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Re: [Healeys] Healey Fuel Odors (BJ8 Exhaust System)

To: Mark Schneider <mandmschneider@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Healey Fuel Odors (BJ8 Exhaust System)
From: Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:51:29 -0700
I don't have the data, but have read that the longer BJ8 exhaust 
actually helps power in some ranges.  Exhaust system design is 
borderline witchcraft, and not necessarily intuitive; i.e. shorter isn't 
necessarily always better (it depends on bore and stroke, resonant 
frequencies, etc.).  The longer system, I believe, helps low-end torque 
at the expense of some high-end HP (but I can't prove it).

Anyway, when my Ansa mufflers gave up the ghost I used its pipes and 
some 'Heartthrob' mufflers from JC Whitney:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/high-performance-muffler/p2006485.jcwx?filterid=j1

I welded 18-inch mufflers in front, and 15-inch (or 12-inch, can't 
remember) in back.  These mufflers appear to be very well made (in the 
USA!).  The sound is louder and a little harsher than the Ansa's--which 
are glasspacks, BTW (I learned from an 'autopsy')--which I thought were 
higher-pitched than stock Healey BJ8 mufflers.  Without the small 
resonators the Ansas have at the tip there is a sharper 'bark.'  They 
are noisier at low speeds, but at cruise speed (+/- 70mph) the cockpit 
is very quiet (witchcraft).

AFAIK, the original mufflers used baffles, and it appears most, if not 
all of the aftermarket systems--esp. if they call themselves 
'performance'--are glasspack.  I think glasspacks will deteriorate over 
time no matter what, but baffled systems will fail eventually as 
well--the baffles can break off and plug the system, worse than just 
getting noisier with time as the glasspacks do.

bs


Mark Schneider wrote:
> <snip>
>
> Marks 3
> '66 BJ8
>
>


-- 
*******************************************************************
Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell@comcast.net

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