Why does a Larini X-pipe sound like an H-pipe... and other discoveries from today.

[MrPea]

I popped down to Poole today, to see Martin and Myles at Emblem to give my car a check over while she's still under warrantee in case there are any things that need addressing that I don't need to pay for myself. All in all, Myles thought Myfanwy is in excellent condition - and I'd expect nothing less from a car sold by Dave T through Richard Grace, and a car formerly owned by Marios at Autoshield. There are some things we're going to get addressed, and I'll probably post about them separately in a techy post.
Whilst at Emblem, Myles gave two hours of his attention to check over everything. He took me through everything on the SD2, tweaking/resetting various things for me which I've already noticed to make things better. He gave it a test drive, a full inspection at ground level, and then another up on the lift. Such good service!

Anyway, I discovered some interesting things:
1) The GS seats have an adjustable lumbar support.
2) Myfanwy looks SO much better now I've changed the wheel-caps to my nice shiny new red tridents.

3) The most interesting one... my Larini X-pipe...
I was sure that, when I bought the car, I was getting Larini X-pipe and secondard decats. I've also been rather baffled over the last 4 months as to why the sound is so deep and moody - in a VERY good way - when I was sure a X-pipe would result in a rather more 'scream' type sound. Having since heard several other forum members' cars with various exhaust setups, I've been increasingly confused by the tone I experience that I'd have thought would be more akin to an H-pipe.
So, finally get Myfanwy up on the lift and have a look underneath for my first proper oggle of the yummy stainless steel Larini loveliness... and I exclaim "It's an 'H'! No Wonder!" It's a very nice H, and the sound really is scrumptious, but it's not an X.

I think now, as I had suspected for some time, that I'd much prefer to have a X-pipe instead, although there's no rush because the H sounds epic!

 

[MAF260]

You'll have plenty of takers for your h-pipe when you decide to change. Somebody may even fancy a swap.

 

[MrPea]

You'll have plenty of takers for your h-pipe when you decide to change. Somebody may even fancy a swap.

I was wondering about that and would be open to offers. Timing isn't ideal just now.

 

[GeoffCapes]

I prefer the H myself.

 

[Contigo]

H for me.

 

[mjheathcote]

Linking left and right banks together on a V8 is nothing new of course, my 70's Stag has an H pipe.
The reason for linking together is that each exhaust 'pulse of gas' when it reaches the join can split off down both left and right, thus reducing back pressure, half down one side, half down the other.
The X pipe came about as a performance modification to this, for with the X it is easier to split the flow, with the H in reality the split is not even, easier to continue on rather than the 2 sharp 90 degree turns.
So noise difference aside, having an H can only reduce performance.
It may only be a few BHP's, but for me I would stick to the X, after all, Maserati/Ferrari knew about the performance advantage of the X over the H, and fitted the X from the factory.

 

[Contigo]

H boosts torque lower in the rev band whereas X gives more power later in the rev band.

 

[MAF260]

As one of the original H-pipe fitters I wouldn't change to a X-pipe now. I'd be stunned if anyone really noticed any difference in power between the two. I prefer the noise of the H.

 

[Felonious Crud]

My car has an x and I love it. Things is, after a day with reprobates like Ben, MAF and Phil, mine sounds like the muted whisperings of a timorous girl and I yearn to up the lunacy with a H pipe. Until I start it up at home, in a car park, or anywhere away from the motley Fools of this forum, when it sounds like Satan's own orchestra.

 

[MrPea]

My car has an x and I love it. Things is, after a day with reprobates like Ben, MAF and Phil, mine sounds like the muted whisperings of a timorous girl and I yearn to up the lunacy with a H pipe. Until I start it up at home, in a car park, or anywhere away from the motley Fools of this forum, when it sounds like Satan's own orchestra.

Hehe, but I think they have a bit more than just the H! I have secondary decats as well, so I do get some pretty good volume. The one thing left to make my car fabulously obnoxious would be different back boxes; I don't think there would be much difference in volume between X and H, but I do in tone.

 

[Jkulin]

Having heard loads of other peoples exhaust I didn't want a deep drone of the H-Pipe so had the Larini X-Pipe fitted to my QP, it now pops and bangs and scream exactly what I wanted and is quiet when you need it to be.

 

[MrPea]

Having heard loads of other peoples exhaust I didn't want a deep drone of the H-Pipe so had the Larini X-Pipe fitted to my QP, it now pops and bangs and scream exactly what I wanted and is quiet when you need it to be.

Bangs and screams... those are things I like a lot!

 

[Jkulin]

Bangs and screams... those are things I like a lot!

Yeah there were reports of noises like that coming from your hotel room in Brigg

 

[Spartacus]

I finally got my car back on its wheels yesterday and took it out for a run to check the new brakes and tyres . My new H pipe is truly obnoxious . And I'm happy to report it will be staying on for the Le Mans trip .

 

[Contigo]

I finally got my car back on its wheels yesterday and took it out for a run to check the new brakes and tyres . My new H pipe is truly obnoxious . And I'm happy to report it will be staying on for the Le Mans trip .

Glad you have seen sense!

 

[Spartacus]

oh and i checked my cats with an endescope at the weekend . They look brand new ! not a bit is starting to flake , so i guess you just cant tell with them .

But i still have a clattering noise out of the left pipe . Im off to have a compression test , new plugs and have the firing pack s checked as apparently you can have so strange noises if they are staring to break down ???

 

[StuartW]

Linking left and right banks together on a V8 is nothing new of course, my 70's Stag has an H pipe.
The reason for linking together is that each exhaust 'pulse of gas' when it reaches the join can split off down both left and right, thus reducing back pressure, half down one side, half down the other.
The X pipe came about as a performance modification to this, for with the X it is easier to split the flow, with the H in reality the split is not even, easier to continue on rather than the 2 sharp 90 degree turns.
So noise difference aside, having an H can only reduce performance.
It may only be a few BHP's, but for me I would stick to the X, after all, Maserati/Ferrari knew about the performance advantage of the X over the H, and fitted the X from the factory.

Some interesting reading Mike. Larini make both x & h pipes but apparently sell virtually no h pipes with most people favouring the x for the bhp increase and a preference for the sound.
Each to their own I guess

 

[Felonious Crud]

Some interesting reading Mike. Larini make both x & h pipes but apparently sell virtually no h pipes with most people favouring the x for the bhp increase and a preference for the sound.
Each to their own I guess

According to Jeff at FD the H was developed (in collaboration between FD and Larini) for people who wanted a bit more noise but not as much as an X. Go figure! Maybe the Larini H is a bit different. Bigger connecting pipe, perhaps. The forum's experience would seem to suggest that if you want a bit more rumble in your jungle then H is the way to go.

 

[Spartacus]

My H is twice as loud as my X .

 

[MAF260]

According to Jeff at FD the H was developed (in collaboration between FD and Larini) for people who wanted a bit more noise but not as much as an X. Go figure! Maybe the Larini H is a bit different. Bigger connecting pipe, perhaps. The forum's experience would seem to suggest that if you want a bit more rumble in your jungle then H is the way to go.

My Larini H is way louder than a Larini X. Looks like their development had the opposite effect to the desired outcome!