QuickSilver Exhaust System

[Steve_P]

Original exhaust failed MOT so decided to replace with QuickSilver stainless sports system.

Good news is the car now sounds a lot nicer without sounding loud or aggressive, nicely balanced soft fruity note for an old
fart like me

Bad news is that it was a pig to fit and it is still not right despite repeated efforts by my local garage, which is a real shame as
it's a quality item spoilt by inaccurate geometry. Performance is certainly a little crisper but I doubt it's a match in that area
for the Peco from what I've read - unfortunately I don't think I could live with those extra decibels!

So unfortunately from my experience, and I believe another LEC poster, I cannot recommend the QuickSilver (who supply
Lotus directly with sports exhausts!) unless they get their bending sorted out.

[rip]

DaveT has a Quicksilver & is happy with it. He chose it because it does not allow boost creep like the Peco, which also means that the performace is less improved.

Why did you not go for the Piper? Carefully designed, dual silenced version available, which rumbles nicely without sounding boomy (I have the only 2¼" one of these - it rumbles nicely without sounding boomy although no other LECers have heard it...yet). It also improves performance both with & without boost. Great product, competitively priced & highly recommended.

[ektrolleyboy]

RIP...
Are you getting any boost creep?

Paul Matty's yesterday told me that if I get a full system with cat's and all, then I'm unlikely to get boost creep as I have an S2 and the cat' would help to control the creep.

Not my words I must add, but the main man at Paul Matty's.
I feel encouraged nevertheless!

[rip]

RIP...
Are you getting any boost creep?

Yes.

This is not a problem until boost reaches 0.94 bar when overboost occurs, & I had to push very hard before I hit this. Until then it was just extra boost, and very controllable too.
I believe Piper's sportcat is an improvement over the stock S2 one, but I expect it is still more restrictive than a straight through or a 2nd silencer, so it may just prevent overboost.

[G UK]

I've got a Piper 2.5" system with sports cat (Wastegate not ported) with a Mountain V5 switcher which I believe ups the overboost fuel cut to 1.05 bar.

So far with Elanscan I've found the following (temps are approx.):
Below 0°C : Readily hit fuel cut in 3rd & 4th
0°C - 3°C : Fuel cut occaisonaly hit but easily avoidable with practice.
3°C - 7°C : No fuel cut, Boosts stops around 1.02 - 1.03 Bar at full throttle through 3rd, 4th and 5th
7°C + : Not been warm enough to try yet but I would expect the creep to lessen as it gets warmer until its non-existant.

So in my case its near perfection as far as maximising boost goes

[rip]

Mountain V5 switcher which I believe ups the overboost fuel cut to 1.05 bar.

I think it is just below 1 bar. AFAIK, the standard MAP sensor only reads 2 bar (atmospheric + 1 bar boost).
Mine hit overboost with the stock chip at 0.94 bar.

[Steve_P]

Probably as a result of poor fit on the Quicksilver exhaust the downpipe has now cracked , so all in
all my experience of a Quicksiler exhaust for the Elan has been a disaster. It's coming off and will
be sent for recyling - so much for buying a long life stainless exhaust, one year on and it's scrap!

Piper here I come

[rip]

PECO here I come

I have spoke to Peco owners who find that their exhaust sounds too aggressive & can be a bit too boomy when cruising at speed.
Piper doesn't suffer from this. It has a nice, low purr during normal driving. It gets louder when you floor it though.
Piper also do a second silencer as an off-the-shelf option. Peco will do similar on request but I believe that their system is louder with it than Piper's is without.

[HJ2]

1+1=?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16530

[Aoki Magic Pants]

1+1=?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16530

^What HJ2 said.

I stuck a Piper with an additional silencer on my car last year and it sounds great without being too loud.

[PiperRS]

Hello

As stated above we have had very good results with this system.

Using 2.25 or 2.5 stainless steel T304 grade steel tubing, So many people comment on how well our systems fit, not just the Elan but all our exhausts in general.

If you like to discuss the options further or for a special forum members price just drop me a line 01303 245 300

Or email me on exhausts@pipercams.co.uk

Thanks a lot for all the positive comments guys!

Tom Edmunds
Piper Exhausts

[ksgrimsr]

As stated above we have had very good results with this system.

Using 2.25 or 2.5 stainless steel T304 grade steel tubing, So many people comment on how well our systems fit, not just the Elan but all our exhausts in general.

I installed the Piper 2.25 and PCE last fall. I was impressed with the kit that included everything needed, and it installed and fit perfectly. I know sound is a matter of preference, but I find the Piper sound level to be pleasant (not too loud with a sound quality that is not harsh or annoying). I thought it was a good value.

