Exhaust upgrade options for GT3

[ab2cv]

Hi there, I am relatively new to the forum and completely new to the Esprit (having owned an M100 for a number of years).

I find the sound of the GT3 exhaust to be not that great compared to my Elan, which is a bit embarrasing so I'm looking for a stinless upgrade to redress the balance. I'd also like to go for twin outlets for symmetry. The options I have found so far

- PNM Engineering

- SJ Sportscars

- Quicksilver (do they still make a system for the Esprit?)

- Larini (as above, not sure still available)

 

Are there any other optionsworth considering and what's the pros/cons of each? Also, where is the best place to source a shorter plinth that I will need to allow the twin exit? (I see SJ Sportscars list an aftermarket version)

Thanks for any assistance.

Alan

[stephenwhyte]

Welcome Alan - I haven't spotted you on here with your new Esprit yet. Is this Archie Buchanans old GT3? I too have a yellow Esprit - a Mica Yellow S4s and live near you in Falkirk. Would good to hopefully catch up at a meet sometime.

[ab2cv]

Hi Stephen, yes it's Archie's old car. Was at Bo'ness on Wednesday with it. Would be great to meet some fellow esprit owners to help bring me up to speed on things. 

Alan

[rocket63]

Have a look here. Another current option. Manifold or exhaust or both.

 

 

[stephenwhyte]

Glad to see its found a new home and staying up in Scotland. 

I had planned to get down there to the Bo'ness meet as I haven't been since I got back into Lotus's last year. Will need to make a point of getting down there.

Hopefully meet up with you soon as I've never actually seen your car other than in photos. Nice purchase - well done

[OwenGT3]

I've got a Powerflow exhaust and CAT fitted to my GT3, sound is not that bad a bark. I asked for it to be moderate, not too loud, but not too quiet. I've recently had it converted to twin centre outlet and it still sounds nice. The CAT is the smallest they make and steel internal.

[60N4.7]

I got mine from Ramspott and Brandt, VERY light, excellent quality. I did have different tips put on but it was more a matter of personal taste.

http://ramspott-brandt.de/shop-english/index.htm

I got the center exit one Video is without catalytic converter. Recorded on iphone...

Center 2x90mm pipe exhaust system for 4Cyl. Esprit

 

 

 

 

[ab2cv]

Loving the look (and sound) of the twin centre exhaust systems. Originally thought it might look a bit 'I want to be a V8' but actually I'm now swaying towards that look.

- PNM Engineering £432 (twin left-right 76mm) / £450 (twin left-right 85mm)

- SJ Sportscars £395 (twin left-right)

- Quicksilver (do they still make a system for the Esprit?)

- Larini (as above, not sure still available)

- Alunox  £820 + VAT (Twin centre exit 3") plus £200 for CAT

- Powerflow (have contacted them for a quote)

- Ramspott & Brandt 752 euros (twin centre 90mm)

 

SJ Sportscars for rear valance £115

EXHAUST VALANCE PANEL (2004 MODEL)

A082U7990F

EACH

115.60

[Jacques]

I spoke to Quicksilver not long ago, and they still make the systems for the Esprit(-s).

Kind regards,

Jacques.

[Vanya]

For me, the biggest change was when I switched from the factory catalyst to a sports cat. I'm running the sportscat and supersports exhaust from SJ - very pleased indeed with the sound. 

[OwenGT3]

My original Powerflow system was £700 in total including the CAT. The extra work I had recently done was an additional £300, still all guaranteed for life I own the car. It's now been on the car 9 years.

[Jacques]

I agree with Vanya, when I installed a free flow car, it made the sound more growling and über nice  A nice raspy sound when driving out of town, and bliping the throttle once in a while

For a comparison, I just helped a friend installing new sports silencers on his 911, and they are...

silent...

Kind regards,

Jacques.

[Vanya]

Jacques, how about the wonderful popping you get when letting off the throttle at higher revs? Ain't it great? 

[Jacques]

It's highly intoxicating, Vanya! Once heard it, gotta' have it.

My exhaust system consists of a tubular manifold, sports cat and a quicksilver "silenced" end system. It's rather loud, and I wouldn't want it louder. The unsilenced quicksilver back box is too much and makes you have a headache. It can, when you are just zipping along the highway, be okayish silent, so that you can enjoy other things about the trip. But listening to birdsong while driving the Esprit is not possible. They might sing to you, but the Esprit certainly sings back But idleing too, is absolutely great. Sounds like nothing else. And certainly not like a 4 pot. Nothing to be ashamed over though, because I really like this Lotus turbo charged 4 cylinder engine. Give it some beans, and it turns to a rather loud old school race-like sound, which scares the shit out of some people, dogs, car alarms etc.

I'd say that the system in itself sounds great, but add a sportscat, and it changes a bit of character. And then add the tubular manifold, and it get's this very nice raspy mean sound when blipping the throttle, or accelerating from idle to say 4000 rpm. Over that, it changes character to a full barking sports sound, resembleing a race car of old days.

I'd say that you get the best of three Worlds with these parts described. Worth doing for sure!

For comparison, I just helped a friend with his chaos car (911) changing both backboxes to sports versions. Not the meanest version, but something in between. Sounds dull, flat, and very silenced indeed. A grandmother passing the street, wouldn't be warned to wait a bit longer, before passing the street, with those boxes. Not so with the Esprit. It's a lot quicker than the Chaos car ( fried egg version), it's louder, and more in your face. Children respond well to the Chaos car, but they go beserk when seeing and listening to the Esprit. They just turn around, point at the Esprit and shout "OOOhhhhh!".

And Japanese tourists visiting Denmark give a standing appaluse as I explained in "peoples reaction to the Esprit"-thread. Great

And to top it off, that popping sound is just an extra dimension  Now, if only I had straight cut gears in 1-2-3..

I think I will add, that this solution on the Esprit make it sound so much better than many a ferr... and other sportscars. They just go on whining or actually sound dull. Dull as in 308-328-348.

Kind regards,

Jacques.

[Simon C]

Hi Guys. I have a later 1998 GT3 with a custom stainless system (post cat pipe) and it's horrid. Commissioned by the previous owner and not cheap. Bracketry has snapped and has been re welded several times and look at that quality bend....... (Assuming images upload).

can anyone recommend a replacement off the shelf? Cost not a worry quality essential. Single near side LH out let

 

cheers

Simon

[qwerty123]

Well I have just replaced my old SJ system with a new one on my S4. Cat replacement and backbox, all stainless including the brackets (unlike the SJ system which were welded on mild steel and which ultimately killed it after 12 years or so). It's also repackable with a removable end pipe and is sleeved at the join between the downpipe and backbox then clamped. 20" silencer so not too loud but still has a nice growl when revving through a tunnel. Having seen some of the loud stuff on other cars, especially without silencers, I don't know why I've lived with the droning 'noise' for so long. I expect it will pass the 100db limit at Castle Combe now.

I used Torque Technique in Salisbury, took a full day to make.

www.torquetechnique.co.uk

Edited April 18, 2017 by qwerty123

[rocket63]

Other options listed earlier in this post above Simon  

[Giniw]

Sorry for the up, but it looks like the sportscat from SJSportscar is no longer available? (at least I can't find it but I may be wrong) Do you happen to remember its price when new?

[Giniw]

Well, I was wrong indeed. For your info, it is still available, its part number is sj082s0014. Currently £295.00 +VAT.