Period Exhaust Upgrade

[Frontseat Driving]

Hi all.  I'm in need of a new rear muffler for my Fintail and I'm curious if anyone knows what one might have used to upgrade their Fintail in period. 

I have been building my car in a manner that a family man with but one car might have outfitted his car for weekend sport with a strict adherence to authenticity. 

Any thoughts, recommendations would be appreciated.  Failing a vintage replacement I may go the Timevalve route and ask for a bit more sound.

Thanks in advance!

[Benz Dr.]

There are several fintail models we could be referring to - which one do you have? 190, 200, 220, 230, or 300  gas or diesel? I don't think you'd see a whole lot of performance improvement by a simple muffler change. There are other things that can give you a bit more for not a big dollar outlay.

[Frontseat Driving]

There are several fintail models we could be referring to - which one do you have? 190, 200, 220, 230, or 300  gas or diesel? I don't think you'd see a whole lot of performance improvement by a simple muffler change. There are other things that can give you a bit more for not a big dollar outlay.

Sorry I didn't think it would matter much for the muffler, 230S.  I'm not worried about ACTUAL performance, I'm just curious if there was something that a 'car guy' might have installed back then.

[Benz Dr.]

I've been able to make many old cars run better just by upgrading to a hotter coil and better ignition wires with proper spark plug heat range. Set your ignition timing to at least 38 degrees BTDC at 3,000 RPM and it could make it run a lot better.

[Frontseat Driving]

I've been able to make many old cars run better just by upgrading to a hotter coil and better ignition wires with proper spark plug heat range. Set your ignition timing to at least 38 degrees BTDC at 3,000 RPM and it could make it run a lot better.

Thanks, again, I'm not actually trying to improve performance.  However I'll keep that info in mind.  More importantly however, do you run a shop?  I would be interested in giving the car a thorough going over and you aren't terribly far away.

[Benz Dr.]

I run a shop near Sarnia.

[mnahon]

Not just a shop, but a nice and knowledgeable one. I just drove my car there from Montreal; you're lucky to be close by.

[paults1]

Dr. Benz, What is the proper heat range for Bosch and NKG spark plug using the red coil?

Regards, Paul '63 230SL

[Desertpagoda]

ABARTH made "sportif" exhaust systems/parts in period for MANY marques, including Mercedes Benz. Look over here:  http://www.abarth-exhausts.com/

[Frontseat Driving]

I feel terrible that I didn't respond to you sooner.  You've got exactly the right idea, as to what I was looking for.  A couple others could be Dansk and Bursch.  The site you gave me actually has a some for a few models, however not the W111.  I sincerely appreciate the link and you reaching out with a helping hand!

[perry113]

If you still have not made any moves on your Fintail exhaust then I would contact Mike at TimeValve.

His systems are the best... All stainless.

Stainless is louder exhaust note then steel and will perform as good as any other system.

I have used his products for many years.

He made a system for my 1963 220seb and the fit is excellent.

Here is the deal though... More than likely due to variations in the these cars he will need to furnish the foremost part of the system the downpipes unasssembled. You will have to fit the system and then tack weld the front pipes, then disassemble the system and then fully seam weld the front pipes. That's what had to be done with mine.

He is an excellent human being (great to deal with) and has the best product. Builds mainly Ferrari and Benz systems as well as many others.

If he does not have the pattern and you do then send him your old exhaust and he will make it.

see:

http://timevalve.com/
http://timevalve.com/cat/us/uscat.html

[Benz Dr.]

Dr. Benz, What is the proper heat range for Bosch and NKG spark plug using the red coil?

Regards, Paul '63 230SL

I've been using NGK  BP5ES which are one range hotter than Bosch W7DC.