Performance exhaust

[hornmeister2000]

Morning everyone!

I have just (yesterday) got a new engine and clutch for my 1990 MG Maestro. However, they said that at some point over the next few months I'd need a new exhaust up pipe, whatever that is (?!). Well, I took it out for a drive last night and did about 100 miles, and although it was fine on acceleration, when travelling at a steady speed (30mph for example) in 4th or 5th, the car is a bit juddery. At first I was concerned this was the engine, but now I think it's the exhaust gone a bit earlier than expected, as when I got my wife to rev it in the drive way, it sounds funny from the exhaust and underneath but the actual engine sounds fine.

First question is, does this sound like the exhaust or is there a problem with my new engine?

Second question is, assuming this is the exhaust, how much is, and where could I get a stainless steel performance exhaust? Would it make much different to performance, and would I need to tell my insurance company?

Would be grateful for some advice,

Neil

[Maria]

Well, if you're planning to keep your car and want a bit more poke out of it, I defintely recommend the stainless exhaust route.

Not sure if any of Top Gear's (http://www.topgear.co.uk/) depots are near you, but they just fitted a full Powerflow stainless system to my camper for £200 inc lifetime guarantee, which I reckon is a pretty damn good price :) It's added a bit more "go" to the diesel engine, without being overbearingly loud.

I don't know whether your insurance company would be picky about the exhaust mod (depends on the company), but it would be as well to give them a quick call to find out.

[Jonathan]

Hmm... sounds a little bit similar to the symptoms I've been experiencing with my MG EFi, which has a blowing exhaust/inlet manifold gasket (again!!!). Tends to get very shaky sometimes but in the lower gears and is running at noticeably reduced power. You'll know if that's the case because of a 'ticking' sound from where the exhaust manifold joins the head, tends to be worse when cold. Another thing I found led to random juddering and shaky performance (probably much more exaggerated in my car) was blocked injectors, the replacement of which resulted in much smoother operation. I'd have guessed that any leak in the exhaust is probably unrelated, but I'm open to being corrected. It's probably nothing worth worrying about.

[H48HPE]

someone i know would straight away recomend redex for cleaning blocked up injectors.

i did use it in my 1.3 but stopped because it didnt seem to be making much difference, however i put some in again the other day and i think its runnin a bit better. I reccon its just me though and other factors were making it better.


andy