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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Straight pipe exhaust?
On my 1988 90 v8 3.5, I know my exhaust system isn’t stock but it’s still pretty quiet and I miss the true v8 sound. It has a large centre silencer, would it be crazy (ie too loud!) to go with a straight pipe? How would I go about swapping it out? Any other advice of other options?
Post #1021050 13th Jan 2024 6:37pm
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Ianh



Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 1994

United Kingdom 
I would have a chat with a local specialist Stainless steel exhaust fabricator , they can make a bespoke solution for you and advise on a central resonator and pipe size that will give you the sound you are after.

Note: I would expect a straight through pipe would be very loud and perhaps a bit hard to live with on longer higher speed journeys.
Post #1021057 13th Jan 2024 6:59pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 715

United Kingdom 
Re: Straight pipe exhaust?
mediamab wrote:
On my 1988 90 v8 3.5, I know my exhaust system isn’t stock but it’s still pretty quiet and I miss the true v8 sound. It has a large centre silencer, would it be crazy (ie too loud!) to go with a straight pipe? How would I go about swapping it out? Any other advice of other options?

Too loud is very subjective. Also depends what you use the vehicle for and where.

Custom exhausts are an option. But be prepared to spend big these days. If you want to have a go yourself you can buy exhaust lengths online such as eBay or from a company called Jetex. You can buy them with a flared end to slip over an existing pipe.

You need to crawl under and see what the setup is like now and if you can unbolt the silencer or if you need cut the pipe either side and drop it out. You’ll also need to know what size pipe diameter.

Messing about with exhausts can be a pita, esp if rusted. But no reason why you can’t do something at home for low cost using nothing more than basic hand tools.

As an option to straight pipe you could fit a different silencer. Something like a glass pack cherry bomb for that classic sound or plenty of chambered or bullet style silencers available. Again eBay or Jetex.

My 4.6 RR is straight piped. But has cats too. Inside is actually quite acceptable but it is quite loud outside.
Post #1021059 13th Jan 2024 7:44pm
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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Yeah I certainly lean towards what I could do myself. Spent 1000s on labour for my TD5 and want to feel that sense of pride it’s all my hard work ha Smile

I’d come across the cherry bombs. Luckily my systems stainless (hoping bolts are too) so should be simple to take out the silencer. I assume really all I need is a pipe made to connect the cherry bomb into the system? So effectively an angled piece to compensate for the different position of entry and exit on the silencer now? Or am I over simplifying Wink

I’m nervous of straight pipe being a bit too much so the cherry bomb sounds like a good mid point. Pretty sure I’ve seen on John Woolfe site too!
Post #1021061 13th Jan 2024 8:18pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20308

United Kingdom 
Be careful with SS exhaust bolts, they get brittle over time.
Yes, they are nice aesthetically, but they stress over time, and become brittle and then just snap.

I had a tyre damaged last year because of that, and wrote off the rear exhaust section too, luckily no damage to the brake pipe.
If the bolts were left alone, that’d be fine but when things like a clutch change is down they get removed and refitted after a long period and often done up with windy gun too so they get stressed.
Get hot, and then let go, and not just one all of them in one go letting the exhaust section just loose. ⭐️⭐️God Bless the USA 🇬🇧🇺🇸 ⭐️⭐️
Post #1021062 13th Jan 2024 8:32pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 715

United Kingdom 
mediamab wrote:
Yeah I certainly lean towards what I could do myself. Spent 1000s on labour for my TD5 and want to feel that sense of pride it’s all my hard work ha Smile

I’d come across the cherry bombs. Luckily my systems stainless (hoping bolts are too) so should be simple to take out the silencer. I assume really all I need is a pipe made to connect the cherry bomb into the system? So effectively an angled piece to compensate for the different position of entry and exit on the silencer now? Or am I over simplifying Wink

I’m nervous of straight pipe being a bit too much so the cherry bomb sounds like a good mid point. Pretty sure I’ve seen on John Woolfe site too!

It is a difficult one to know. Although going straight pipe is the cheapest option and would give you a template if you then wanted to add a silencer back in. You can also buy centre section deletes for some diesel LR's, not sure if you'd get lucky and find they match up quite well.

