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MG MGA - Angle of th tailpipe question

Hi All


I am curious of the angle of the tailpipe and how it affects the amount of "backwash" engine fumes getting into the car with the top down. I know the "perfume" of our beloved MGA is one of the charms of the car but whewww it is getting pretty strong in my little darling. Standing at the rear of the car looking forward the pipe was originally coming down from the muffler and took a 90 degree bend to the left with the end of the pipe parellel to the length of the car a few inches to the left and below the overrider. I trimmed the back side of the pipe about 45 degree to the long axis of the car and thought there was some improvement but it really still is smelly.

Any comments re the angle of your dangle and cockpit "oudour" (that's a fancy spelling for stink) getting into your car.

I had a look at several of my books but the tailpipe is not one of the feature items to highlight.

Ralph
Ralph H .

Ralph

In my experience smells in the cockpit are more likely to come through non-grommetted holes in the fire wall than from the back end. Another area is between the top edge of the firewall and the scuttle (up behind the instrument panel forward of the windscreen posts).

It made a remarkable difference in my car once I had properly sealed off the cockpit from the engine compartment.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Original type MGA muffler is round, about 5" diameter. The pipe is 1-1/2" in and out, positioned below center so the center of the muffler is higher than the pipe. Outlet pipe starts straight out the back, then bends slightly in the 2 o'clock direction to terminate just to the right of the overrider, very close up under the rear valance. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/carbs/pics/muf25.jpg

Barney
Barney Gaylord

I've found that trimming the tail pipe shorter will result in more fumes being pulled up over the boot lid and into the cockpit. The "pocket" of turbulence seems to extend over the boot lid which would explain the tendency to pull the fumes forward at speed. Varying your speed will change the size and character of the pocket, which should should also vary the amount of fumes entering the cockpit.

I tend to let my rear pipe extend to a point about an inch beyond the overriders. A slip-on chrome tip keeps it from looking too bad. Here are a couple photos...

http://www.lbcnuts.com/mg/mga/mga4.jpg

http://www.lbcnuts.com/mg/mga/dscn9151.jpg
Steve Simmons

H Guys

Thanks Steve S, Barney and Dave the photos really help. It is obvious the DPO installed the muffler in the wrong orientation and with the pipe to the left of the over rider and somewhat inboard of the rear bumper I have hit an area of bad air turbulance. I will cut that baby off and find a nice chrome extension to bring it out in the right place.

Steve G your comments appreciated. I had a couple of open grommet holes to give the water has a place to leak in and drip on my legs but I have since closed these up also.

It does not take much to affect the air flow. When I have my (really cool) old leather suitecase on the rack for show it reduces the smell considerably.

Summer cruising is here

Ralph
Ralph H .

The suitcase probably disturbs the aerodynamics and moves the turbulance
Steve Simmons

...bubble away from the car. Jeez, I have fumble fingers tonight. :(
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed between 11/06/2005 and 14/06/2005

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