Buggy exhaust system

[Rusty]

Hi Guys – I’m feeling a bit guilty about all my questions & I have not yet given any advice – shows I’m a novice at this. Now for the question:

I need to replace the exhaust system on my buggy and would appreciate suggestions on any system that can be easily replaced. I don’t like too much noise so that is important. The problem where I live is that exhaust systems don’t last very long & even the s/steel system lasted only 4 years (not too bad).

Is there anything on the market made especially for quick/easy replacement? I don’t mind if it only lasts a year – the studs will be rusted by then anyway & I am willing to replace the whole thing once a year (if it’s not too expensive R 800 ?). Being a buggy there are no heat exch. Etc.

[Pine]

The stainless steel 4-into-1 buggy exhaust sold by Volkspares is around R 1900

[Rusty]

Thanks Pine but that's not what I want. The thing I have at the moment is SS 4 into 1 and it covers the whole rear of the engine which makes it difficult to work on. Have you heard of trumpet pipes? If to are they OK for a bug? I need stuff that I can easily replace myself since the nearest exhaust place is 200 km from home.

[Pine]

I have a set of trumpets, but they are a bit more noisy - yet I love the sound of them!

[Rusty]

I think thats the stuff I want. Can you decribe them ie do I need J-pipes for them & who sells these things? I pic maybe?
I'll compromise on the noise if the trumpets are easier/cheaper to replace. Thanks

[Pine]

I got my 'trumpets' at a swop meet a while ago, but they are both one-piece (i.e. J-pipes part of a unit). The downside is that you need to remove the cylinder head studs to fit them. Being stainless steel, they should last a while I guess? Will take pics later this afternoon.

[vader]

I've had 3 sets of Cowley Trumpets on the DarkSide and NEVER once had to remove the head studs to get them off!! Quite easy in fact, remove exhaust bolts take one "moer of a big screwdriver" push in between the exhaust flange and exhaust gasket and pull the exhaust over the studs... When you replace the exhaust use a new gasket and repeat the process..... With practice you will do it quick quick without damaging the studs, heads or gasket. If you want easy access to the engine trumpets are the way to go, they sound Farging Amazing and just get better and better as they wear... I would defiantly suggest the Cowley's..

[Rusty]

Thanks People - now where do I buy these things?

[Blitzkrieg]

Cowley is in Vanderbijl Park.

[Rusty]

Ag no Sheet man - I live in the Northern Cape. Is there a place in the Western Cape that anybody knows about?

[Pine]

I've got a theory why trumpets rust so easily (three Cowley sets, Vader?? )

As your engine cools down, condensation forms inside the exhaust. With trumpets normally pointing upwards, gravity lets the water flow into it instead of outwards - after a while, you get rust.

This is one of the Cowleys I took off the blue buggy, I pushed the hole in the baffle with my finger. Nicely powder coated on the outside - raw carbon steel on the inside




This is the swop meet find - stainless steel trumpets. Note the one is shorter than the other one (because your cylinder heads are not aligned), so the rear tips will be even on a buggy once installed on the engine. If I dont' like the sound, I'll trash them though

[hitlers revenge]

Give "Beamish Buggies" a ring on 021 6964100 and talk to Alan. Maybe they can post them to you.

[Rusty]

Thanks People - you guys are great. If I could get a pic posted I could show you what I don't want - that's the thing I have at the moment. Pine, I think you are 100% correct about the rust theory. My SS pypes are developing holes in all the downward sloping parts of the exhaust. Final question about the trumpets - do they in any way impair performance due to a possible lack of back-pressure?

And !!! - Calooker posted my coil today. Man I would buy you all a beer if I could!!


Happy, happy ....

[Pine]

Not sure about the back pressure, but isn't a trumpet more or less the same design as the exhaust fitted to a motorcycle?

Rusty does your current exhaust look anything like this?

[Rusty]

Almost - mine has the silencer running diagonally upwards and then a long down-pype. I think it's a badly done home made job because there are so many welded joints. Will try to post a pic tomorrow.