Thoughts on the Monza Exhaust

It's not often I get to share an experience on here since my knowledge of these cars is not very deep, but here's something:

I recently bought a Pacesetter (Monza) exhaust for my 79. I searched here first (like any MGE'er would do) and found lots of complaints about the Monza not fitting correctly and also being too loud. But in almost all the threads I read, the complaints about bad fit were from owners of pre-76 cars. I only found one ([url=http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,1877522,1877522][color=#FF0000]here[/color][/url]) from someone with a post-76 car (with cat converter) that had trouble fitting.

I found the Monza for sale on Amazon.com for $249.95 with free shipping so I bought it and it showed up in 3 days.

I'm happy to report that it fit PERFECTLY. I had to make one cut to the original downpipe (the one from the cat converter), and the Monza center section slipped right on, lining up nicely with the middle hanger. After that, the rear section slipped right onto the middle section. I did grind some of the black paint off the middle section pipe to help the 2 sections slide together. One shot of WD40 helped too. I also learned that Monza rear pipes only hang too low if you try to use the original rear hanger. I took mine off completely and just used 2" L brackets instead. The whole thing just bolted together with the clamps that were included. I'm thrilled with the look of it.

I'll admit though, I haven't started it yet to hear how it sounds. I'm hoping it's not ridiculously loud, but I do want a little bit of extra noise because I like that kind of thing. Can't wait for a warm weekend!

Bob, you did all that work but didn't start it? That's like ordering the exhaust with overnight shipping and not installing it for 3 months.:? Come on Bob start that thing, hear it roar. I'm up in NH where it was a little on the cold side tonight. I just got tappet cover gaskets and gasket and seals for the valve cover, installed them and couldn't wait to start it to check for leaks. Must of throttle jockey'd it for around half an hour before i put it back in the garage. I'm sure my neighbors were happy for it was around 8:30pm.

Hey Bob if my car's any example ('72 GT), it's rediculously loud between about 2300 - 2600 RPM; I'm NOT happy :X Loud as what I ditched to try get it quieter - cheap Midas system with no resonator just a rear can. Thankfully less raspy though. I'm pissed at the vendor for lying and then finding out I overpaid by $100 - wow you got a deal.

And fit - it was so far off (6" between sections, 2" misaligned) I didn't dare do it at home - took a good muffler shop 2 hrs of fabbing brackets, extending and bending.

Member Kelvin Dodd of Moss has contacted the mfr to try get them to supply a longer resonator. Mine came off Ebay (mistake) from British Spares LLC - NOT RECOMMENDED

Looks nice though 8-) And seems to be mellowing a bit with use, but I'm setting my GT up for traveling and I'll probably have to go with some other front resonator .... more $$ lost GRRRR

Mine was a little off as far as alignment (72'), but other than that, was no biggie. It was much deeper than I expected, but my engine has been modified quite a bit, so I'm not sure how it would sound on a stock engine. I plan on replacing the center muffler (kinda looks like a cherry bomb) with something else to tone it down a bit later on to smooth out the sound a little.

Wait until the baffles start to rattle...it will be really enjoyable then.(td)

Kelvin recommend to me that I replace the mid section with a longer muffler to cut down the sound. I paid about the same amount of money for my Monza for my 67 and have the same alignment problems others have noted. I plan on have the entire system remounted by a local muffler shop once the B-GT is painted this spring. I also put a Pacesetter Monza system on my 95 Probe V-6 (Cat back) and have been very happy with it for three years. No fitment problems or baffle rattle. If anything, it's a little quieter than I expected.

Bob.

Thank you for posting your experience.

So far fitting complaints seem to be only on the earlier system. I'm happy to know that you had a good experience with the later system.

I will pass that information on to Pace Setter as part of the critique of the early system.


Kelvin.

Well, the sun came out and I had some time this afternoon, so I started it up and took the new Monza exhaust for a drive. And the end result is.... it's ok. To my ear it sounds exactly like my previous exhaust which was stock, but had some cracks and holes in it. It's pretty loud, but not too bad. I guess since my old exhaust was crumbling into pieces and this one was pretty cheap, it fits the bill. I have no regret - I just wish it sounded a little "better".

Huge amounts of blue/white smoke on startup that made me nervous, but it must have been rust-preventing oils or paint burning off. Seems good now.

Kelvin, so far the trend continues. It seems the middle resonator (that cherry-bomb lookin' thing) in the early cars' middle section causes the fitting problems. The later units like I bought have the larger muffler in the middle section so no fitting problems. I bought model 88-1245.

bob

Thanks for your input Bob! This just confirmed my thoughts about this system.

I suppose expectations are directly related to whether people consider their MGB to be a Sunday cruiser, or a sports car.

I'm REALLY happy with mine, but yes... I'll break out the ear-plugs for long road trips.
Yet it's one of the quieter cars at the race track.

In car club rides, I try to make real sure I don't get behind a guy with a Monza exhaust, not that it is just loud,, it is, be it's terrbile annoying tone as well, kinda sounds like the car is farting. Not a fan of these.

If any of you are looking for quailty exhaust systems, I've got some leads on some stuff made by Maniflow in the UK, I also hear good things about Bell products, my Peco sounded pretty good as well.

I'm with Hap. Maniflow exhaust systems ROCK. Built to last and sound great. I have one on the '64. Their intake manifolds are quite good too and give some gains according to David Anton. I plan on putting one on Rosey when Hap has completed the engine. Rosey is getting a Falcon big bore, single box stainless system just for kicks. It has been suggested that they can be a tad loud too. We shall see.

I was in Miami the other day for work and got to ride in PLT with Marco. What a lovely car she is. Gotta say brother that I loved the sound she makes as you go up through the gears. I like a bit of BRAAAARRRRRPPP as the rpm's climb. But each to his own. Just riding in the GT gives me goosebumps. Next time we'll find some better ale and nosh eh!

Tally-Ho!
Simon

My '79 had a Monza exhaust that was poorly installed (stuck out and too low). I replaced it with a factory styled, Falcon stainless muffler. Much quieter and more in my tastes. I still have the Monza, up in my garage attic, PM me if anyone wants it.

I had to cut the pipe same as Bob on my 79 Midget. I'm content with the Monza and I do not think its loud. To me its just about right, gives it some character, and have had received nothing but positive comments on the look and sound.