FINALLY!........Gary that thing is just insane looking. When does it get installed so we can hear it?
Pulled all of this out today. The Larini should be in by tomorrow. More photos and sound files of the "open headers" over in the classic section: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41934 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Regretfully, this project is on hold for a few weeks. I went to install the mufflers yesterday and the inlets did not match up properly with my header outlets. Apparently someone made a mistake or used a wrong jig when welding the units together. I will be shipping them back to England, via Larini's FedEx account. They promised to get the exhaust corrected and shipped back to me quickly.
Thats a bummer. I will be working my exhaust this winter also. My job is expected to be simpler but as I found out last winter, there is always some unexpected glitch in the project. The ultimate outcome is usually good with persistance. Can't wait to see and hear the results in person. Any complaints from the neighbors from the 12 speaker cacophony from the garage? Love that 12 cylinder naked exhaust note.
Man! I hate that! Do these people not know what car they are working on? That is one of the most fundamental pieces of information BEFORE starting on the project. I don't get it.................... One thing I have learned on mine. It's harder than it looks. Never set a date for completion. Nothing ever happens quickly. It always costs more than expected. When you do get it together it will be worth it. The sound of Roberts TR with Tubi has convinced me that I will own a 12 cylinder before I die. No other sound like it!
Drive it with out the muffler - Just the headers! For $20 a muffler shop will weld you up straight pipes - How cool is that!
I owe the 12 cylinder experience to growing up in Bellevue listening to the supercharged Rolls Griffons/Merlins and Allison V12's from the glory days of piston powered hydroplanes on Lake Washington. In addition to that, exposure to P-51's and a P-40 or two thanks to my dad and the airshow circuit. I guess that is why I have a special place for straight sixes, half of a 12. We are all behind you Gary. Hope they make compensation for the extra hassle. It would make good business sense if they did. DJ
That's not good news. Even though they will fix it it's still a hassle and big dissapointment for you. That sound clip was AMAZING! Sounds a lot more like that 512M now doesn't it? Hope it all gets worked out soon.
Guys, Thanks for the sympathy notes. I just shipped it back to England today on their FedEx account. Hopefully the "third time is the charm," as they say. First the Tubi got sent back, then the Larini got sent back.... It's got to stick this next time around!!
Dana, you awakened a lot of memories when you spoke of the P-51's and P-40's. Wonderful sounds but there is nothing to match the sound of a Spitfire in full song. I don't know if it is the Spit's ejector stacks that do it ( one stack for two cylinders on the early models ) or the way airplane is behind them. Its a sound that curls the hair. A flight in a P-51 is an eye-opener when you're sitting behind all twelve exhaust stacks at 100 % power ! What a blast....literally. The heat that comes back from the exhaust is almost scary when the canopy is opened. That's 1610 cubic inches of musical mayhem. Ferrari V-12's come close.
A supercharged Griffon or Merlin with straight stacks is ear splitting. Living 12 miles away it was easy to tell when they fired up and made a run. Third time is the charm Gary. It will fit, just a little tricky.............. ............sort of like trying to hook bagpipes up to your car. I think I'll go Frank's route and weld up a set of polished "Cherry Bombs". The more I drive it the louder it will get!
I just got word that the "new" exhaust system for my car has just just left the factory in England via FedEx. Hopefully they got it plumbed correctly this time and it will actually FIT my car!
Did you have them send some detail photographs of the "completed" system so that you know it looks correct, or would you be able to tell just from pictures? Do you know if they "rebuilt" your wrong one to fit, or started over again from scratch? Just curious. If they rebuilt it, hopefully it doesn't show in the finished product with imperfect welds or plating. Obviously you deserve to have everything look and fit "perfecto"!
Jeff, They built me a "brand new" set of mufflers from scratch. Hopefully they got it right this time. I sent them detailed pictures of my header outlets and they also inspected a couple of Boxers in England with the same headers as mine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
If I wasn't buried in my own car I'd come over and help you put it on so you can bring it to Dyno Day on March 12th.
Thanks DJ, but it should only take me 2-3 hours to install it. The stock system was pretty straight forward and easy to remove. Believe it or not, I didn't even have to jack the car up! Hopefully the new exhaust will arrive by the end of next week (takes awhile to clear customs) and I'll install it the same day. I'm curious to see what the Dyno Day numbers will be with all of the changes that I've made since last year: Larini exhaust, K&N filters, distributor advance corrected, MSD ignition unit and brand new fuel injectors. I'm predicting about a 50 horsepower increase.
