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Why does an MGB 1800 engine sound so throaty?

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hrragen Avatar
hrragen Dave Bush
Fraser, MI, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB "The MG"
I had people ask me that regularly. My exhaust is not stock but besides being minus the front silencer and 1.75 dia. Its nothing special. Does not sound alot different from when it was stock. Don't really have an answer when asked. Nature of the beast?

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TonyV Avatar
TonyV Tony V
Rutherford, NJ, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB
Because it's cool!cool smiley

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HiPowerShooter Avatar
HiPowerShooter James Booker
Lake Winneconne, WI, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
Probably just the fact it's got a short run and the OEM exhaust manifold was very well designed for good flow.



"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

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Jimmy N. Avatar
Small village, The actual midwest, USA   USA
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Because most agricultural engines do?



All my vehicles are green. They run on recycled dinosaurs.

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miatadon Avatar
miatadon Silver Member Don Scott
Calistoga, CA, USA   USA
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MGBs do have a unique sound, at least the early ones do. Maybe it's the way the exhaust manifold is routed?

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Chalky Avatar
Chalky David White
Coventry, Warwickshire, UK   GBR
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It's a mixture of intake roar and exhaust resonance. OEMs spend a lot of time quietening modern cars to meet noise regulations and most modern cars are bland as a result of this. Some now add it back in synthetical. Fortunately our cars are not handicapped by these regs.

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Steve S. Stephen Strange
Harrisonburg, VA, USA   USA
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1957 MG Magnette
1972 MG MGB MkII "The Mouse Trap"
Dave-
The function of the front muffler is to dampen bass note frequencies, while that of the rear muffler is to dampen the higher frequencies that give the exhaust note a rasping tenor. Unless a rear muffler that is designed to do both is fitted, remove the front muffler and you get the throaty sound. It's that simple.

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Chalky Avatar
Chalky David White
Coventry, Warwickshire, UK   GBR
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The exhausts on modern cars are a lot more sophisticated. Some contain resonators and servo operated valves that can switch them in and out as required. At least one OEM has a speaker in the back section on the exhaust system to allow them to make the car sound sporty!

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HiPowerShooter Avatar
HiPowerShooter James Booker
Lake Winneconne, WI, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
I know what makes mine sound like it's got a pair...

Still haven't figured out what the fascination with "fart can" mufflers are.

I'd like to be able to retro-fit an Ansa onto my new Subaru Legacy sedans dual pipes...thumbs up



"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...


Attachments:
Ansa.jpg    19.5 KB
Ansa.jpg

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barry s Avatar
barry s Barry Stoll
Alexandria, VA, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB GT
1974 MG MGB
1976 Triumph TR6
1980 MG MGB
JEB X2 Nothing else sounds like an ANSA on a B.

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ted535is Ted S
Allentown, PA, USA   USA
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In reply to # 3253474 by barry s JEB X2 Nothing else sounds like an ANSA on a B.

X3 on the ANSA. Love mine.

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circeonya Avatar
circeonya Malcolm Hill
Mt Eliza, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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1931 Austin 7
1932 Austin 7
1967 MG MGB
1973 MG MGB GT V8 Conversion "Yellow Terror"
I think the long stroke has a lot to do with it. Modern oversquare engines are harder to get a decent note.

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Valgood Avatar
Valgood Enberg R (Disabled)
Disabled Account, Antarctica   ATA
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In reply to # 3253641 by circeonya I think the long stroke has a lot to do with it. Modern oversquare engines are harder to get a decent note.

Yes, I think this too. Small dia. bore to stroke make for good ag engine also. Ag engine at steady rpms and not discernable as "throaty" as from a sports car.

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Jimmy N. Avatar
Small village, The actual midwest, USA   USA
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So how do you guys drive your tractors? Slowly?
Especially you, Valgood, should know better, being in the birthplace of "the world's fastest tractor".



All my vehicles are green. They run on recycled dinosaurs.

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jfrankr Avatar
jfrankr Silver Member Jan Frank Rische
Grayslake, IL, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
The exhaust system for a B was the single piece Abarth system. Abarth isn't available anymore unfortunately. A few years ago somebody had a few old stock Abarth systems and I really wished I had picked one up at at the team even with my car in a perpetual state of rebuild..... Nothing like the rumble of an Abarth on an MGB.

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