I have installed a relatively simple muffler, which I
believe is a straight though, no fiberwool fill muffler.
To be perfectly honest, it’s a bit too loud at WOT.
I was wondering if anyone has done any research on
mufflers for the dual exhaust xk120.
I think there would be at least 3 alternatives:
Has anyone any experience with these or comparing them?
Tadek–
ysmalkie
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Our dual pipes are mild steel - not stainless - but the silencer is
stainless with 2-in-2-out straight through perforated pipes (no baffles)
with fiberglass surrounding the perforated pipes. (obtained from
Bassett’s many years ago) It has a beautiful musical-quality sound and
is somewhat loud only at the natural resonant frequencies (primary at
1,600 and 3,200 RPM and secondary at 2,400 and 4,800) of the matched
pipe lengths. The two pipes are each exhausts for 3 cylinders, front and
rear, that alternate firing with some mixing of frequencies and
producing some harmonics in the silencer. It’s like a complex musical
instrument pairing two organ pipes with synchronized input oscillations.
I haven’t done any research but my understanding is this system is a
replica of the C-type exhaust system designed primarily for performance.
The beautiful sound is just a by-product of the science.
Bruce COn 11/3/2016 1:58 PM, ysmalkie wrote:
I have installed a relatively simple muffler, which I
believe is a straight though, no fiberwool fill muffler.To be perfectly honest, it’s a bit too loud at WOT.
I was wondering if anyone has done any research on
mufflers for the dual exhaust xk120.I think there would be at least 3 alternatives:
- straight through perforated pipes
- baffeled
- x type
Has anyone any experience with these or comparing them?
Tadek
ysmalkie
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In reply to a message from Bruce Cunningham sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
Bruce,
I read 2 of your articles on these from 2009 and 2013,
very interesting, I wish I remembered more on acoustics
and fluid dynamics 
I was wondering if I could ask you to speculate how would
the music change when
Do you remember if the Basset’s muffler has fibre wool
inside or is it empty?
Tadek–
ysmalkie
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X crossover and baffles would interfere with both exhaust flow and the
organ-pipe characteristics and dramatically reduce the musical resonance
qualities.
It’s been many years but my memory says there is fiberglass wool
surrounding the perforated pipes in the silencer. It’s like having two
“glasspack” mufflers that can harmonize. Remember the “cherry bomb”
mufflers that were popular in the 50’s? You can still buy them.
Maybe Bill Bassett can confirm?On 11/3/2016 5:13 PM, ysmalkie wrote:
In reply to a message from Bruce Cunningham sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
Bruce,
I read 2 of your articles on these from 2009 and 2013,
very interesting, I wish I remembered more on acoustics
and fluid dynamicsI was wondering if I could ask you to speculate how would
the music change when
- the system would have X like connection in the muffler
- with a baffled muffler
Do you remember if the Basset’s muffler has fibre wool
inside or is it empty?Tadek
ysmalkie
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Bruce,
The packing in the muffler is stainless. The headpipes are 2" in diameter as
well as the tailpipes. There are no baffles or crossovers. I think part of
the mellow sound comes from the heavy wall steel pipes, stainless tends to
be lighter and sounds different.
Bill-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Bruce Cunningham
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2016 6:20 PM
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xk] XK120 dual exhaust system
X crossover and baffles would interfere with both exhaust flow and the
organ-pipe characteristics and dramatically reduce the musical resonance
qualities.
It’s been many years but my memory says there is fiberglass wool surrounding
the perforated pipes in the silencer. It’s like having two “glasspack”
mufflers that can harmonize. Remember the “cherry bomb”
mufflers that were popular in the 50’s? You can still buy them.
Maybe Bill Bassett can confirm?
On 11/3/2016 5:13 PM, ysmalkie wrote:
In reply to a message from Bruce Cunningham sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
Bruce,
I read 2 of your articles on these from 2009 and 2013, very
interesting, I wish I remembered more on acoustics and fluid dynamics
I was wondering if I could ask you to speculate how would the music
change when
- the system would have X like connection in the muffler
- with a baffled muffler
Do you remember if the Basset’s muffler has fibre wool inside or is it
empty?Tadek
ysmalkie
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Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
Thanks, Bill.
The stainless packing is often called “stainless wool” because it is
similar to steel wool but made of stainless. The pipes sound more mellow
partly because the mild steel is more flexible than stainless and
responds to sound waves more. There’s good reason for brass instruments
and organ pipes not being made of stainless - you wouldn’t like the
quality of sound produced. Stringed instruments are made of “tonewoods”
that enhance and amplify the quality of string vibrations.
