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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Exhaust

I’m about to fit the exhaust system to the TD. This is an AM Australian system that was fitted to the car in the 60’s before I bought it. $ dictate that I reuse the system which is in really good condition as the car has been in dry storage for 45 years. However I want to ensure efficient gas flow. The muffler is the correct length & diameter & was made by Lukey.

I've been looking through the archive for pics & installation information & would appreciate answers to the following;

How do the 3 exhaust sections fit together? By this I mean does the upstream pipe always fit inside the downstream pipe? This seems to me to be the method that offers the least resistance to the flow of exhaust gases. For example if the engine pipe fits over the front muffler pipe the flow would be impeded, would it not? So with the engine pipe, the muffler & the tail pipe can anyone confirm which fits over what? I’m prepared to have the ‘outside’ pipe flared as required to achieve the best possible flow. Or is this unnecessary?

It seems from the archive that many owners have had clearance issues? I’m hoping to be able to rotate both the muffler & the tail pipe slightly to ensure clearance where needed. To achieve this the pipe to pipe fit would need to be an ‘easy to snug’ fit, would it not, to permit minor rotary adjustment?

Is the use of any sort of muffler putty during assembly recommended? I do NOT want to weld the sections together. I'd appreciate installation comments & pics. I have shots of the tail pipe rubber mounts in situ. Cheers
Peter TD 5801.
P Hehir

The first question, Peter, is whether your care is LHD or RHD, the problems of fit are very different between the two configurations.
Ian Bowers

Hi Ian. As a genuine Oz import she's a RHD. My question really centers around which bit of which pipe is on the inside & also whether that matters. I'm at a bit of a loss to see how the RHD/LHD configuration would affect this, as the exhaust is always on the same side of the block regardless, though I'm more than willing to learn how the handing could impact the answer to my queries. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Hi Peter,
the downpipe from the manifold goes inside the silencer and normally the tail pipe also inside.
As for the difference RHD/LHD, some aftermarket downpipes are incorrectly bent. In my case (stainless ex Octagon club 25 years ago) I cannot remove the clutch lever from the sump with the exhaust in place.
Ray TF2884
Ray Lee

Peter

If you study images of exhaust systems on the web the issue that determines assembly is whether the pipes on the muffler are flared or not.

This is the link to the Anglo Parts stainless steel exhaust system diagram: https://www.angloparts.com/en/catalogues/group/772/mgtd-tf-exhaust-system-fittings

You will note in this case the muffler pipes are flared.

When you assemble your system purchase the strongest clamps available, heavy gauge material and 8mm diameter U brackets.

Fit the front pipe up first with its appropriate flange gasket and avoid any twisting action on this pipe after fitment.

Do not tighten brackets until you have the whole system assembled. Providing you use good clamps there is no necessity to use sealer.

I dont know what material was used originally however strips of used conveyor belt make good hangers, critical that the system can move with expansion and contraction.

Graeme
G Evans

Thanks Ray & Graeme. The engine pipe to muffler makes sense. The tail pile inside the muffler less so. If the tail pipe butts up inside the muffler pipe to the rear wall of the muffler I could see that forming an unobstructed connection. I'll pull the exhaust components from the attic & do some measuring with my digital vernier, then decide what if anything needs flaring. I'll also drop into a muffler/exhaust supplier & pick their brains as well. Thanks guys. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

My 55 TF has a Lukey muffler, vintage unknown, but very solid metal.

I remember in the late 60s if you didn't have a Lukey you weren't in the gang!

Peter
P G Gilvarry

Peter,
If your system is anything like the new one (stainless)I fitted to my TD, you likely have no choice which pipe goes inside or outside as the muffler connections and the down pipe and tail pipe diameters are sized such that there is only one way to fit them. As I recall, the muffler connections are the larger diameter, so the pipes can only go inside the muffler connections.
Lew Palmer

Aren't the outside pipes normally split if they are not flared?
Christopher Couper

Peter,
i went out and looked at my muffler set up. On my TD both
front pipe and rear pipe fit inside the muffler. The muffler pipes are split on each end. This is the muffler that was on the car when I bought the it in 1976. The clamps have been removed.

T Scileppi

The image posted of the TD exhaust system displays a common error made by assemblers. Clamps should be located on the split section of the pipes so that when they are tightened they compress the splits.

Graeme
G Evans

This thread was discussed between 13/03/2017 and 14/03/2017

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