Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Exhaust Stage 1 vs Garage 56

Was wondering what would be best "for me" between the exhaust kit stage 1 from Morgan vs Garage 56’s kit. So I thought of gathering all kinds of comments, summarize a bit what I’ve heard or read so far.
I share it here as I think it might help others, and feel free to contradict me from your personal experience.

Sure it is a question of taste before anything else, but I think it still might help

Stage 1:
- Sound signature: beefier throatier, slightly raucous, great pop when decelerating (characteristic of higher flow exhaust) MMC Stage 1 has mellowed over the first couple of thousand miles
- Power: gets the power back to the level before fitting urban cooling kit, or slightly higher
- Noise level: louder than standard (not necessary a positive in Belgium), police officers have sensible hears
- Motorways: pretty loud and probably wearing for a long distance ( but mostly wind noise in any case)
- Price: Cheaper option

Stage 1 example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJG1E750vMU
And details: https://westmogmidsummer2016.wordpress.com/tag/morgan-three-wheeler-s

Garage 56:
- Sound signature: very deep sound
- Power: power diagram suggests it gets the power higher than standard. Comments suggest car has more grunt, more overtaking ability
- Noise level: In terms of noise levels, the G56 Stage1 kit measured within 1dbA of the standard at idle, and +3db at 3700rpm (2/3 engine speed, as per track noise measurement), so pretty comparable to standard (from flatcap racing)
- Motorways: the G56 exhaust actually seems to get quieter at motorway cruising rpms.
- Price: expensive, especially with the ECU module.

G56 stage 1 example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xLUJVFuGq4 (from flatcap racing)

Attention: both can be loud:
Quoting Grockle: “G56 but agonising over any extra noise. As you may have worked out from the
blog we live in a very rural location, it is silent. I have visions of the neighbours sitting
bolt upright in bed when I start it on a Sunday morning.. “

WilsonLaidlaw: “I fitted the Garage 56 exhausts along with intake kit and reprogrammed ECU. Transformed my 2012 car completely. My M3W lives in the south of France, where ambient temps can be very high and the pinking even with octane improver and 98 fuel was dreadful. Now totally cured. Only problem is oil temps, with increased engine performance, now above 100ºC. Not a problem for the oil as Motul 300V Le Mans rated to 165º but due to concern about original oil pipes, I am going to replace them with B F Goodridge 200-08 braided steel covered nitrile pipes, rated to 150º. I will get this done (with me supplying the pipe work) when it goes into RD Racing at Le Castellet to have the chassis check and strengthening done, comfort steering kit fitted, new type Centa Compensator, new type rear hub with lightweight steel sprocket and a full service.”

Stage 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4179M3BSCU
About 1:45 I give it some beans up a steep hill (from Nippymog)

I'm not aware that the Urban Cooling kit reduced power.

MMC S1 frees the engine up and probably gives a similar increase in power to the G56.

Subjectively, at idle and low revs, MMC and G56 are similar volumes, just slightly different sounds.

In terms of long distances - I've been from the UK to Switzerland and back (around 2,000 miles) once with stock exhausts and again with MMCS1 and didn't notice any difference in noise comfort. As you say at motorway speeds it's all pretty much road and wind noise.

The lowest cost alternative is drilling out a baffle (or 2) which improves the engine but is noisier than MMCS1 or G56

Finally MMC S1, G56 and drilled baffle all run OK with the standard ECU.

Very happy with the improved performance of the G56 pipes and intake with standard ECU. The sound output is significantly less than MMC1 pipes, but is this currently available? Fitting to an older 2012 car, the cost difference is not that great because one would need new brackets for the MMC1 as well.

Tim

Fitting MMC Stage 1 to a 2013 or earlier car you need new mounting brackets, as Tim says, and new heat shields which are mounted on the brackets rather than the silencer. When I fitted mine it added about £450 to the cost and made it similar total price to the G56. A few people have fitted the MMC Stage 1 without the heat shields.

Thanks you all for the additional information!

G56 "sounds" like the best option for me

one other thing that might be worth considering. The stage 1 is a Morgan supplied product and therefore if there are any warranty issues or if you get stopped for noise you can say its a standard factory option. If you go G56 then get stopped you have to argue the legality. Further it might be worth emailing or checking with Morgan that G56 won't be used as a way of getting out of engine or drive train claims later - regardless of the actual power changes.

Insurance might also be easier if its Morgan as again its factory fit so to speak.

I have the Stage 1 and am very happy with it - though I had heard that there might be supply issues. If G56 are being factory fitted to cars of course then no issues anyway.

I was a little worried about what effect the G56 exhaust would have on my insurance. However, when I explained that a '16bhp improvement to peak power' would be produced, they said (after talking to the underwriters) that there would be no additional charge.

Headley Insurance by the way...

I would have gone with G56 for my new car (as would appear not to be as loud as the MMC stage 1 kit) but decided to go with the latter so as to avoid any possibility of Morgan saying the G56 one would invalidate the factory engine warranty. I believe the supply issues will be sorted shortly but not in time for my build so I will get my dealer to retrofit the MMC kit once one becomes available. Obviously no potential warranty issues if you're fitting the kit to an older car where the factory warranty has already expired.

My conclusions comparing the two:

G56 stage 1 - deeper slightly less rorty sound due to larger diameter silencers, but requiring supplied bulky heat shields. Uses standard air cleaner element with less restrictive scoop.

MMC/AeroSport stage 1 - silencers with baffles give throatier sound and quite raucous when throttle blipped compared to originals. Little subjective difference at motorway speeds though. Easy fit to 2014 -> car, although I foud heat shields required spacing washers (not supplied). Complete new less restrictive S & S air cleaner kit included, looks the part and easy fit. Far better value for money being over £500 less, although some doubt about current availability.

Adding our support for the G56 kit on our early 2012 car - noise is deeper plus more "zing" esp when overtaking...G&W insurance were fine with it with no extra charge...