Morris Minor Owners Club

Does anyone have a foolproof way of fitting the standard exhaust system?

- no MOT, hence I have to fit it myself - next time I'll think ahead and get the experts to do it.

I can get the pipe over the rear axle (nearly squashing the axle mounted brake pipe in the process) but even with the body fully raised (rear wheel off the ground) I can't get the downpipe up into the engine compartment as it still under the n/s lower suspension link.

Ta very much

The only way I have found to fit the exhaust is to jack the front up also and with a lot of cursing and swearing and mauling it will go in the correct gap.

I remember that fitting the pipe over the axle was a pig to do, but it did fit eventually.

I found it helped having someone manipulating the rear while I was positioning the front.

Not that this will help very much, but just in case anyone else is planning this epic task, many of the stainless exhausts come in two part, for ease of posting, and fitting.

I just had another go in daylight and its still fouling on the lower suspension link by just 1/2". I'm reluctant to use too much force because
a. I might bend the pipe permanently (sp)
b. I don't want to push the car off the stands
c. i'll get an earfull from the wife if I grunt and swear too much

thanks for the tips. I'll drag my helper away from eastenders and get her to waggle the tailpipe.

Ta

Oilyfingers

Yes, don't use too much force. I seem to remember that it was more to do with waggling than forcing.

got it on with a bit of backwards pulling form my assistant. I had the front high enogh so that the pipe cold sit at its normal vertical angle over the rear axle. THanks fro the help

Yay! Well done. You've earned a pint!

Well done indeed! Some pipes are better than others.
On 1 exhaust I had to undo the rear spring mount to get the pipe back far enough!!
I should have guessed - when I had bought a previous one it fitted in my Volvo and this one didn't as it was an inch too long! I had to drive back from Birmingham with it sticking out the passenger window on a really cold day!!

Hi All
Having suffered the same as all of you it was with great relief that a few years ago I discovered that Minorite in Leicester sell a 2 piece steel system that is similar to the stainless 2 piece system, but only costs a couple of pounds more than the standard system and it fitted without too much effort or the normal problems associated with the 1 piece system

Kevin,

What is the pipe diameter of the Minorite system, and do they do a manifold?

Cam Its the standard system that they cut at a convienent point and the weld a split sleeve section so that the 2 halves can be joined together, and it fits the standard manifold.
However they I think they used to do all sorts of modification bits and pieces as they used to race a Minor on the track with a fibreglass bodyshell, so they might still do some modification bits and pieces,I cant think were there is a picture of it but when I re-locate it I will let you know.
Also recently spoke to the owners of Minor Mania in London and they get there large manifold`s from the same supplier as Birmingham Minor Centre and were not aware of the problems that you have been having, however they do not sell that many and said their stock is not recent.

Hi I was brought up as an aprentice working on Minors, our solution to fitting the front pipe to the manifold was to cut a piece of tail pipe. Slot it and then fit it into the front pipe, this meant when the pipe was offered up to the manifold a gas tight seal was made plus fitting the clamp was easy. Hope this may be of help to someone.
Bill

Bill this would be a very useful tip under the did you know section this would be really great at stopping the manifold leaks , but not for assisting with the fitting a one piece exhaust.

Yes, thanks Bill that's handy to know, whilst on the subject of exhausts.

Aside from the fitting instructions -

If your car has failed its MOT, it's still perfectly legal to drive it on the public roads provided that you are going to a repair centre (and home afterwards - so you can get different bits repaired by different people).

BUT - make an appointment first. The Police have been known to prosecute drivers who were " .. just going to xxxxx while you wait MOT centre - honest guv" without an appointment.

Colin

Fortunately I have a pit . The exhaust took about 20 minutes to install. So, maybe the answer to pipe difficulties is to find a bloke/gal who has a hole in the ground !! Arfron