Stainless steel exhaust

[sjgcpa]

I have been trying to get a Bell stainless steel exhaust system for months from Engle Imports in Kalamazoo Michigan. They are now telling me it is on backorder. Does anyone know of another source?

Thanks,

 

[healeynut]

Yeah, order them direct from the UK.

https://www.ahspares.co.uk

The price with shipping will be around the same, or maybe even less.

 

[zblu]

Had mine custom made head to rear bumper, water cut the mating plate to the head,used my 30+ year old extractors as a template, only comment I have is I think they "boom" more than the standard system

 

[George_Haywood]

sjgcpa,
Get in touch with Bob Yule, he will have you a Bell SS system in a week to your door. Nice guy too, but you'll have to give him your real name and not a bunch of initials. bob@autofarm.net

George Haywood

 

[AlanT]

FWIW , I installed both a Falcon System from Moss and a Bell System from Engle on two different early 3000's within six weeks of each other. I could not tell the difference in the two. Both system tailpipes were made incorrectly as compared to a 30+ year old NOS system we keep on file. Neither Moss or Engle has SS clamps either. Ames has the 1 3/4" front clamps but not the 1 1/2 rear clamps. You can't always get what you want.

Alan T

 

[healeynut]

FWIW , I installed both a Falcon System from Moss and a Bell System from Engle on two different early 3000's within six weeks of each other. I could not tell the difference in the two. Both system tailpipes were made incorrectly as compared to a 30+ year old NOS system we keep on file. Neither Moss or Engle has SS clamps either. Ames has the 1 3/4" front clamps but not the 1 1/2 rear clamps. You can't always get what you want.

Alan T

I can tell you one big difference - the FALCON system will discolor over time (after ~ 3000 miles or so) wheras the Bell will keep its finish like new.

In addition I think the Bell silencer is a bit better - it seems the material used is more substantial, it sounds nicer if you ask me.

I have the bell on my BN1 and the Falcon on my BJ8.

By the way AH Spares sells all mounting hardware for all the exhaust in SS. FYI use the 2" SS drain couplings from Home Depot to clamp the pipes to gether... the drain couplings will seal up the gaps much better than the OEM style british clamp.

 

[62BT7]

healeynut: I'm up for an exhaust replacement this summer. When you say "drain couplings" at Home Depot, can you elaborate? I can envision asking a clerk at Home Depot for drain couplings and being told they have 10 varieties. Many thanks,
-Tom

 

[Johnny]

"..the drain couplings will seal up the gaps much better than the OEM style british clamp."

Yes, "Healeynut" please explain further. Are you talking about the common ring clamps that you tighten with a screwdriver or nut driver? Or do they have the metal plate type that bolts together?

 

[Dave Russell]

Attached is a pic of a high quality "Mikalor" exhaust clamp. Considerably stronger than the kitchen sink variety. There are many similar looking clamps available but they do not clamp nearly as well.
D

 

[tahoe healey]

Dave is right (as always). Because the clamps are wide, they do not indent the stainless so you will be able to separate them in the future. They work great. I also used some exhaust cement from Moss so they seal better. These calmps are pricier than the Home Depot but they allow you a greater amount of tightening.

 

[Dave Russell]

I just got to thinking. Mikalor clamps can be hard to find in the USA. I get mine from DWR. You can see them here:
https://www.bighealey.co.uk/section.php?id=8&page=3

Maybe someone knows a US source for Mikalor?
D
PS - I attached a pic of a "farm" supply clamp which looks similar but has no where the clamping power & strength of the Mikalor.

 

[healeynut]

healeynut: I'm up for an exhaust replacement this summer. When you say "drain couplings" at Home Depot, can you elaborate? I can envision asking a clerk at Home Depot for drain couplings and being told they have 10 varieties. Many thanks,
-Tom

Go to Home Depot and buy the smallest size Stainless Steel flexible pipe coupling (with rubber insert... 1-1/2" or 2", I forgot what they have). Throw out the rubber insert and then fix the stainless steel part around the junction between the muffler and header pipe. Then put the OEM style British clamp over the outside of the coupling... with this set up it will never leak. The coupling looks like a short two inch long piece of SS pipe with two regular hose clamps around the outside. These are the drain couplings (in the plumbing section) that are used to hook up a sink with the pipe when the two don't screw together all that well.

Here's what it looks like:

https://www.v6z24.com/mods/howto/images/intake/coupleing.jpg

 

[healeynut]

Dave -

Those are excellent clamps. The Drain Couplings I use are a little better because the provide a complete coverage of the exhaust junction, and you can even put some hi temp silicone in there to really seal things up. They work great.

 

[GregW]

Hi Dave,
Burns Stainless sells them. I bought all my u-bends from them when I made my exhaust system but no clamps. The smallest size they have on their website is 1 ¾”. Scroll down to the bottom of this page.

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Greg,
The Burns T bolt clamp is the "farm" clamp that I referenced above. Look at the two pics closely. For whatever reason, the Mikalor clamp has far greater clamping power. It is NOT a T bolt. I have directly compared the two clamps. In fact I have a whole bag of the T bolt clamps that I will gladly donate to someone.

Alan,
As with any good clamped system, the inner & outer pipes must be a close fit. The inner pipe must extend beyond any slit in the outer pipe & the slit should be narrow. With this good overlapping fit there is no need for elaborate sealers or filler gunk. The advantage of a good band clamp is a strong joint that can be easily slipped apart if & when when you wish. As you know, a standard U bolt clamp makes it impossible to take a joint apart after it has indented the outer pipe.
D

 

[healeynut]

Alan,
As with any good clamped system, the inner & outer pipes must be a close fit. The inner pipe must extend beyond any slit in the outer pipe & the slit should be narrow. With this good overlapping fit there is no need for elaborate sealers or filler gunk. The advantage of a good band clamp is a strong joint that can be easily slipped apart if & when when you wish. As you know, a standard U bolt clamp makes it impossible to take a joint apart after it has indented the outer pipe.
D

Oh I know, I hate those U bolt clamps... they suck!

 

[GregW]

Hi Dave,
The DW picture was hard to see what the clamping mechanism was. I did a little digging and found the Mikalor site. One of their products is the Supra Clamp. I found this site ( Kifco ) in Illinois that sells that clamp. Hope this helps.

 

[sjgcpa]

Good news. Engle Imports finally came through with the exhaust. Thanks for the help.

 

[AlanT]

Moss has the Mikalor 1 5/8 band clamp under part # 412-037 for about three bucks. I asked my sales weasel if they carried them and he told me no but when I order the alternative clamp listed for the early system I got the Mikalor clamp.

Alan T

 

[healeynut]

Some of you asked to see what the drain couplings from Home Depot look like. I had a spare so I took a coupla snaps of it. You can even see the part numbers so that should help you find it at Home Depot....