Why The Single Exhaust Pipe?

As some of you know, I just purchased a 77 308 dry sump GTB. Just wondering if any of you gents had any insight as to why Ferrari put only a single exhaust pipe on these cars rather than the four pipes? I find it curious is all

Thanks,

Scott

 

Because the rear valance had a single cutaway.

 

Because it looks much better!

 

I don't know...........But what I do know is if I were in a position like you, and had the privilege of owning one, I'd make sure I replicated the original set up.

I hate seeing two sets of pipes and only one cut-a-way...........

Bob.

 

They were starting out with "just in time" construction and not enough pipes showed up?

 

I believe the 4 pipes were added for looks, nothing else. My 76 GTB was raced in the 90's and the owner had Bell Silencers make a custom 4 pipe exhaust (at great expense) to try and get some extra grunt from the engine. The car was Dyno tested before and after and there was NO improvement in HP!

When time comes to pull the engine I plan to return it to the original single pipe as I think the abondoned cut out looks crap.
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+1

I believe the early 308s had only one and the quad look was just that...for looks. But once done, it became the standard look.

 

Interesting. Thanks, fellers. But...can't one get a better sound from a Tubi or (?) rather than just the single pipe??

 

It's a tiny job for a body shop to fill the cut out (the valance is only fibreglass).
This was done on my car 19 years ago when an ANSA Sports Exhaust was fitted - both are still going strong!

 

Yeah I know but that isn't the point, I have a glass car so its more about keeping it looking original, not trying to make it look like a QV. I've enjoyed undoing all the "make my car look like a later model" stuff that previous owners did to it. Mind you I do prefer the 16" wheels for both handling and looks (and cheaper tyres) so might just have to leave the 14" for special events !

 

Can't say I've noticed much difference between single or multi-pipes. The only sound that you really notice when driving a carb 308 is the induction noise through the side vent anyway. Mine is RHD so that's all I hear when the window is down, might be less noticiable on LHD models (but then again you probably won't go deaf in one ear either!).

 

the first euro's came as stock with the one exhaust in Europe. For the US they added the four end system right from the start. Later, all cars came with that 4 pipe system as stock

 

The 308 mufflers are chambered for exhaust pulsing, I'll join and say I doubt it makes any difference the number of "tips" downstream of that..

The four tip ANSA was a free flowing muffler, and while it was louder than stock, not sure of the exact dyno gains....

I'd suspect ANSA can build you whatever you want, to maintain the single outlet configuration..I would myself as it's "Early Euro Specific"..I talked with them on the phone last week.

The next design to come out is the North American steel bodies that looked like this, using the early shroud...
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Although all my cars are different from that rear upper valance, I only have one larger slot, centered in the panel.

 

I saw both a 308GT4 and a 308GTB that had the early style rear valence, and the stock Ansa exhausts had the weirdest muffler tips. The exhaust gas was vented out the bottom of each exhaust tip....the exhaust did not go straight out the back of the tips....there were these little diverters that directed the exhaust out UNDER the tips. Why in the heck would they do that????

The one pictured above appears to have an aftermarket Tubi, so it does not show what I am speaking of.

 

Hugh,

The reason for the diverters was that laws here in the early 1970s required exhaust gases be vented downnward. The early 308 GTB OEM mufflers had exhaust tips which were about horizontal so they were passed through. The ANSA Sport exhaust system which was a popular option in Europe had tips which were angled upward.

Somewhere in the old FerrariChat archives pictures of modified exhaust tips as you described were posted. The pictures were unfortunately lost in a system crash years ago.

Barry

 

Hugh,

Here's a more recent reference but unfortunately the link Steve Magnusson gives is no longer active:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62521

Barry

 

I have one steel car with the original single pipe and one fibreglass car with the after mkt sports system. The sports definately sounds better (IMO). I need to go and look but the single I think has two silencers not one as in the sports. This must to a certain extent affect hp? My car with the four pipe sports has the airbox mod and a k and n. The induction is loud in a nice way and coupled with the sports exhaust it sounds v.nice. Personally I like my cars that way. The steel car is way quieter as it doen't have the airbox mod either but obviously more original.

I don't know why the single pipe in the beginning though.

 

About that shroud....

 

Things are looking REALLY good, for the shroud production, brudda!!!!!!
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No, you have to LogIn twice, it's there...here it is....that's some wierd sheeit!!!
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Bubba,

Steve's link above that diagram was to a 308 GT4 website which showed pictures of the actual muffler and tips. That page is no longer active, but the website still is.

My OEM thermoreactor muffler has straight-flow tips without diverters.

Barry

 

I see what you mean......got it!!!

 

I've seen more 208s with the single exhaust
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Sure you can, Scott. You can custom-make a dual twin-tip exhaust to sound as loud as you want. Or you can buy a Tubi, Stebro, ANSA, Mille Miglia, etc. But please store that single outlet exhaust away safely. With the type of rear valance these early GTBs have, the muffler looks pretty cool hanging out there like that.

Barry
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