Rick,
Since I owned a 1952 MG-TD when it was NEW, I can actually answer that question.
With the stock exhaust (and very tiny exhaust pipe) it sounded like
blowing hard through a soda straw. Most went for glass packs, and it
sounded like passing gas in a bath tub. When you backed-off you could
get a nice rap. Actually nice sound with the larger pipes and straight
through muffler. Like a Spridget.
I bought a Pep Boys exhaust cut-out, which clamped on the cut exhaust
pipe and had a cable operated flapper valve to allow a straight through
pipe to be run down the other side. The clamp-on device leaked gas, so I
had to have it welded on. The flapper valve leaked, so you got a fairly
good leakage of gas out the other pipe. I welded a 1 1/2 inch straight
pipe coupling on the end of the tail pipe and screwed a large plug in it.
When I ran it full open, it really made a nice noise, and rapped really
well on a back-off. The cops loved it.
Now, if it would only have performed as well as it sounded. {8-), but
1250 cc and a full 54.5 horsepower was not a powerhouse. We could get
out dragged by the little old lady in her Chevy sedan, and she didn't
even know she was racing.
Our favorite rejoinder was "Wait 'till I get you in the turns". That
part was true, it handled very well, and was easy to recover from over
enthusiastic driving. I used to race it down Sunset Boulevard to the
Beach then back over Topanga Canyon, as well as the length of Mulholland
Drive, which was dirt beyond Sepulveda. Only 2 lanes wide (one for each
direction) and we used the whole road. (Both Topanga and Mulholland).
Traffic was much kinder on us in the 50's. Only a few I knew slid over
the edge.
Ended up with a Studebaker 6 and overdrive at the end. Real sleeper.
Then I bought the new '54 Jag XK 120 roadster and found out what I was
missing. Still loved them all. Story in my article (under Articles) in
http://www.TigersUnited.com
Richard Feibusch wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> This is what I LOVE about British cars - the people who own them!!! This
> came on the MG T-Series List - WHAT A HOOT!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Rick Feibusch
> Venice, CA
>
> *********************************************
>
> From: Herald1200@aol.com
> Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2001 13:34:24 EST
> Subject: perfect pitch and exhaust notes
> To: mg-t@autox.team.net
>
> Sorry, folks; I realize this is a bit of a long shot. :-)
>
> I'm working on a bone-stock 1952 MG-TD, sans working speedometer or
> tachometer. I have no immediate access to measured miles, electric
> tachometers, etc.. What I'd like to know, for any of you that might own a
> relatively stock MG-TD AND have perfect pitch, is approximately what note the
> exhaust sound is at around 50-55 MPH?
>
> Surely Gerry Gougen is not the only MG-owning musician around? :-)
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> --Andy Mace
--
Steve Laifman
(http://www.TigersUnited.com/gallery/stevelaifman.asp)
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