BTW - if you get mild steel pipes, there’s a little maintenance needed
of you want them to shine. A couple of times a year, I use emery cloth
strips to clean the visible ends of the tail pipes to the silver
appearance and then buff them with scotch-brite cloth to make them look
almost like stainless. I have two rolls of 1" emery strips - one coarse
for cleaning and one fine for polishing. It takes about one polishing
per year to keep them looking good unless you drive in the rain a lot -
then you need to polish off the surface rust when they dry off - which
can be right after you get into the garage or it stops raining. Just
never let it get to the pitting stage. I sometimes spray them with WD40
to discourage oxidation due to humidity. The sound quality is well worth
this small amount of regular maintenance to have shiny tailpipes.On 11/4/2016 9:00 AM, Bill Bassett wrote:
Bruce,
The packing in the muffler is stainless. The headpipes are 2" in diameter as
well as the tailpipes. There are no baffles or crossovers. I think part of
the mellow sound comes from the heavy wall steel pipes, stainless tends to
be lighter and sounds different.
Bill
Classic Fabs in Scotland, supplied me with a “fast road” silencer of
exceptional musical sound and build quality.
Francis Thibaud
In reply to a message from ysmalkie sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
‘‘To be perfectly honest, it’s a bit too loud at WOT.’’
I think the dual system (mine is stainless, from Ames) are
indeed a bit loud. But remember that these only came on
the super sports model.
I personally do not spend extended periods of time at or
near WOT. I think the longest I’lli stay at WOT is perhaps
15 seconds. For that reason I can tolerate the slightly
excessive noise level.
If I lived it an old European town, I could understand the
noise even at part throttle being a bit anti social. Here
in the USA Magnaflow makes straight thru ‘‘cherry bomb’’
mufflers with 2’’ inlet/exhaust in mild steel.–
John
Boston, MA, United States
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In reply to a message from John sent Sat 5 Nov 2016:
Gentlemen,
Many thanks for your comments.
So, I understand that as far as sound is concerned, the best
melody comes from straight through muffler.
What about the performance? Is it also best for HP??
Tadek–
ysmalkie
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I don’t know how much the HP is increased but I am confident that it is.
My recollection is the dual pipe system with the straight through 2-in
2-out silencer offered as an option by Jaguar is the design for the
C-type exhaust and it was developed to enhance performance for
competition. I don’t think they would have bothered doing it for the C
just for the sound - but it sure sounds more powerful :-)On 11/6/2016 3:42 PM, ysmalkie wrote:
In reply to a message from John sent Sat 5 Nov 2016:
Gentlemen,
Many thanks for your comments.So, I understand that as far as sound is concerned, the best
melody comes from straight through muffler.What about the performance? Is it also best for HP??
Tadek
ysmalkie
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Bruce C;
There is some “Motoring Law” (unwritten) that states
the speed of the vehicle increases exponentially with the
quality of the sound…
Additionally, one can add oil additive stickers, cam,
piston ring, bearings, etc. stickers (aka “Go Fast Stickers”)
and achieve an increase in speed… more stickers equals
more miles per hour…
Oh, and it is NOT required to actually use the product the
stickers advertise ;-}
Case in point, an Amalie oil rep was making the rounds
in the pits, offering a quart of two-stroke or a quart of
30wt motor oil along with product stickers… They paid if you
finished in the top three if you had their stickers on your
bike and used the product… so I lubed my RoadRacer’s
drive chain with the Amalie 30wt, slapped a couple of
stickers on my gas tank (hidden behind the fairing), finished
second and got twenty-five dollars… Those stickers must
have worked… ;-}
Charles #677556.----- Original Message -----
From: “Bruce Cunningham”
I don’t know how much the HP is increased but I am confident that it is.
My recollection is the dual pipe system with the straight through 2-in
2-out silencer offered as an option by Jaguar is the design for the
C-type exhaust and it was developed to enhance performance for
competition. I don’t think they would have bothered doing it for the C
just for the sound - but it sure sounds more powerful
In reply to a message from Bruce Cunningham sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
Bruce while the Xk120 and the XK120’C’ carry different part
numbers for the dual mufflers the ‘C’ road mufflers do look
very much like the XK120 dual system. XK120’C’ used two
different set ups for the muffler system I wish I could
describe the differences but only have period photos and the
parts manual for the ‘C’. Your point seems valid that the
120 and ‘C’ share a common design for the one style!–
The original message included these comments:
I haven’t done any research but my understanding is this system is a
replica of the C-type exhaust system designed primarily for performance.
