Exhaust Note

[bdcvg]

I too have the Moss Tourist Trophy stainless system, I don' t prefer the polished look but the sound is totally Big Healey

 

[steveg]

Today I installed a warranty replacement Moss Tourist Trophy muffler. Nice tone and not too loud.

My original one was very loud with a nasty resonance in the 2200 - 2800 rpm range (exactly freeway cruising speed).

Tomorrow, I'll compare the sound to that of a brand-new British mild steel muffler from Healey Surgeons as installed on a friend's car.

Moss had a QA issue with internal failures of the original TT mufflers causing them to quickly eject their packing. Their new version is made by a different supplier and is warranted for 5 years from date of original TT system purchase. It comes with a very nice matte blasted finish.

 

[Rob Glasgow]

Steve, is that a replacement for a stainless steel system? Wonder why Moss went with a matte finish vs. the chrome like polished finish for a replacement?

 

[steveg]

Steve, is that a replacement for a stainless steel system? Wonder why Moss went with a matte finish vs. the chrome like polished finish for a replacement?

It's the replacement for the shiny Tourist Trophy muffler. The finish is OK with me - I didn't care for the mirror finish anyway. Maybe I'll paint it black later on.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I've painted a couple exhausts with this stuff:

https://www.motosport.com/product/?...EI0006-X002-Y001&pssource=true&segment=badger

Works good--satin finish--and lasts a long time.

 

[steveg]

In the past, I've had good results with barbecue black paint from the hardware store. Checking the can, it's Rustoleum high-heat 1200 degrees. It lasts for a year or so, then you apply more.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

That silicone coating I put on my BJ8's exhaust has lasted probably 50K miles or more. It works good on header wrap, too.

 

[steveg]

That silicone coating I put on my BJ8's exhaust has lasted probably 50K miles or more. It works good on header wrap, too.

I'll give it a try.

 

[dougie]

I'll give it a try.

If you want to take it to the next level, here's a product that's worked well on our racers.

https://www.zycoat.com/zybar-color-coats/zybar-4-oz..html

 

[steveg]

I've painted a couple exhausts with this stuff:

https://www.motosport.com/product/?...EI0006-X002-Y001&pssource=true&segment=badger

Works good--satin finish--and lasts a long time.

I bought it. Label says it needs to cure 400degrees for 2 hours. No equipment for that.

Bob - did you just paint it then install it without curing?

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I sprayed it on and 'cured' it with a propane torch with a spreader:

https://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-...ocphy=9032282&hvtargid=pla-599609123164&psc=1

IIRC, you can actually see it 'cure' from a wet-appearing finish to a matte.

 

[steveg]

That's a great idea!

 

[bdcvg]

Just burned out a 2nd set of TT mufflers from Moss. Both sets were polished so maybe the 3rd set will be matte. If these burn out I'm going British Stainless Exhaust.

 

[tahoe healey]

What do you mean by burned out? I have had Falcon SS on my BJ8 for 12 years and they are fine (except the rear many have a few dents).

 

[blueskies]

Bob Claffie - I also recall the sound of a six cylinder Chevy with a split manifold. A friend did this on an early '50s candy apple red two-door hardtop "back in the day." Definitely one of the nicest exhaust sounds ever.

I have several Healeys, with a variety of exhaust systems - stock, stainless, and stainless side exit. When building the Longbridge 100-6, I decided to try a new stainless side exit unit that had come with a project some years ago. It has two resonance/muffling chambers, with two exit pipes. It sounds great - not complaining at all. Not a true "Healey exhaust note," but definitely nice.

 

[DerekJ]

Regarding the sound, I think there are two different issues, one is does it sound ‘louder’ and the other is does it sound like a Healey. My first couple of cars ran the standard manifold and muffler system, they sounded like Healeys. They burbled like a motorboat at low revs and then there was a distinctive change in the sound that comes in under acceleration at around 2700 rpm if my memory serves me correctly. That’s the sound you want when you go looking for tunnels.

When I fitted headers that change of tone at 2700 disappeared and although it still sounded great it had lost that distinctive note. The same is true of my current track car, sounds loud and powerful but doesn’t have the true Healey sound of the original set up imho.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Whether it was intentional or inadvertent the Healey six's exhaust note was, I think, tuned successfully to the cash register rather thsn the dynamometer.
Probably the biggest improvement of the six over the four was the exhaust tone which has become iconic.

 

[steveg]

Whether it was intentional or inadvertent the Healey six's exhaust note was, I think, tuned successfully to the cash register rather thsn the dynamometer.
Probably the biggest improvement of the six over the four was the exhaust tone which has become iconic.

True.

FWIW. One of my friends has an early BN1 running the Cape side exhaust. This setup does a great job of removing the "tractor" tone of the original. It's not too loud. I'd generalize and say the 100 side exhausts are not as hearing-damage loud as those on the sixes.

 

[bdcvg]

Burned out like if You tap the muffler with a hammer it sounds like ringing a bell. I have had awful luck with the TT mufflers from Moss. Been waiting for 7 months for replacements.

 

[steveg]

Burned out like if You tap the muffler with a hammer it sounds like ringing a bell*. I have had awful luck with the TT mufflers from Moss. Been waiting for 7 months for replacements.

*My blown-out TT muffler sounds exactly like this.

Another option: Healey Surgeons sells a well-made mild steel muffler which they claim is the quietest one available. I'm currently running one of these which I bought after my original TT immediately blew out. It is indeed, for a Healey, quiet-ish. Importantly it has none of the cruising-speed resonance which plagued my earlier mufflers. IIRC, including shipping it was in the low $200s.

I believe it comes from AHspares, but am not sure. It may also be available in SS.