Strangely Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 My Powerspeed primaries are a *very* tight friction fit onto the secondaries - Dave gave the end of the silencer many very hard blows with a mallet to get the two to mate properly. This means that there's a very good seal between the two. It also means that I can't get the $*&£!$* thing apart now that I want to take the exhaust off to aid in removing the engine. Does anyone know either: a) how to get the primaries apart? b) whether it's possible to remove the engine with the exhaust still in the engine bay (obviously not attached to the engine - doh!) (When I said "me" referring to doing work on my car I actually mean "Phil", of course. Sorry for any confusion ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian P Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 With an MOT due next year (and the need for a Cat.) this is a problem I shall soon face too (Powerspeed exhaust off, factory exhaust on: repeat in reverse). Anyone? Christian C7 CCL - broom broom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_H Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 You may not have to swap the exhaust for the MOT – it depends where you take it. I’ve just recently passed an MOT without a cat… Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmar Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Christian - I have taken my exhaust off a number of times with no poroblems, so I guess it depends how hard you hit yours with a mallet when you put it on Strangely - I assume you have tried squirting in some WD40 to help and then letting it penetrate a little 🤔 rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom7 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Strangely, This is the mother of awkward jobs. I have had reason to attempt the exact same job. The method I used was - 1. disconnect the mounting bolts and place a thick piece of card between the exhaust and the body work for protection. 2. Then lye down with left leg/foot supporting the exhaust and right foot applying pressure/kicking the tailpipe. 3. I used a hammer and a suitable drive placed in the nook where the secondaries meet to tap (beat) the pipe away from the join. Don't be scared to hit it pretty hard and don't hit the can, you will dent it! After some movement you will be able to feel the 'spring' in the primaries holding the collector, you may want to pry the relevant 'sprung' pipes apart slightly with a large screwdriver to relieve the pressure. Take your time and the pipe *will* ease off. Make sure the card prevents the pipe hitting the bodywork when it begins to loosen. If there is two of you, one can do the tapping and one do the waggling if you see what I mean. Best of luck. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian P Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Thanks Rob. Like Strangely, my exhaust relies on a close friction fit between primaries and secondaries, though Dave didn't have to hit anything (too hard) to get it to fit. I guess it's just a question of wiggling things around a bit to get them separated. In fact, as well as the MOT, I want to take the exhaust off to tidy up the welding and to give it a definitive polish, hence the reason for wanting all the bits to come apart. Dave_H: I'd heard this was possible. Probably worth chancing it... C7 CCL - broom broom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Spray the pipe joints with WD40 for 3 days prior to doing the job too . It *may* help Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003 South Wales Area Organiser C7 TOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangely Posted November 14, 2003 Author Share Posted November 14, 2003 Thanks for the replies, particularly yours Tom. We didn't use WD40 - got too frustrated I guess, and there other jobs we could do. We'll have to finish the job tonight though, so my fingers and toes are crossed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Leave the primaries bolted to the head, free the exhaust from the bodywork. Have a helper slowly rotate the end of the exhaust, whilst you thump collector/silencer with a rubber hammer. Remember to use copperslip on reassembly JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 222bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmar Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 John - I am pretty sure it woul be impossible for anyone to twist the can off with a powerspeed exahust as the collector is welded on to the can part of the exhaust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Rob, wrong word... try wiggle in a circular motion, not rotate as in round and around JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 222bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmar Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 yes I would agree that also helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 How about taking a rachet strap around the collector and attaching the other end to a lampost , 4500 rpm , drop the clutch ............... Jobs a good un Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003 South Wales Area Organiser C7 TOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian P Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Perfect! Though only if you can guarantee that it won't damage the bodywork... 😬 C7 CCL - broom broom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangers quotNquot Mas1697456953 Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Block the exhaust and rev the nut's off it 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandyman Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 I usually approach tight friction fits with cooling the inner and heating the outer part, works fine with bearing seats. Now you only have to work out how to get your car in the freezer :) -Marin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted November 14, 2003 Share Posted November 14, 2003 Just did this job last weekend... Leave the manifold bolted on and work the silencer up and down and it will gradually come away from the collector / primaries - my silencer came off with the collector attached. You may be able to get the engine out with the primaries in the engine bay. There was not enough clearance to get the primaries out with the engine in situ in my case, but with the primaries separated, you can rotate them to get them well out of the way. I took my engine out WITHOUT the gearbox. If you do this, you need enough space the rotate the engine clockwise the clear the clutch cable at the bell housing and for the alternator pulley to clear the front crosspiece when you lift the engine up out of the engine bay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strangely Posted November 15, 2003 Author Share Posted November 15, 2003 Phil and I have just got in from successfully removing the engine and gearbox, and I can safely say that getting the Powerspeed exhaust off was the most difficult part of the job. We ended up using a combination of suggested approaches. We started with the subtle "bash the silencer with a mallet" technique, followed by the intelligent "squirt in some WD40" approach (followed by some more bashing) then an extended wiggle did the trick. Thanks everyone for your help. The next most difficult task will no doubt be getting the bloody thing back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian P Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Good job Strangely - hope the effort was/is proving to be worth it. I am alreadyl looking forward to my own afternoon/evening/weekend/week of fun in due course..! Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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