The beautiful sound is just a by-product of the science.
–
George Camp
Columbia SC, United States
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In reply to a message from Bruce Cunningham sent Thu 3 Nov 2016:
Bruce while the Xk120 and the XK120’C’ carry different part
numbers for the dual mufflers the ‘C’ road mufflers do look
very much like the XK120 dual system. XK120’C’ used two
different set ups for the muffler system I wish I could
describe the differences but only have period photos and the
parts manual for the ‘C’. Your point seems valid that the
120 and ‘C’ share a common design for the one style!–
The original message included these comments:
I haven’t done any research but my understanding is this system is a
replica of the C-type exhaust system designed primarily for performance.
The beautiful sound is just a by-product of the science.
–
George Camp
Columbia SC, United States
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In reply to a message from George Camp sent Mon 7 Nov 2016:
I have an XK120 dual exhaust system muffler and fact front
twin pipes and remains rear pipes.
These were purchased in the UK in 1952 along with the
entire Service bulletin #95 package
8-1 pistons
high lift camshafts
stiffer torsion bars and rear springs
lightened flywheel
crankshaft damper
These were for 660560 and the exhaust was fitted but the
owner found he could drive his MKVII quicker from Clare to
Adelaide (very rough roads) so sold the XK120 and fitted
exhaust to the MKVII. All the other parts were sold to Lex
Davison for the HWM jaguar.
Years later the exhaust was removed from the MKVII and left
in the farm workshop pit where it fell until I purchased it
in c 1984.
the muffler is the same basic part as the C type it is only
the exit pipes on the C type units that make it a different
part number but the muffler is identical.
The muffler is 2 straight through pipes that have
perforations that go into casing which is packed with glass
fibre not wire wool.
I also have a NOS 1960’s muffler with part number on it and
this has the manufacturers name impressed into it from
memory something starting with M.
Over the years I have had 20 or so made as exact copies and
this includes the rough full length seam weld to casing and
the perforated pipe and the glass fibre packing.
relatively quiet until you stand on the gas then they bark.
ground clearance on a 120 given it goes under the chassis !
terry–
The original message included these comments:
Bruce while the Xk120 and the XK120’C’ carry different part
numbers for the dual mufflers the ‘C’ road mufflers do look
very much like the XK120 dual system. XK120’C’ used two
different set ups for the muffler system I wish I could
–
terry
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In reply to a message from terry mcgrath sent Fri 18 Nov 2016:
The manufacturer was Burgess.
I had a Burgess twin muffler system on my Fixed Head for
awhile, and it sounded wonderful when going through a
tunnel, but I decided it was just TOO loud for everyday
driving. It was like riding inside a tympani. Apparently
Jaguar and its original customers agreed, as they changed
back to the single system on FHC later on.–
XK120 FHC, Mark V saloon, XJ12L Series II, S-Type 3.0
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In reply to a message from Rob Reilly sent Fri 18 Nov 2016:
yes burgess is correct
M is close to B!–
terry
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In reply to a message from Rob Reilly sent Fri 18 Nov 2016:
Rob they are too loud on a ‘‘C’’ also except they are aimed
away and on the other side of the car! Not a big issue on a
race car but some XK120 'C’s were sold and used as road
cars!–
The original message included these comments:
awhile, and it sounded wonderful when going through a
tunnel, but I decided it was just TOO loud for everyday
driving. It was like riding inside a tympani. Apparently
–
George Camp
Columbia SC, United States
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So Terry,
What was the outside diameter of the Engine Pipes, and what was outside
diameter of the tail-pipes, and what was Outside Diameter of intake-pipes to
muffler and outside diameter of exit pipes from muffler?
Roger
Roger Payne
XK140MC OTS; 4.2E OTS; DaimlerSV8
Canberra, Australia
.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
terry mcgrath
Sent: 18 November, 2016 23:52
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Re: [xk] XK120 dual exhaust system
In reply to a message from George Camp sent Mon 7 Nov 2016:
The original message included these comments:
Bruce while the Xk120 and the XK120’C’ carry different part numbers
for the dual mufflers the ‘C’ road mufflers do look very much like the
XK120 dual system. XK120’C’ used two different set ups for the muffler
system I wish I could
–
terry
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Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –
I have a two in and two out muffler with “Burgess” pressed into it. Raised letters IIRC. Would that be original? 2" all the way I think.
Hello Art,
Can you post some photos of it?
Tadek
