Exhausts: 3 piece Vs. 2 piece

Post by **Sidney'61** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:26 pm

Is there really any difference between a 2 piece and 3 piece exhaust? (other than the obvious

).
Bull motifs is 3-piece and ESMs is 2

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 02, 2009 11:34 pm

Smaller parcel - easier to collect/or send ?

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:18 am

The more expensive one from both suppliers is made in the UK by GS Exhausts and as far as I can tell is pretty much identical apart from the number of pieces. Bull Motif told me theirs is in 3 pieces is because it makes them cheaper to post and they are easier to fit. I bought the 2 piece one from ESM and didn't have any trouble fitting it, and it was one less joint to make. Getting the old 1 piece out from over the axle was awkward though - I gave up after struggling for ten minutes and cut it in the middle with a hacksaw.

I also have the cheap (Chinese?) 2-piece stainless one on my other car and it sounds a fair bit noisier than the expensive one (particularly around 60-65MPH the silencer seems to resonate badly), plus it has gone a bit rusty (indicates a low grade of stainless). given a choice I'd buy the more expensive one every time, but I was given this one for free!

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:35 am

The shorter the pipe you connect to the manifold the easier it is to get a good joint. I have a large bore system on Albert and getting the orbital manifold joint right was a *****y nightmare. He has 3-2-1 now and it was a doddle to fit and is quieter!

Post by **Onne** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:54 pm

I've got a mild steel on the 55, took me all of half an hour to fit, with the rear shackle of the leaf spring removed.

And its a perfect fit, it exits exactly in the middle of the hole in the engine bay. Unlike the stainless one.

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:26 pm

Onne wrote:I've got a mild steel on the 55, took me all of half an hour to fit, with the rear shackle of the leaf spring removed.
And its a perfect fit, it exits exactly in the middle of the hole in the engine bay. Unlike the stainless one.

Both my stainless ones fit OK. The mild steel one that was on Fenchurch when I got her used to rattle against the side of the engine bay hole.

Is it supposed to be possible to get a one-piece exhaust in and out without removing a handbrake cable and partially dismantling the suspension? I couldn't see how...

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:49 pm

1 piece system fits fine, but you have to jack up the body to create space at the axle area.

Pete

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:30 pm

Ah right, I had the back end up on a set of tall ramps which probably made matters worse.

linearaudio · Post by **linearaudio** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:00 pm

plastic_orange wrote:1 piece system fits fine, but you have to jack up the body to create space at the axle area.

Pete

Agreed! Just removed by jacking on the front nearside spring hanger, but has to be pretty high! front nearside wheel also elevated, so quite a lift! THe system twists on its side and goes forward into the front wheel arch to clear the axle, then drops off to the rear. I persevered as I knew someone had put it on without major work!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:12 pm

I gave up after struggling for ten minutes and cut it in the middle with a hacksaw.

quitter! ;-)

Is it supposed to be possible to get a one-piece exhaust in and out without removing a handbrake cable and partially dismantling the suspension?

yes and no.
If they are made to the original design, then no dismantling is needed.

The one's I've bought in the last 10 years however have been a variety of shapes and sizes - including approx 3" variation in length. I only know about the length because I fitted one in a eurobox with the hatch just shutting, and 3 years later I collected one in the same Eurobox and it was 3" too long to close the hatch!
The last but one single-piece exhaust I fitted was a ###er to fit even with one shackle removed! I still had to fight with the front end to get it past the lower suspension arm - let alone get it into the engine bay