Brabham Exhaust Systems

Experience with two M.G.-Bs has indicated that the car has a long life, the body does not rust very quickly and the use of a simple five-bearing push-rod engine, working well within its limitations, means that even a used version is often a good buy. One weakness in the car is its exhaust system, which is susceptible to failure after only about 12,000 miles. Normally the complete system has to be replaced, although the more ingenious owner can cut out the rotten portion and replace it with an ordinary, over-the-counter silencer and length of tubing. However, this normally leads to more problems as the other sections begin to fall apart. A works replacement is a logical remedy but again the life expectancy is limited as the manufacturers are working to a very tight budget producing this “value for money” sports-car.

An alternative which is more expensive for the initial purchase but should give three times the life of the works article is the Brabham exhaust system, which is fabricated in heavier gauge material, has more silencing and comes complete with chrome-plated tail pipe to reduce petrol consumption by the odd mile or two whilst increasing the top end performance fractionally. Costing about £10 (fitting extra) we have already chalked up 16,000 miles in an M.G.-B fitted with one of these systems without problems and have just fitted another system to a second staff M.G.-B. Comparing the two systems—the old and the new—there is little difference in the exhaust note, indicating that Brabham’s claim to long life and good silencing qualities is justified.

Sold by Jack Brabham, Ltd., of Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford, Surrey (telephone: 60871), similar systems are available for most popular production cars, and the man to speak to is Brian Muir, who is an experienced motor engineer and a leading driver of sports, GT and saloon cars, having shared the wheel of a works Ford GT 40 with Graham Hill at Le Mans in 1966.—A. B.