Project Theseus

[Noll]

First drive of the season today !

She took a little coaxing to get going (mostly because the gas in the float bowls evaporated if I had to guess) but after ~45 sec of cranking fired right up as usual. Slight misfire in the video below (because 6mo old gas and the car generally sitting) but that cleaned right up after the vid.

Took it for a ~20 min drive to top the tank with 91 and burn the old gas out of the lines. So glad to be back driving it, brings a smile to my face every single time.

[Noll]

Keeping going with improvements while I wait for the weather to warm up. Was tired of waking up with back pain the day after doing any long-ish drive in the Z due to the worn-out foam of the stock seats, so picked up a set of 04-05 WRX seats for a good price. Whipped up some basic brackets and got them in the car the other day, they fit in surprisingly well without having to do anything much - handbrake, door cards (if i had any) , seatbelts, etc all have clearance.

Way better side bolstering, generally more comfy, more adjustability, and I think they fit the look of the car well.

[zedfoot]

Hilariois. When do you start production? Will you have them at the swap meet?

[molstdZ]

I replaced the Flowmaster with Magnaflow last year, it is quieter and very happy with it.

Maybe add this tip? LOL!

https://youtu.be/lQxgVd0EROc

[Dr.Diesel]

That's an interesting solution. I never new these existed. I read the reviews on it. I think it is something you would have to adjust to work in your application to ensure there is not too much back pressure in the exhaust system. But, the reviews all mentioned that the drone was eliminated.

[Noll]

My other potential plan (if it's needed) is to try out a baffle like this one:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B004XH6V2M/...=I7O4KNQLJEX1Z



They seem to get good reviews for being actually effective and cutting drone down.

[Dr.Diesel]

I was considering a Yoshimura motorcycle muffler on my 240Z. But, I don't think it would flow enough exhaust gases through it without causing a restriction.
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[Ont240]

I did some research on motorcycle " performance" mufflers whatever that means ??? Sales pitch! but to the point the packing that is used outside the baffle pipe is either a fiberglass matting or a more expensive ceramic material. Both have a life expectancy. The higher the exhaust temp, the sooner it burns out.
i rebuilt the muffler to my 1952 NSU 2 stroke, this winter. Packing material is not very expensive. Automotive mufflers tend to use diverter plates as well.

[Ont240]

I have a 3” magnaflow offset, and use this tip when i need more quiet. It fits inside 3” ss and over 2.5”.

i have a spare thats for sale and will bring to the swap meet.
972FAB23-FB24-495A-9116-B0258721215C.jpg F9D8885B-CE35-4CBE-98E5-9E8F132DBB2D.jpg

Here's what a one style of flow master should look like inside. IMO if the mesh had larger holes it would be quieter.
https://www.amazon.ca/Flowmaster-712...7BTCKH53&psc=1

Super turbo only has packing in one area.
https://www.amazon.ca/Dynomax-17731-...0029J3BG&psc=1

Magnaflow /flowmaster
THIS IS A GOOD TECHNICAL READ AS WELL!
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/ma...-best-muffler/

[zedfoot]

The Vibrant I ran with for years was fully baffled and still drove me crazy on 10 hour drives. I made up a tip with a baffle that screwed on with wing nuts. It cut the noise, but looked ghetto. I have a Corvair Monza turbo muffler that I welded flanges onto so I could quickly change it. It sounds perfect. Only problems are, it isn't stainless, and it takes too much luggage space on long trips if I want the stainless look at car shows. It is physically exactly the same as the Vibrant. If only I could find it in stainless, it would be the perfect solution.

[Noll]

Noll, I wanted to ask you about your Magnaflow muffler. Prior to you putting it on the car, Could you look through the muffler from one end to the other? or is it baffled?
The reason I ask is, I bought a Borla muffler for my 240Z. You could see directly through the muffler out the other side. The Borla muffler is a high quality muffler. But, it's just too loud for the neighbours & it draws the attention of the Police in the city. In addition, the drone from the Borla muffler was just too much as well.
So, I was wondering if the Magnaflow muffler was baffled and are you happy with the sound?

Yep, it is a straight-through design with all the baffling being around the central void. I know it won't be as quiet as a fully baffled one, but figured it should help a lot versus what I had before.

I have yet to fire it up (I put fuel stabilizer in when I parked the car for the witner, but still want to mix in some fresh 91 for when I do the first start), will update you once I do so (which will be soon) . if noise is still an issue I have a motorcycle muffler baffle that I picked up a while back I'm thinking I'll modify and try out. Won't work in stock form as the main through-pipe is like 1" and the car won't start with it in, but I'm sure I can use the stock bits and some other tubing to make something that would be useful to stick in for roadtrips etc.

[Dr.Diesel]

Noll, I wanted to ask you about your Magnaflow muffler. Prior to you putting it on the car, Could you look through the muffler from one end to the other? or is it baffled?
The reason I ask is, I bought a Borla muffler for my 240Z. You could see directly through the muffler out the other side. The Borla muffler is a high quality muffler. But, it's just too loud for the neighbours & it draws the attention of the Police in the city. In addition, the drone from the Borla muffler was just too much as well.
So, I was wondering if the Magnaflow muffler was baffled and are you happy with the sound?

[Noll]

FYI you have directional tires. Left rear and at least one other is rotating the wrong direction. OOps!

Yup, Just realized that when I was doing the muffler. I'm 99% sure I put them on right last year, I think they may have got swapped during the safety inspection last fall and I didn't pay attention after that. Will get them where they belong as the next job .

[Ont240]

FYI you have directional tires. Left rear and at least one other is rotating the wrong direction. OOps!

[Noll]

Haven't really done anything with the Z while it's been parked over the winter, but now that spring is underway I figured I should knock out some of the "nice to have" things I've been meaning to do.

#1 - muffler replacement. Should actually be able to drive the car without needing earplugs now with any luck.












Got the fuel tank sealed up too. With how bad it was when I started I suppose there was always a good chance that one pinhole would not get filled. Sure as hell not dropping to tank to give it another coat, so Seal-All to the rescue.






No pics, but also pulled the speedo and tach out, replaced a burnt out turn signal bulb, and adjusted the speedo needle preload to hopefully make it read right (given I pulled it off to do the KPH speedo face sticker I'm thinking this is/was the most likely culprit for it reading high)