Lotus Esprit V8 Replacement Sports Exhaust Kit
We have made up replacement sport pipes for the V8 (after the cats). They completely eliminate the old muffler problems because there is no muffler....
Yes we removed it. All the muffler does is act as a heat shield and a dead weight!!!. These run cooler and cool off faster. They work great, sound better and are not noisy at all. They actually sound better and more like a sports car than the originals. They are beautifully constructed from high grade quality POLISHED stainless steel and are a direct fit. No fabrication required. Just get rid of your old boat anchor exhaust and replace it with these 2 pipes.
A UK outfit sells them for $312 + $128 shipping. (Check out their UK Web Page: www.racecar.co.uk/quicksilver/ )
However, if you go to your local muffler shop, they will do it on the spot very reasonably. Some owners have purchased tail pipes from after market performance stores and had them fitted by a local muffler shop with great success. This way you can choose a set of tail pipes that are unique, most have a length of stainless that can be easily bent or welded into place.
Ours look the same as stock, just the same but without the end caps. The polished stainless looks really great with a slight flare and no end caps. End caps can be fitted if you must have them though.
Here are some pictures of our prototypes installed...
Left Hand Sports Pipe Installed Right Hand Sports Pipe Installed
We made up and are running, some prototypes in aluminized steel to test the concept, and they are running fine (these cost a lot less ($100) but do not look as good, however, if you fit your original end caps to them no one will ever know). NO NOISE issues at all (We were actually quite surprised) in fact I personally do not notice any difference other than a little quicker acceleration response.
What a disappointment the original exhaust is, open one up some time. It is simply a in/out U turn on either side. No baffles no holes, no padding nothing, just an extra foot of mild steel and it gets very rusty in there. Just because the outside is stainless do not be fooled. And they cost $1350.00, and they break all the time.
On our new ones there is nothing to Break.
Ian
A very happy V8 owner with a practical trouble free sport exhaust set.