center exit exhaust

[airbusdrvr]

Hello all,

I'm changing to a cat back center exit exhaust on my 99. I'm just doing it for cosmetic reasons. Aside from loosing a little weight I'm not expecting a performance increase.

The cheese grate valence is available from Lotus. I also found one in CA. Anyone have any better ideas. If anyone else has done this did the hardware come your valence and did you have to drill any holes?

Thanks

[2003 V8 TT]

Good luck with the install. There are two additional set of holes on either side of the bumper -- on the "inside" where the bumper "wraps around" the previous side exhaust tips. The cheese grate valence have L-brackets on either side which fastens it to the bumper through these holes. As for the under/middle side of the bumper, I don't know if the two mounting holes are the same size or the same location as the previous fiberglass valence.

Now, the tough part is in deciding between the slotted or round perforated cheese grate. ;-)

FYI, I'm obviously biased, but I've been told by 3rd party (non-Lotus) sports car enthusiasts that the round holes look better. Reason: It looks like the barrel heatsink from a machine gun, whereas the dual exhaust tips resemble the barrels! Mean looking!

Edited January 26, 2007 by 2003 V8 TT

[Paula&Marcus]

Sorry, but IMHO the MY99 should not have a center exit exhaust and also should not wear a cheese grater valence. This is for the MY2002 and up ... Why making a great MY99 look like a MY2002+ ?????

Cheers

Marcus (keep them original looking)

[matk]

Dave Walters (superdavelotus?) made one himself and posted about it. If you search I'm sure you'll find the posts or you could PM him?

[mamovaka]

Sorry, but IMHO the MY99 should not have a center exit exhaust and also should not wear a cheese grater valence. This is for the MY2002 and up ... Why making a great MY99 look like a MY2002+ ?????

Cheers

Marcus (keep them original looking)

I agree with this, I have a 99 that I purchased that already had the center exhaust upgrade (cheese grater also) and I am probably going to be adding the circular lights just to complete the package, and perhaps the 2002+ front lip as well.. but I shall keep the 99 rims as I feel they are better looking than the overly spokey 2002+ rims..

[hasuSan]

Personally, I like center exit but its not because I want my 1999 to look 2002.

If I change my light, then its a different story.

Likewise, I want my old Lotus 4cyl Esprit just one exhaust exit.

Dual exhaust in 4 cyl???, I don't know, its 4 cyl no need for dual exhaust IMO.

[chstephens]

My vote - the split dual exhaust on the 99. It's a matter of opinion, but I have never cared for the center outlet and the cheese grater look.

Craig

[ranjib350]

i have the round lights and put the centre exhaust on my car mid nov last year and it looks fab and sounds gorgeous much improvement to standard exhaust Edited January 29, 2007 by ranjib350

[MufflerMan]

I didn't realize there is a different lip on the 02 and up cars, can someone post a picture?

[mamovaka]

My understanding on the lip is that it goes from being plastic (and slowly destroyed) to rubber (lasts concievable forever) and it also looks a little more brutish.. very minor cosmetic change though

[superdavelotus]

The 2002 lip is a GRP shaped lip that's the same depth as the black plastic one then there's a rubber lip which comes further down by another 50mm. Got the from SJ Sportscars for

[MufflerMan]

The 2002 lip is a GRP shaped lip that's the same depth as the black plastic one then there's a rubber lip which comes further down by another 50mm. Got the from SJ Sportscars for

[Pred247]

The 2002 lip is a GRP shaped lip that's the same depth as the black plastic one then there's a rubber lip which comes further down by another 50mm. Got the from SJ Sportscars for

[Paul93Lotus]

I know some are against putting dual exhaust on a 4 cyl, but this looks sexy too.....

Edited February 1, 2007 by Paul93Lotus

[th4neuk]

TBH I think the sound of the centre exit exhaust is far superior to either the standard or even straight through pipes. The balance bar at the back does something to make the car sound like a real v8!!

DW's car does sound nice too.

Cheers

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi All,

Are you sure it actually is a balance bar ????? ... or is it just there for constructive reasons and not flowing ?

If it is hollow , then I would suspect that it is not a very good design ... IMHO it would create backpressure from one exhaust bank into the other one !

Of course, it changes the sound significantly but additional backpressure is definitely not wanted.

Cheers

Marcus

TBH I think the sound of the centre exit exhaust is far superior to either the standard or even straight through pipes. The balance bar at the back does something to make the car sound like a real v8!!

DW's car does sound nice too.

Cheers

Edited February 6, 2007 by Paula&Marcus

[superdavelotus]

Marcus,

That's the way Lotus OEM one was desinged and made but with a hollow can hiding it to make it look like a silencer. The centre bar was not introduced for construction reasons as the can was holding it all together. I recently had an OEM centre exit exhaust and cut it open to see what was inside it.

Dave Walters

[Paula&Marcus]

Dave,

I never have never opened up one of the original Lotus center pipe exhausts. Does it actually look like this one inside ?

This balance center bar like it is shown on the pic really is a bit strange flow wise.

Marcus

Marcus,

That's the way Lotus OEM one was desinged and made but with a hollow can hiding it to make it look like a silencer. The centre bar was not introduced for construction reasons as the can was holding it all together. I recently had an OEM centre exit exhaust and cut it open to see what was inside it.

Dave Walters

Edited February 6, 2007 by Paula&Marcus

[2003 V8 TT]

Dave,

I never have never opened up one of the original Lotus center pipe exhausts. Does it actually look like this one inside ?

This balance center bar like it is shown on the pic really is a bit strange flow wise.

Marcus

OEM center exhaust = straight pipes "flow balanced" at the center exhaust junction:

http://www.glcforum.com/esprit/forums/inde...?showtopic=4570