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MG MGA - Exhausted Exhaust

Am doing a frame up restoration and now have a rolling chassis. Time to bolt on a exhaust system. Any suggestions out there? I live in southern California so don't need the stainless. Should I go with good old Moss or is there a freeer flowing alternative I should consider?
Bill Mc Daniel

Bill, there are several more efficient systems. However, it depends on how original you want to stay..
For example- would you accept pipes going directly to the head, and then blended into a a single large pipe?
This would of course get rid of the MG exhaust manifold and invalidate any originality of the car.
On the other hand- as they say " your car- your choice"
A number of people have had pretty good luck with polishing the inside of the exhaust manifold to improve the flow. There was a pretty good article in the NAMGAR magazine a while back by Dave Smith on the subject- if my failing memory serves- I think he said that he got an extra 10 horses from doing it.
/ gil
gil

Hi Bill. You might want to reconsider a stainless steel exhaust system. Yes you are in California, which has a kind climate. But exhaust systems can and do rust from the inside out. Water and acid are byproducts of combustion, and over time WILL eat away exhaust pipe and muffler. Stainless steel systems are much more resistant to these problems. Many ss systems have a lifetime warranty. Cheers! GLenn
Glennn

Stainless systems cost more but they last forever. I've had standard systems rust even here in CA. Granted it takes a really long time but there's nothing like crawling under the car after thousands of miles and seeing shiney parts. :)
Steve Simmons

Even SS systems can give up the ghost. I had one replaced under warranty a few years ago (13 years after purchase) because the baffles went. It became (effectively) a straight through exhaust which sounded GREAT but the local law enforcement suggested it needed to be replaced!

That said, I'd go with SS every time. Maybe go for a tubular manifold if you are after HP.
dominic clancy

Dominic,

Do you have any idea how much HP a different exhaust would add ?

Koen
Koen Ackermans

No idea of exact numbers, but the A manifold is not an ideal shape. Prrobably 2-3 HP without too much difficulty. The money can be better spent elsewhere: I would start with a lighter flywheel as #1, a stage 2 head as #2, and you will already have a car that goes a lot better but still looks 100% original.

That said, if need a new manifold anyway....

Note that a B tubular manifold does not fit, as a LHD steering column on the A fouls the manifold.
dominic clancy

I bought a SS system back in 1983. It came with a 25 year guarantee. The exhaust is still as new, only the company I bought it from went broke twenty years ago

Rutger
Rutger Booy

Bill, if you're considering just a replacement for the stock exhaust, I installed Walker muffler and exhaust pipes and it all fit perfectly on my 1500. I've heard that a stainless steel exhaust sounds "different" from a mild steel system, with the mild steel sounding better.



George Goeppner

Dominic Clancy: what do you mean by a "stage 2 head"?
Josh

This thread was discussed between 18/02/2005 and 23/02/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.