the tinny sound or anything else I should check that may be amiss and accentuating the tinny sound, I would appreciate hearing that. Thanks in advance for any information you have to share.
Cheers, Peter.

Stainless systems do sound different to mild steel, and not always in a positive way. Jaguar are even making mild steel systems for E-Type's because they know the same thing and are making it a selling point. You could keep the s/s silencers and down pipes and just replace the resonators with mild steel ones which will give you the 'correct' sound but other than that there is nothing you can do.

David, that's what I did when I installed my Bell S/S system a few years ago. I didn't like the look of the S/S resonators and since my original chromed mild steel resonators were in like new condition, I put them on and to my tinny ear, the exhaust sound is authoratative like a Jaguar's should be.

Thank you David and Mark, that is very helpful.
Any advice from anyone about where I can get mild steel resonators that will easily fit onto the pipes and fittings of the new Bell SS system and sound like my EType 'should' ?
Thanks, Peter

1964E wrote:Thank you David and Mark, that is very helpful.
Any advice from anyone about where I can get mild steel resonators that will easily fit onto the pipes and fittings of the new Bell SS system and sound like my EType 'should' ?
Thanks, Peter

Replace the main silencers with straight sections of pipe, leaving only the resonators to mute the bark. That's how an E-Type should sound.

Not sure about the next MOT though....

That would be way too loud for enjoyable driving. You can specify 'straight through' silencers rather than 'baffled' if you want a bit more power and noise. These use perforated tubes surrounded by deadening material. The resonators are all built as straight through but do not act as silencers.

There was someone in the US selling chrome plated mild steel resonators via eBay some time ago. No idea if they are still available but worth checking. Alternative is to have resonators made in mild steel (PD Gough will make them) but you still need to have them chrome plated which makes them a bit expensive. Maybr Jaguar sell them for their mild steel E-Type systems?

Thanks David, I will do a bit more research and try to find mild steel replacements.

Actually it was XK's Unlimited:
3.8 = http://xks.com/i-7084737-jaguar-resonat ... -1552.html
4.2 = http://xks.com/i-7084738-jaguar-resonat ... -1551.html

$187 per pair.

Great, thanks David, I will check it out.