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Muffler!!

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JIM NEWMAN

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Don't get me wrong, I appreciate as much as anyone the "Healey sound", but.......Lots of youngsters nowadays are installing performance pipes on their imports and sure they sound like sports cars- well louder anyway. Has anyone (besides me)considered making a Big Healey (BN7) sound quieter? Are there any modern mufflers that fit well that might actually soften the bellow somewhat? Repro (even stainless) units seem to be pretty old fashioned fibreglass filled pipes without the benefit of any modern acoustic engineering. I have contemplated fitting a second muffler per say a BJ8 but wondered if a single unit intended say for a new Mazda or whatever, might work. Any thoughts out there?
jim
 
Jim: When I first obtained my current BT-7 many years ago, it was LOUD! While, the song was a nice one, I grew tired of the resonance and exhaust gas leakage from its old exhaust system and replaced the entire thing from the exhaust manifold to the tailpipe with a stainless steel system manufactured by Falcon. The muffler shop where I had it done complained that the fit of that system was poor, but they managed to get it together and now it is much quieter and thankfully less leaky! Maybe the quality of the Falcon system could have been better, but it accomplished my purpose. Perhaps others here have suggestions as to better systems to use than the one I used. I hope this helps you! AL Bradley
 
Some people say the BJ8 exhaust is too quiet. I guess they have never tried to carry on a conversation while driving their BJ8.... Hey, maybe that's their point!

I like the sound of the BJ8 exhaust, not too loud, not too quiet.
 
When I got my BJ8 it did not have the rear set of mufflers. I've been waiting for an exhaust problem to replace the whole thing but it hasn't happened yet. I've always been curious if there was something special about the rear set or if it's something all muffler shops carry. Are the Moss ones any good?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Repro (even stainless) units seem to be pretty old fashioned fibreglass filled pipes without the benefit of any modern acoustic engineering.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim,
The stainless steel units by Falcon don't use fiberglass. It has metal baffles supposedly copied to mimic the factory ones. I think it sounds pretty good on my BJ7 without being too loud. I'm not convinced that SS is needed (especially here in dry California) but I couldn't find the stock steel systems when I was looking. The P.O. had put a Monza system system on and it had fiberglass type material that eventually wore out. It was extremely loud and was first thing to be changed.

I heard that Michael Lempert (who got the 3.54 rear ends produced) is investigating making a muffler system. Anyone hear anything new on this?

cheers,
John
 
The sound was what attracted me to the Healey in the first place. After 44 years of Healeying, it still gets the juices flowing, or at least it would if I ever get it put back togather.
 
I love the sound of a Healey as well. I purposely drive around looking for tunnels and underpasses to "zoom" through. It sounds great!
 
Thanks for the feedback. Now where can I find a Falcon exhaust system? I've searched the usual places so far to no avail. My BN7 is really LOUD. (probably destroyed/blown out most of the fibreglass in the repro muffler by now).
cheers
jim
 
[ QUOTE ]
I love the sound of a Healey as well...

[/ QUOTE ]

At a British car show a couple of weeks ago some TR owners were discussing this very thing and (grudgingly) admitted that the Healeys have the best exhaust note.

When it was time to go I stopped what I was doing to enjoy the sound of a dozen Healeys leaving the plaza.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I love the sound of a Healey as well. I purposely drive around looking for tunnels and underpasses to "zoom" through. It sounds great!

[/ QUOTE ]

That is funny. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif I thought only I did that.
 
Jim: The Falcon stainless steel exhausts are listed in the Victoria British catalog and that is where I purchased mine. Surely others here have had experience with other SS brands of exhausts for Healeys - perhaps ones that fit better? Moss Motors lists SS exhaust systems, also, but does not specify the manufacturer. You may need to do some checking around about brands. Also don't forget to purchase new hangers and gaskets when buying any exhaust system. AL Bradley
 
Come on, there is nothing that strikes more fear (joke) into the local comunity than the sound of a big one firing up in the garage and then, as you drive past the local pub ( drinking establishment) the sound resonating of the walls. They all know when I am about, the sound is unmistakable as my neighbor remarked when I first got it.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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