Exhaust regret

[TGN]

Before I place an order for a new Bell Sport system, is there anyone out there that's considering removing a system that they are now regretting.
Or is there anyone locally that has a Bell straight through system that wouldn't mind demonstrating it before I commit.

I had considered a mild steel Jaguar replacement but the appealing price tag around £700 appears to have doubled.

[Mark Gordon]

I don't know if I am understanding your question correctly but I replaced my (possibly original) rusted out mild steel system with the Bell SS system about ten or twelve years ago. I retained the original resonators and am very pleased with the sound: authoritative but not obnoxious. Add to that no worries about it rusting out while I'm alive.

[Heuer]

Avoid anything that is 'big bore' or you will be that to all other road users! Best performance is from a 1.75" system as per original. You can liberate another 10% of power (Jaguar figures) by using straight through silencers. They are not that noisy so a worthwhile improvement unless you have an FHC in which case stick with baffled otherwise you will get booming along with a headache.

To get the original E-Type growl you need a mild steel system as s/s sounds totally different. Try tapping the end pipes with a spanner on the different metals to understand why. Best solution is to use s/s pipes and silencers and fit mild steel chromed resonators as it is they that produce the distinctive exhaust note.

e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184562560907 ... SwaJ9fx2oh

[TGN]

The current system is a mess and a mismatch, and quiet as you can only hear the whine of a straight cut 1st gear inside and out.

I have cast manifolds, stainless down pipes, a 2+2 intermediate pipe that goes 2 into 1 into 2, clearly baffled centre boxes and no rear resonators.

The plan was to keep to 1.75” I’ve already deleted the air filter silencer and fitted a foam element.

So ideally I need to hear someone with a straight through in a FHC

[Heuer]

I was going to suggest Angus, but his straight through system was so noisily bad he took it out!

[TGN]

If I had resonators I’d have deleted the centre boxes by now.

[Heuer]

Clearly you do not have a clue how the system works. Jaguar had silencers to reduce exhaust noise and resonators which tuned the exhaust noise. All other manufacturers only used silencers to muffle the sound.

So keep the system stock (unless you wear your baseball cap backwards) and go with mild steel if you can afford it or s/s and mild steel resonators.

So many E-Type owners want to blip the throttle , "Look at me" when the car says it all.

Nowadays no one gives a toss about noisy cars, they all want electric quiet so don't be a dinosaur and get the car the way Sir William wanted it - Grace, Pace, Space.

[max-it-out]

One thing to watch with the Bell system ( at least the one I got from SNGB ) is that the down pipes are a bit longer and stick down below the sump by about 2 " reducing ground clearance . Not been a problem for me yet , but something to consider .Also , the welding on mine was clumsy and meant that one of the pipes would not slide into the other how it was supposed to do . It took me an hour with a cone shaped grinder on the drill to remove the excess weld. As for loudness , I`ve not noticed much difference at idle or low throttle , but it does seem louder when you give it some revs .For motorway cruising it seems fine ( but my car is a roadster , which is very noisy anyway )

[Simonpfhc]

I’ve just ordered a full system (minus the resonators) from JL Heritage parts. The total came to £344 inc Tax donation which I think is a real bargain. I’ve used their exhaust parts before and the fit was perfect.

I’ve bought chromed mild steel resonators from Moss Europe (I think Heuer’s link are the same items) which were £145 for the pair. Again, a real bargain.

It’s also a real novelty to be able to ring my local Jag dealer and order parts and then pop over to collect them

[TGN]

It would appear I was looking at their stainless system not the steel one on JLR Classic.
Which makes the steel version a comparable price to after market stainless.

I assume collecting it from Your local dealer avoids their £40 delivery charge if so I’ll pop down to Guildford and get it ordered.

Moss list the longer resonators for a 3.8. And the shorter cheaper ones for the 4.2. Is there difference I should be aware of?

[Heuer]

Yes, one is for the 3.8 engine and the other is for the 4.2 engine

They are tuned to the characteristics of the engine as the 4.2 is lower revving with higher torque.

[TGN]

My point was Simon appears to indicate he bought the 4.2 ones yet his signature suggests a 3.8

[Heuer]

They are sold out anyway.

[Simonpfhc]

I currently own a 3.8 and a 4.2. The 4.2 I am restoring is the one I bought the exhaust for.

And yes, I count myself very fortunate

[dxke38]

David, my 64 3.8 series one has always had short resonators. would you suggest I change them for the long ones.

[Heuer]

I would not bother. The resonators were changed to make the 4.2 quieter after noise complaints. The 3.8 is much more free revving and owners liked to use the performance. The 4.2 engine was lower revving and more 'civilised' so Jaguar tuned the resonators accordingly. If you can buy the Moss ones for £145 give them a try, you will be able to sell the others very easily.

[dxke38]

Thank you David, I do find the car a little too quiet so I think I will try the Moss ones.

[Robbiee]

Hi all
Just getting to the engine installation bit of my early ‘62 OTS
I’m keeping everything original and want an original exhaust for a 3.8
From what I hear (above) I think I need an original mild steel exhaust with the standard chromed resonators 3.8 length)?

Questions:
1 I’m not quite clear why one has to get the resonators from Moss…are the ones that come with the JLR heritage set not ok??

2. I can’t fathom the heritage parts website, is it best to go via the local Jag dealer??

Any advice
Robbie

[Heuer]

The original system was 1.75" diameter pipes, mild steel with baffled silencers and chromed mild steel straight through resonators (long for the 3.8, short for the 4.2). If you fit a stainless system you will lose the original E-Type exhaust note, which Jaguar carefully tuned with the resonators, because different materials have different resonant frequencies. For those who have invested in a s/s system a simple and cheap route back to the original sound is to fit mild steel resonators like those from Moss rather than replace the entire system. If you are buying a new mild steel system from JLR you have no need to bother with the Moss resonators.

[Robbiee]

Succinct, informative and helpful…thank you as always
Robbie