Stainless should undo fine, although separating exhaust pipes can be a pain if they slide over the pipe rather than a flange.

https://jetex.co.uk/custom-exhaust-parts/
Post #1021064 13th Jan 2024 8:44pm
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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Yeah well my thinking is if I can easily remove the whole silencer and don’t have to make any cuts then regret can happen and easily put it back ha Smile

I assume my rough example would be achievable, just get a piece from likes of jetex to effectively bridge the gap to cherry bomb?
Post #1021065 13th Jan 2024 8:50pm
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1038

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
Don't do it.

I just bought a P38 4.0 and the PO fitted an expensive "performance" exhaust, which I already factored in changing back to stock. It's loud and well exhausting and embarrassing. The drone is always there and you find yourself holding back driving through the IKEA parking lot.

Just changed it back to stock this weekend and it's much better.
Post #1021066 13th Jan 2024 8:50pm
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BaronDefenders



Member Since: 28 Jun 2019
Location: London/Cotswolds
Posts: 896

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Santorini Black
I have a custom exhaust on my 3.5 110.

It goes: 3.9 manifolds -> 2-to-1 downpipes -> small central silencer -> tail section.

At idle it sounds fantastic. It’s loud . . . At full chat it’s just on the verge of too loud, but generally it’s a beautiful sound. Everyone compliments the noise.

A total straight through would be wholly offensive on driver and bystander. Rolling with laughter Charlie

1949 Series 1 80 (SOLD)
2002 Td5 90 (SOLD)
2008 Freelander 2 (SOLD)

1958 Series 2 88 Pastel Green (2019 LR Legends Best Restored)
1983 V8 110 Limestone (Previously owned by Tom Sheppard MBE)
2004 Td5 90 Santorini Black (Td5INSIDE Powered & Rebuilt by CSK)
2012 Puma 110 Zermatt Silver (Overlanding Build)

Instagram: @BaronDefenders
Post #1021311 15th Jan 2024 7:28pm
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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Yeah it could be the centre silencer just needs downsizing perhaps as I don’t want it to be too shouty ha. I guess even the cherry bomb is too close to straight through or does it act as a level of silencer?
Post #1021312 15th Jan 2024 7:33pm
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Organised Chaos



Member Since: 20 Dec 2008
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 56

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Cairns Blue
I had a lot of exhaust parts from this company https://www.profusionexhausts.com when I tried to build my own exhaust system for my V8 series 2A, which did not come out well so ended up taking them to a company in Huthwaite and they built the exhaust system for me.
Post #1021317 15th Jan 2024 7:58pm
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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Yeah I feel like really I just need to explore options with the centre silencer. I have tubular manifolds which go down to a y pipe. And then just the one centre silencer and no rear silencer. My exhaust certainly doesn’t sound terrible but I just want to get that V8 note out a little more really Smile it’s a classic so want it to remain sounding like a classic Smile
Post #1021320 15th Jan 2024 8:06pm
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Organised Chaos



Member Since: 20 Dec 2008
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 56

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Cairns Blue
I just have a vortex silencer and no middle box, the land rover is not on the road yet so I don't no what its like on the open road its certainly throaty when run in the garage.
Post #1021324 15th Jan 2024 8:21pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 715

United Kingdom 
mediamab wrote:
Yeah I feel like really I just need to explore options with the centre silencer. I have tubular manifolds which go down to a y pipe. And then just the one centre silencer and no rear silencer. My exhaust certainly doesn’t sound terrible but I just want to get that V8 note out a little more really Smile it’s a classic so want it to remain sounding like a classic Smile


As my 4.6 runs cats, it is quite ok straight pipe. But it would be very loud without the cats in there. Another option you could consider is an exhaust cutout valve. Basically it is a Y branch with a solenoid that allows you to direct the exhaust flow one way or another. If you put it in before your current silencer, you could bypass the silencer or not depending on your mood.
Post #1021329 15th Jan 2024 8:33pm
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mediamab



Member Since: 01 Dec 2021
Location: Matlock
Posts: 58

United Kingdom 2003 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Epsom Green
Hmm yeah that could be an option. I guess ideally I’d like a singular setup that just retains the v8 rumble all the time without the need to select loud or tame ha though maybe there’s not a great mid point. I guess may just be getting a professional to see how the centre silencer could be changed to another silencer that enhances things a little!
Post #1021332 15th Jan 2024 8:40pm
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