That "VW" sound may well be an exhaust leak.
I recently installed a Peco header & system & due to the width of my fuel
cell it doesn't fit very well. The inner front of the muffler rides against
the cell & the outer rear rides against the left rear spring shackle. So, I
took it to a local Speedy Muffler shop. They got rid of all the banging I
had from the exhaust hitting things like the cross-member & above mentioned
objects. BUT, it then had a "VW" exhaust "whistle" AND a BROKEN windshield.
The dealer's manager & mechanic swore the crack had been there when I
brought it in. It wasn't. I would have seen it as it was right in my
line-of-sight. The owner became unavailable. So, I called the company
headquarters. Guess what their response was? "Oh, that happens all the
time. It's because of the lifts they use. We'll take care of it."
The outcome - a new windshield courtesy Monro/Speedy Corporation, and after
I repaired the leak between the header & front pipe, no more "VW Whistle."
As for the sound of the Peco - I had been running an ANSA header, tiny
center glasspack & a Supertrapp the last 4 years. It was pretty loud. In
fact, at idle, it sounded like a small V-8. But, that was also a function
of the high-performance engine. Switching to the Peco system made it sound
like a real MGB. A little louder than stock, but not much. And, a LOT
quieter on the highway than the previous system.
Then I installed a Weber 45 DCOE. Any of you remember the sound of a
Chrysler hemi with Sonoramic dual quads? The "sucking" sounds were
unbelievable! That's what the Weber sounds like when the throttle is
opened. And, it has increased the volume of noise from the exhaust as well.
For maximum noise today at the track, I replaced the Peco muffler with a
section of pipe. Yup! Sounds just like a race car.
Peco vs ANSA header comment -
The ANSA sat against the steering shaft & required a "dent" to clear it.
Not good. And, it was difficult to get in & out - a task I faced often this
last year with 5 engine R&R's to fix clutch problems.
The Peco has so much room around it, you can't believe it is actually a
larger diameter pipe. And, it is very easy to install & remove.
Today was a test day at Lime Rock. We managed to get in 3 twenty-minute
sessions before the rains came. As some of you know, we have been having
rain, heat & humidity for the last week & it looks like it will continue
another week. (Good prep for Florida living.) My Pit-Crew tells me the
exhaust sound was (as he described it) - "raucous." Now remember, this is
in contrast to the SCCA cars in my run-group. From inside the car - it was
loud enough that I didn't have to watch the tach for shift points. But, man
does it scream at 6,500+! Really high-pitched. Was it the Peco header,
the DCOE or the 4.55 that let me cut 1.6 seconds off my previous best time?
Likely the combination.
So, Peco or ANSA? I vote for Peco.
Norm Sippel
'66 MGB
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