Knut

[Karl Martin]

I also bought the Quicksilver Exhaust from Hanger111.com Lotus 'Specialists' (apparently!) who claim to have tried all different systems and found Quicksilver to be the best balance of performance and sound. Cost was £450 with VAT and delivery, so it's not exactly cheap crap!

My impressions are exactly as those described by Steve_P....from the box it looked like a quality product. When fitted by a former Lotus garage (they have diversified to all types of sports cars now) who have a lot of experience working on of all types of Lotus, they said it was a nightmare to fit.

The tail pipe is round and not oval, which wouldn't be such a problem if it was actually in the center of the hole, but its way of to one side and looks like a bodged job! No broken down pipe as yet.

Now I have a dilemma....do I change it for the Piper, as recommended and risk the expense of having to port the wastegate (this cut out problem sounds very dangerous, if not catastrophic, if it happens in the wrong place at the wrong time) or do I take the Quicksilver to be modified (re bent!)...more money....and gain extra BHP from a mountain chip?

[Aoki Magic Pants]

Now I have a dilemma....do I change it for the Piper, as recommended and risk the expense of having to port the wastegate (this cut out problem sounds very dangerous, if not catastrophic, if it happens in the wrong place at the wrong time) or do I take the Quicksilver to be modified (re bent!)...more money....and gain extra BHP from a mountain chip?

Never had a cut out problem (or any problem) with my S2 with a Piper exhaust so personally I'd say that the Piper is the safer option due to the amount of people on this forum who successfully have them compared to the Quicksilver one.
My next move is to get it chipped, and replace the stock PCE with a Piper PCE or stiffy, or just hollow out the Cat (I haven't decided what would be best yet) I'm not sure if that would make boost creep more likely than my current set up (Stock PCE & Manual Boost Control).

[speed-demon]

The way I see it, your quicksilver is money wasted from what you describe; being as you're not happy. So sell it on E-bay and use the money for the porting of the waste-gate. Then bite the bullet and get a Piper. Then also fit a mountain chip as the two will work hand in hand to give maximum BHP... The quicksilver being a 2" diameter will never allow the mountain chip to work at its full potential. Well this is what I understand from the posts I've read.
But I have to be honest. Buying the Piper, pre-cat elimator and getting Paul matty to fit them both and port the waste-gate saw my wallet £1000 lighter.
Worth it? Absolutely!

[Steve_P]

I’ve just had the Piper 2.25” exhaust fitted with second silencer and am pleased with the resulting fit, sound and performance.

Tom was very helpful at Piper and was good to his word about giving LEC forum members a discount

The system has a sporty burble but doesn’t become raucous, like a previous poster said, I think the sound is in keeping with the
character of the car whilst not sounding as flat as the standard system. A definite recommendation.

[Karl Martin]

Brilliant! Piper it is then!

BUT (here we go again ) 2.25 or 2.5 inch? One or two silencers (my SE doesn't have any cat to worry about) Which would be the best performer, do we need to take back pressure ito account?

And are these systems any closer to the ground than the originals?

[rip]

There is not a lot of difference with ground clearance.
I could see right through my 2nd silencer before I fitted it, so it should not make a great deal of difference to back pressure.
I compared mine at tickover with Dapinky's straight-through 2.25 & the difference was small. I've not gone tunnelling with both to get a real comparison.

It have read that the 2.25 is ok for about 240-250hp, but surely a bigger bore must be less resistant? You'll probably gain more from fitting Piper's PCE than by upping to a 2.5. If you feel you may want to upgrade to over 250hp in the future, then go for the bigger system.

[Aoki Magic Pants]

It have read that the 2.25 is ok for about 240-250hp, but surely a bigger bore must be less resistant? You'll probably gain more from fitting Piper's PCE than by upping to a 2.5. If you feel you may want to upgrade to over 250hp in the future, then go for the bigger system.

So what kind of increase do you think you'd get from the Piper PCE?

[rip]

It have read that the 2.25 is ok for about 240-250hp, but surely a bigger bore must be less resistant? You'll probably gain more from fitting Piper's PCE than by upping to a 2.5. If you feel you may want to upgrade to over 250hp in the future, then go for the bigger system.

So what kind of increase do you think you'd get from the Piper PCE?

Not sure, but I have heard from several sources that the nearer you go to the engine, the more benefit you will gain from a better exhaust flow. (From text books etc, not from those who have chavved-out their cars).
I have also read on this forum somewhere that the pre-cat housing is the biggest restriction in the exhaust system.