Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Exhaust Pipes

While I was doing some research on louder exhaust pipes for my 'standard' MTW, I heard that the engine gets too hot because of a lack of fuel injection (spark plugs already look like it's a bit too hot in there), and the insufficient standard air filter. My dealer keeps telling me the engine would severely suffer without an ECU 'adaption' such as a digital fuel optimizer or so... Or does the ECU always automatically adopt to the conditions? MMCs new stage 1 kit comes with pipes and air filter only, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't harm the engine, right?

If spark plugs look as though it's running too hot then it is probably running too weak (or, less likely, has a bit too much advance). Free flowing pipes and a free-er flowing air filter may make it run even weaker. Suggest trying a richer main jet in the carb. If you drill one of the downpipes and weld on a threaded boss you can add an 02 sensor and read the signal from that at various speeds and loads to ensure correct stoechiometric burn. There are various kits available that include the boss, the 02 sensor and the reader.

The post is a bit perplexing in that the Three Wheeler does not have a carb, but indeed, has fuel injection, and I am guessing the the lambda sensor will optimise the paragmeters according to use. The engine does appear to run hot, witness the glow of the primaries, but this is probably due to the need to comply with emmision regs. such as they are for this engine.

Whilst I do not have great faith in MMC, if they sell a kit, it will have had some testing and is unlikely to damage the engine.

Currently the search is on for someone who can remap the ECU, and it will only be a matter of time, before it is doable.

Maybe Fullhoza would care to elaborate on the source of his info. and perhaps be a little more specific?

The MMC kit I believe has come from the development of the Mark Reeves "works racer".

This month's MTWC Bulletin has the proposed sporting formula classes for the M3W.

Three classes:

"Standard" with stage 1 mods of free flowing air filter and silencer

"Touring Modified" with stage 2 mods of stage 1 plus ECU Morgan calibrated for stage 2

"Track Modified" with stage 1 mods plus big bore (2,093cc), uprated cams, ported head, big valves and ECU Morgan calibrated for stage 3

So it looks like Morgan (via Aero Racing?) could be offering stage 1, 2 and 3 upgrades shortly.

If so it will be interesting to see the quoted power upgrades and compare with Garage 56

Upgrades soon...When when when??

Will they be providing a tractor strength gear and bevel box to cope with the extra oomph

As we've discussed before, I am 99% certain that the hot engine and glowing headers at idle (an outrageous condition in anyone's book), is due to a VERY restrictive exhaust. Gases can't get out, heat builds, pinking (det) occurs and the engine is not really very happy. Early prototypes and customer cars had much freer flowing pipes and did not have the issue - plus they were much quicker. I am certain the ECU mapping was done at that stage.

Roll on to where we are now and with uber-restrictive pipes and intake we have a situation where the engine is running far below optimum and is in need of a Stage1 kit. Personally I don't need much beyond that, as I just want an engine setup to run correctly. I think the Garage56 kit will be a revelation and I understand that the mapping in the ECU works pretty damn well with a free flowing setup. Hardly surprising really, considering when I think the mapping was originally baselined.....

It's clear that MMC are working on stage tuning kits and seem to be confident in the strength of their transmission, so I don't expect much increase in issues over what we're seeing now with BB's and Compensators. Having progressively strangled the engine since launch, it's hardly surprising that there's a good market for freeing things up again! After all, EasyJet did just the same by introducing Speedy Boarding a year or so after creating the chaos of boarding bun fights originally.

Thank you all for your thoughts on this, Imreally appreaciate it.
Ok so let's sum this up:

1. there are five exhaust pipe versions:
- standard factory
- factory type 'noisy'
- factory type 'straight through'
- factory type 'stage 1 sport exhaust'
- any custom type you built on your own

2. we all agree the engine is running too lean

3. the engine becomes way too hot

Now there are two philosophies about how to improve this situation:
- remap ECU or use DFO to adjust fuel injection
- exchange air filter and exhaust pipe to increase the air flow

Gents, this doesn't make it any easier. MMC is now offering the Stage 1 kit, but with no ECU remap it seems. Won't this damage the engine? Or will increased air flow help reduce engine temperature, making the Stage 1 kit a great step forward...?

We don't necessarily all agree that it runs too lean. The one and only person that I have talked to directly that has run a standard three wheeler on a dyno was adamant that it did not run lean.
As an aside, much of the perceived wisdom regarding "correct" spark plug colour is of dubious worth. Unleaded fuel burns cleaner than leaded ever did so with correct fuel mixture plugs always look much whiter than the classic biscuit colour. Much better to carry out a full on plug chop then assess the colour of the piston crown deposits. Not terribly practical in the real world and few people will manage a proper plug chop anyway. Better to go by exhaust gas analysis on the rolling road followed by tweaking of mapping on the real road if necessary.