Talk Morgan Forums Thread Like Summary - Engine Trouble?

Evening,
I wonder if there are any M3W gurus that could advise on the following please.

I purchase my 10K mile 2012 M3W in September and I only got to drive it a handful of times before Winter set in (I will only drive it in fair weather). Therefore I haven't had that many hours to get that familiar with it (so I am not 100% sure if it has always been like this or something has changed recently).

Since thw Winter came in I have been regularly running it in the garage to keep the engine well lubricated, and therefore ironically I am getting more familiar with the car over the many times I have spent watching the car idling.

Anyway standing behind the car I have noticed that the left exhaust put,put,puts away rhythmically but the right exhaust has a more stranger labored sound. When i first heard it i initially though it was some kind of exhaust rattle, but bracing the exhaust with my foot didn't alter the sound.

Here is a short video of the sound, showing the difference.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EcCWURySb3S3S6oP9

Any advice would be most welcome. Have I got a problem?

Two other quick facts of info...

1) The M3W has a G56 ECU, but returning to stock ECU makes no difference to the sound.
2) The sound happens throughout the rev range, not just idle.

I have an Emerald ECU
And I made an extra dashboard to control a lot, but also the Air-Fuel ratio of the two pipes.

I had the same difference in the exhaust pipes as you and many others are mentioning.

I found out that it was extremely difficult to get a stable and equal Air-Fuel ratio.

Studying the problem I found information that even with perfect engine valves there is always a little back pressure in your pipes.
When there is within a meter after your O2 sensor an air-leak this can still cause trouble with your Air-Fuel-ratio.
The two - front and aft - pipes are connected with a simple hose-clamp with each other.
That can give an air-leak.

First I bought on amazon the
MOCNT Pipe Connector Exhaust Collar 65mm Band Exhaust Pipe Stainless Steel Clamp Double Exhaust Sleeve Fitting Length 87mm
€ 29,49
And fitted it on the Starboard exhaust pipe.
I got far better results.
Then I installed a second on the other Port pipe and since then I have no problems with irregular Air-Fuel ratios and got rid of the differences you mentioned.

I am not sure if this is the solution, but I can tell it makes your exhaust pipe fully closed.
Give it a try and when it not works for you, for sure your exhaust pipe looks more nicer than with that ugly hose-clamp.

In the same article, wrapping the pipe was discussed to keep the gasses in the pipe as much as possible on the same temperature till 1 meter aft of the O2 sensor.
So I did that too.
There is a lot of discussion about wrapping - your S.S. pipe will rust ( ? ) etc. - but for me it helped.

The Morgan 3 Wheeler is designed for fun driving but also the joy of improving what MMC designed.
So enjoy experimenting.

The early 90° V twin Moto Guzzi's (750 cc and up) had a balance pipe between the horizontal sections after the downpipes and before silencers. The 850 Le Mans also had this, but sported another balance pipe welded between the two downpipes such that they formed a single assembly. I always understood the mutual exhaust pulses improved scavenging between cylinders.

I remember Krazy Horse developing similar for their Stage 3 converted M3W as below.

Many thanks Herrie for the information about the 65mm x 87mm exhaust connector collar. I thought they looked a neater solution to the joint than the current screw clamp and worth a go. Now fitted, after replacing the cracked flexi joints in the headers. I have not had a chance to put a few miles on them but they seem to be a much better solution to the joint than the screw clamp. I have seen similar collars but not as good finish as the ones you detailed. The engine still "fluffs" at idle on the RH pipe, so no change there.