308 Muffler fitment issue | FerrariChat
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308 Muffler fitment issue

Discussion in '308/328' started by bitsobrits, Nov 20, 2023.

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  1. bitsobrits

    bitsobrits Formula Junior
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    Nov 12, 2011
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    Omaha, NE area, US
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    Steve
    #1 bitsobrits, Nov 20, 2023
    I purchased a muffler from a U.K. supplier and find it doesn't fit to the headers at all, in particular the left side. They are telling me it has to be my car that is the issue, but I've had two different rear headers on the car (changed out due to cracks in the original), and they both fit the ANSA muffler that was on the car when I purchased it.

    My car, btw, is a '77 US spec, pre-catalyst, if that has any impact on header details.

    I'm wondering if someone has their exhaust off at the moment to allow comparison of my car to yours both of the rear header position and the muffler left inlet angle?

    Some photos, showing the original ANSA and the angle of the new muffler. With the ANSA muffler, that left inlet pipe has only a very small angle to its mounting face (I measured it at about 4 degrees) and was very much in line with the header flange. You can see in the third photo that the new muffler is hard against the header, and very much not in line. And the muffler body needs rotated clockwise just a bit (when seen from above) to get the tips reasonably centered and pointed straight back, which would create even more mis-alignment.


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    This one taken from below
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  2. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
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    John!
    #2 Ferraripilot, Nov 20, 2023
    That’s actually pretty close for Ferrari standards. If this is Nouvalari or Superformance then I can say their fit has always been outstanding, but occasionally I’ve had to loosen the header nuts a good bit, then clamp the header to the new muffler, then tighten the header bolts again.

    Early Porsche 911 headers and mufflers have been the same process. Keep everything loose until all the pipes are together, then tighten
     
  3. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    #3 Rifledriver, Nov 21, 2023
    No 308 series Ferrari had an inlet angled like that. It was simply jigged wrong when it was welded together.
    Tell them they are wrong, it is not your car, it s their muffler.

    In the early days of TUBI we had that problem constantly until they finally got serious about producing a good product. Ansa V12 systems we used to joke were just a parts kit that required a saw and a welder to install.
     
  4. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Rob C.
    #4 Nuvolari, Nov 21, 2023
    I agree with Brian that the issue is the manufacture of the muffler. If it is a Superformance or Nouvolari system they are made by PD Gough in the UK. Mistakes happen and if it is them they are outstanding at making it right. It happened to me once and they paid to ship my exhaust back and forth from the UK no questions asked.
     
  5. bitsobrits

    bitsobrits Formula Junior
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    #5 bitsobrits, Nov 21, 2023
    It was just suggested to me via email (from the manufacturer) that if I put the offending left inlet in a vise and flattened it out it would reduce that angle.
    Which might be true in some universe, but no effing way I'm going to do that. This individual with whom I'm communicating doesn't seem inclined to take ownership of this issue, btw.

    At his point it seems simpler to fab a new end for the left side (and modify the right intermediate pipe-it's 2" too long) rather than yet another delay in getting my car finally back together. The muffler proper seems well made, and the delay and possible shipping damage issues of an exchange unit aren't something I want to deal with. It took 2 months to get the first one. I'm inclined to move on.
     
  6. miked

    miked Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2001
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    Cincinnati, Ohio
    #6 miked, Nov 21, 2023
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2023
    My ANSA is about the same alignment as your new muffler, it works fine. The donut between the header and the muffler can easily accommodate the misalignment. I use a typical USA donut found at any auto parts store for cheap. The only real difference between the ANSA and your new muffler is the triangular flange is loose on the new one while the ANSA is welded in place. I don't remember the exact inch size donut I used but it was probably a Walker brand used on a zillion cars.

    Disregard the poor repair weld on my ANSA, it was there when the car came to me.

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  7. bitsobrits

    bitsobrits Formula Junior
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    #7 bitsobrits, Nov 21, 2023
    It's more than the angle. Because of the position of that left side inlet, there is no room for the sealing donut, and the muffler body cannot be positioned to have the tips pointing straight back and even relative to the bumper. Also, if the muffler is positioned as shown in my photo (sort of inline with the header) then the right side inlet pipe is incorrectly angled and is hard against the parking brake cable guide bracket. Basically the left side inlet needs to lengthened and moved away from the header to allow the muffler to sit where it's centered and tilted correctly.
     

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