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MG MGB Technical - Silencer life

How long can I expect a straight trough exhaust system to last before all the silencing material is blown out? Three years ago I replaced the standard front silencer on my 63 MGB with a ”bomb” type, and when I replaced the entire system now this turns out to be completely empty.

My new exhaust system is a three piece Peco, the one that uses the standard manifold. Very good fit and nice sound.

Tore
Tore

I installed a stainless steel "bomb" type system about 20 years ago to my 73 B. It was from the MGOC, never had any problems apart from rubber mounts.I've never looked inside however so maybe its empty too!

Still sounds good.
J Stafford

They shouldn't really blow the stuffing out. Normally the pipes and boxes visibly rot through if mild steel, although I suppose if the peforated pipe through the box were particularly poor it would break up and let the stuffing out before external holing was evident. 3/4 years for mild steel is probably par for the course, even for a summer-use car as they rot through from the inside from exhaust gas acids especially if they don't do many miles at higher speeds.
Paul Hunt

I installed a Falcon stainless steel system almost 20 years ago and it looks and sounds the same as the day I installed it. A good investment. The previous mild steel systems, as Paul notes, last only about 4 years. RAY
RAY

Thanks everybody. I will consider a stainless system next time - in 3 or 4 years :-)

In the meantime, I am surprised how quiet the Peco system is.

Tore
Tore

I use a stainless backbox (no centre box) and most of the packing blows out by about 10,000 miles. I've drilled the back following someone's suggestion and now can repack in under 15 minutes; the last time was last week. I never notice the change because it's so gradual but it's always wonderfully quiet and smooth to drive after the job is done. Peter Burgess' book suggests you can gain 10bhp back and I'm certainly inclined drive it harder, but that could be because it's so much more civilised at high revs.
SteveP

One thing to bear in mind with stainless is that they make a very different sound to mild steel. I was very disappointed with the sound of mine when first fitted, in connection with something else an exhaust fitter said he didn't like them on anuything as they made everything sound 'farty' and that was a good description of mine. However 20 years later and having partially crushed the middle box over uneven ground a couple of time it now has a nice rasp, but still quite different to so many others I hear with the classic 'throaty drainpipe'.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2009 and 09/07/2009

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