Exhaust system ground clearance

[Concrete-crusher]

Hi I have just finished fitting a complete new s4 exhaust supplied by Paul Matty.

I am worried about the ground clearance or lack of it just after the y piece.

I have attached a couple of pictures but the lowest point is only 70mm off the ground. Is that correct ?

I also wonder if I am missing a bracket as around the gearbox area. I do have a strap running about 2/3 rds of the way back but nothing at this low point.

Advice welcome.

Steve

[lotusfan]

Steve

Look at this http://www.lotuselan.net/wiki/SA_-_Exhaust

You probably need items 20 and 21.

[Elanman99]

Steve

Matty's is a well respected company and I am sure they will stand by their products. I think the problem is design 'creep' in that the remanufactured/non original/compatible type of products are not made to the same drawings that Lotus originally used. Lotus parts were not always perfect but some of the copy parts nowadays are 'copies of copies' with the original design intent being lost in the process.

I have exactly the same fault on my S4, not only that but the two pipes that go into the 'wye' are at different heights and their axis are not parallel with each other. The only way to assemble it is to install the two pipes and then thrutch the exhaust flanges onto the studs. Its sealed and I dont want to disturb it but really the only cure would be to reform the two pipes by bending/cutting/ welding etc.

It a long time since I have seen a really well fitting exhaust system that sits close and parallel to the underside of the chassis.

I would check that the twin pipes are parallel to the chassis, if they are pointing downwards than I would see what Paul Matty says about it.

Ian

inevitable

[rgh0]

The was originally a bracket at the rear of the gear box main centre casing that picked up the exhaust - do you have that?

cheers
Rohan

[pharriso]

The was originally a bracket at the rear of the gear box main centre casing that picked up the exhaust - do you have that?

cheers
Rohan

Still available from Ms. Miller

[Concrete-crusher]

Thanks for comments.

Having spoken to the supplier it seems this exhaust is designed to also fit the plus 2 and accommodate a 5 speed box.

The problem as I see it is the two down pipes are angled slightly downward rather than being horizontal.

I am considering two solutions , 1st fit a modified y piece that is bent upward however the best clearance this will give is 100mm as that is the clearance of the feed pipes , the 2nd option is to heat up the exhaust and bend it slightly whilst on the car. Scary thought , I will make sure the insurance is upto date if I go that route.

Does anyone know if the ride height of a plus 2 is higher ? Just for interest , also what was the original clearance of a lotus exhaust system.

Thanks steve

[pharriso]

Wow, looking at the pictures again, your chassis, engine & garage floor are remarkably oil free

[Elanman99]

Thanks for comments.

Having spoken to the supplier it seems this exhaust is designed to also fit the plus 2 and accommodate a 5 speed box.

The problem as I see it is the two down pipes are angled slightly downward rather than being horizontal.

I am considering two solutions , 1st fit a modified y piece that is bent upward however the best clearance this will give is 100mm as that is the clearance of the feed pipes , the 2nd option is to heat up the exhaust and bend it slightly whilst on the car. Scary thought , I will make sure the insurance is upto date if I go that route.

Does anyone know if the ride height of a plus 2 is higher ? Just for interest , also what was the original clearance of a lotus exhaust system.

Thanks steve

I dont know what the measurement should be for the exhaust ground clearance of each car but the original factory or kit built cars had much neater fits than can be seen nowadays. Certainly the twin pipe were parallel to the underside plane of the chassis.

Saying the exhausts fits both cars is irrelevant, they should fit the one you bought them for.

Whilst possible with the right skills and equipment, I would not want to re-bend the downpipes in situ.

Ian

[Concrete-crusher]

Re my floor , I work for a resin manufacturer and coated the floor with 60kg of out of date epoxy.

Now if anyone's interested I currently have more out of date product to clear. 20kg two pack units , ?50 plus haulage. Colour packs extra and charged at current list as they will be current stock.

Steve

[elanner]

Heck, yours looks a lot better than mine did! See: lotus-twincam-f39/exhaust-manifolds-t24088-15.html

I went through exactly the same thought process - find a Y piece with a bend in it, or new manifolds/headers.

In the end I took it to a muffler/exhaust place (recommended by the local Lotus/Aston Martin dealer). The guy there took a good look at it and finally suggested heating the manifold and bending it upward, in situ. I was horrified at the idea, worrying about a fire. But he assured me that he would be careful and the heat would be localized.

So I agreed and he went off to do it while I collected my coffee from the waiting room. By the time I got back it was done. I hate to advise it for anybody, but it was absolutely the right solution for my exhaust, which now runs nicely parallel to the ground (well, it leaks a bit, but that's another problem....).

Nick

[Pistacchio sprint 72]

I just hate when I purchase parts for my car that are supposed to fit plug and play and finally do not!

In my opinion the webshops on internet of the usual suspects do not give enough information on their products such as ( weight / int diameter / outside diameter / and if it requires mod or not / and the other necessary piece of kits to make it work or at least recommended / and with what original components it is compatible)

[Concrete-crusher]

I,m still trying to resolve this , the supplier freely admits the design is not to the original spec as it's designed to also accommodate a 5 speed box , the offer to modify a y piece to compensate for the angle has also been retracted as they are not sure it will work.

I,m feeling pretty frustrated as the price was nearly twice that quoted by various online sources so I expected it to be perfect in terms of fit.

Silly me.

I,m now waiting to see what I,m offered as a solution , no further forward really after 3 days of asking the supplier.

Steve

[Pistacchio sprint 72]

Darn....

[Concrete-crusher]

Now I know this was an old thread, today I just caught the wrong part of a road hump and it pulled the exhaust back and separated the y piece

Luckily I was going really slow, the noise from the exhaust was incredible, also a little embrassasing

The gearbox bracket stopped the system dropping down and I was able to limp home

Anyway its all back together now, but reminds me clearence is an issue

Steve

[alan.barker]

I thought the"Y" has a very slight angle.
Alan