Hi all, a newbie here with a Peco exaust question

I'd really like to get a new exaust for my MG, and I'm leaning heavily towrods the Peco stainless exaust. My question is will the exaust fit with the stock headers? And if it won't, how difficult is it to install new headers (Peco as well)? I've also been considering the Ansa exaust as well. Has anyone heard them side by side? I'm not very mechanially experienced, but I want to learn and am confident that I can do it, I just want to know exactly what I'm getting myself into. I just bought my MG about three months ago and have been having a blast, and I would really like to start giving her a personal touch. I'll try to get some pictures soon, I just need to borrow a friends digital camera. She's a bedouin beige '71 and is my daily driver (untill winter, at least :-) I'm also ordering new plugs, wires, a cap and rotor, as well as a pair of K&N air filters. I was wondering what the best plugs are for an MG (champion is what I've heard, but I'v always used bosch platinum pluge in my old car) and high-end wires really worth the money, as well as the K&N filters? or would just the regualr crested filters from Moss be sufficient, if not quite as good. Any help would be much appriciated! Thanks!
-Jud

Jud, first off, let me ask... where are you at? I used to have a Bedouin 71 GT. From a performance standpoint, Peco is the best of the aftermarket exhausts. However, a good local muffler shop can whip up something that will work just as well, too. i don't think much of the Ansas, personally. Whatever exhaust you choose can be mated to the stock downpipe. Peco headers do provide a bit more power, but just a bit. None of the other headers perform as well as the stock manifold, and no header will be as durable as the cast iron piece.
Plugs are a highly personal thing. I had one B that only liked Platinums, another that fouled them in no time, and I haven't quite figured it out on my current B, although I'm leaning toward the platinums on this one.
K & Ns are good, unless you live in a dusty environment. The crested filters look cool, but don't work that well.
High-end wires? I dunno. I go to my local autozone and get a set of 8mm universal fits and make my own. Magnecor's are supposed to be among the best, but I'm still not sure its worth it, especially if you haven't upgraded the ignition system.

Hey Baxter, thanks for your help. I live in Newmarket, NH, but my car is a roadster so it couldn't have been yours. Amaingly, though, I met the original owner at a Saab dealer of all places. She approached me as I was getting out of the car and started asking me about it. We talked for a while, and, sure enough, her name and address are the same that are on the old title of the car (I'm the third owner) The car has been on the NH seacoast it's whole life, as have I. She told me that the car was a wedding present for her. It was really heart-warming to hear that the car was from such humble beginings and that it has so many happy memeories in it's past. One more question on the Peco exaust, will it just bolt on the the stock header, or will it have to be welded? Thanks again!

Gardner, welcome! I just installed the "mild" steel peco system on my 70 B. It has a good "note"! I got it from Proper MG for $129. I used the original cast iron header, but I first had it sandbasted then painted with ceramic paint. Replacing the header itself is not bad, but you have to remove the intake manifold and carbs, which can be a bit tricky. I took lots of digital photos, so I remember how the linkages went back together. If you do it, don't forget for order new gaskets.

Gardner: I recently installed an ANSA system on my 69B. It fit the stock front pipe like a charm. It is a high quality item and rather more expensive than the Peco system, but it is not too loud and looks fantastic. It is a matter of personal choice. I have not heard or driven a car with a Peco system, so I can't give you a comparison. My criteria was a free flow exhaust that was not too obtrusive, and ther ANSA fits the bill. It should not be confused with the Monsa system sold by some.
As far as plugs go the NGK BPR6ES are a good choice.

Jud, I'm in Nasha and frequent Portsmouth and Hamton Beach! Like to see that GT some time. I had a Monza fitted to my '77 detoxed B and it's great. I refused to spend the extra on the premiumly expensive; just a cost issue! Using an aftermarket pancake filter set also, nothing elaborate, but their washable and they work!

I'm running a Peco exhaust and a Peco header. It is louder than stock by about 25%; took some getting used to, but now I like the sound of it. I could swear there is more power, but it could just be wishful thinking. Replacing the header is no big deal if you discount separating the stock header from the lead pipe (bolts are always rusted and a pain to get at) to get it out.

The SU's are easy to rebuild - do it before you put them on. It will make them a h*ll of a lot easier to tune. Get the throttle shafts rebushed, too; unless you buy new, they're gonna need it.

You're going to be amazed at what a set of SU's does for your car...

OK, I gotta backtrack here... I was confusing the Ansa with the Monza. Do they still sell the Monza exhausts? Total junk, in my opinion.
Anyway, on the dyno, the Peco is the only one that I've seen consistently produce more power than the stock setup, and then it's not by much. The Peco PROBABLY (I'm not sure) just clamps up to the stock downpipe, but again, I'm not sure. If it were me, I'd take the whole thing to the local muffler shop and have them weld it all up together. I've installed a Monza system, and it was enough to put me off the whole thing forever.

If it were me, on a street car, I'd leave the stock manifold and attach either a peco or a home-brew system to that. Or, rather, I'd have my local muffler shop do it. It's cheaper that way, if your time is worth anything, I think.

I installed a Peco header and exhaust system on my '73 with no problems at all. I have worked on exhaust systems before on various cars and it is one of my least favorite things to do. However, this one was easy.

There are pictures of the installation on my website if you are interested. You can get to the website by clicking on the link in my profile.

Good luck!

Talk to Sam at McLean's. He has been good for advice in the past. I am using the Bumble bee wires with NGK BPR6ES and have had no fouling problems. Without doing alot of head work I do not believe you are going to feel much of a difference over the stock cans. I am waiting for my exhaust system to die (3-4 more speedbumps ought to do it). I will then change to the large bore peco system. I have heard it is a pretty easy installation. I assume you are going to be at Strawberry Banke in July? You can't miss that show, nice cars, nice people. My brother runs his dark blue 67BGT as his almost daily driver in the seacoast (he lives on Hampton Beach) beep if you see him.

Bo;t on, don't weld.

I've become a stainless junkie.

I recently installed the Peco exhaust on my car, with the cast iron manifold and (new) stock downpipe. You will need an adapter piece to mate the system up, no problemo for any competent muffler shop. The sound is great, a pleasing growl under acceleration but not loud at all at highway speeds.
I also use K&N filters, I ordered the 'replacement' elements that fit the stock cans, then used the bottom plates (air horns), the spacers and long bolts and made my own top plate. Looks just like the K&N setup without the 'MGB' cut into the aluminum plate, but cost half as much.
The NGK plugs are great, but so are Champion N9Y's.
The only thing about the wires; if you use an early type side-entry cap, you'll probably have better luck with copper-core wires than the modern ones.

Newmarket, NH is where I lived before I found the "true way" and moved to Texas. (no rust and still no state income tax) I owned a Condo in Newmarket, until I finally was able to sell it for a 30K loss. But it's still a neat place to live.

Ed

is the peco exhaust visible walking around the outside of the car? I got a 'Pace Setter' crap that came from Moss and its broken the same weld on the muffler twice. Anyways, if it was visible, wouldn't an orange/red can look sort of silly hanging from beneath?

That is what exhaust paint is made for I reckon.

depends on what color the car is

Thanks for all your help! Is the adaptor piece you mentioned something that can just be bought at a shop, or is it something that would have to be fabricated? I'd really like to do as much of the installation myself. What does the adapter look like? Does it just bolt on with everything else?

guess it might go with Vermillon eh?