Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

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Lightfoot
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:07 pm

Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by Lightfoot »

Hello Everyone,

It's not imminent as I need to 'polish up' a couple of cosmetic details first but what stainless steel exhausts can 164 owners recommend?

The main purpose from my personal perspective of going stainless is longevity - ie. I'm not after a whole load of extra noise but wouldn't mind a slight increase provided it's cultured and subtle. What I certainly don't want is 'boom' or other such unwelcome resonance.

I usually hear reference to Powerflow and Supersprint. Do these fit the above criteria? Or is it best simply to go to a reputable exhaust specialist and have one fabricated to OE Alfa specification?

I had an exhaust made up for my 3-litre Opel Monza GSE by Quicksilver. It wasn't cheap but they did a fine job with the result that, from inside the car anyway, the exhaust gets quieter and smoother the faster you go - which is ideal, I find, for long journeys.

Any advice would be most welcome.
Thanks.

Sud 145
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Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:08 pm
Location: West Sussex.

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by Sud 145 »

A man with the knowledge will appear soon as if by magic. I think I can hear him now.

Kegsti66
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Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:20 pm
Location: Northamptonshire

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by Kegsti66 »

Shrew is your man. Have a look in the "for sale" section on here and look at his 164 . He built a full ss exhaust for that. As said, he will be along soon :D

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PETROLHEAD
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Joined: Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:51 pm
Location: Nottingham

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by PETROLHEAD »

I'm Here!


My own 164QV exhaust system is on the fruity side, but still no drone or boom at cruise speeds, and that is fully decatted, and no silencers until the single back box.

I get that lovely build of Italian anger until the V6 wails like a banshee, but knock it into top cog and it calms her right down until you hit the loud pedal again.

Its actually one of the few cars i've not a video clip of so i'll see if i can address that in the near future (before it sells!)


If you'd like to tame it down further, and keep within the realms of technical legality, i'd suggest retaining the Catalytic converter, but remove all further restrictions from the exhaust until a respectable sized back box and tip/tips. If that is still too fruity, we can always put a centre silencer back into the system, but the Cat really does stifle a lot of volume so i doubt you'd need it to be honest.


We only use high grade T304 stainless steel for tube and welding, unlike many others that use a lower grade and the filler rod is simple cheap mild steel, so they rot out at the welds and joints!


I know of Quicksilver, costly stuff but nice. My colleague actually produces some bits n bobs for them but i shouldn't say any more really! ;)

Whereabouts are you?, we custom make on the car in a Fabshop in Nottingham.
SHREW

I AM the Law!


Alfasud 1.7-16v, Charade Turbo SR, & The Dirty Diesels - GT Cloverleaf, 159 Ti Sportwagon, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon

Lightfoot
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:07 pm

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by Lightfoot »

Hi Shrew,

Thanks for the info - very interesting indeed. I think I'd keep the 'cat' and look to a decent rear silencer just to keep it all in reasonable check noise-wise (I'm a touch too old these days for 'bad boy' exhausts!).

I live in Binfield down in Berkshire so I guess I'd have to set aside a day or two to bring the car up as far as Nottingham for a fitting but then travelling far afield when dealing in older, unusual classics usually means just that - for instance, I had to go to Lancashire to buy a decent Fiat Coupe some eighteen months ago (another vehicle getting scarce on the ground these days!).

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PETROLHEAD
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Location: Nottingham

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by PETROLHEAD »

Well, we'd only need it for a day, so, what we coukd do, if I've still got my qv at the time, I'll bring that up, you can hear that and make an educated decision but it sounds like you're on the right track already,

Keep the cat, free up the rest, decent final silencer and tip.

Ideal! :mrgreen:
SHREW

I AM the Law!


Alfasud 1.7-16v, Charade Turbo SR, & The Dirty Diesels - GT Cloverleaf, 159 Ti Sportwagon, Saab 9-3 Sportwagon

Sud 145
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Joined: Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:08 pm
Location: West Sussex.

Re: Going stainless on a 164 Cloverleaf

Post by Sud 145 »

Shrewbedoobedoo - job done.

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