Reports on Burtz new engines

[JayJay]

I'm building up a Burtz engine with his cam, flywheel, and high compression head. I'll likely use a Leonard Nettles oil pump, but plan the rest of the internals to be pretty much stock. I will initially use the standard manifolds and Zenith carb, but am seriously considering upgrading to a Weber and possibly a header down thee road after I get it running satisfactorily.

Is it worth going the extra to an Aries "high performance" muffler over the stock? If any of you fine folks have the Aries "high performance" muffler, how much louder over stock is it?

Any recommendations for timing gear, since that seems to be a weak point that would logically be even more vulnerable with the increased hp?

JayJay

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I'm building up a Burtz engine with his cam, flywheel, and high compression head. I'll likely use a Leonard Nettles oil pump, but plan the rest of the internals to be pretty much stock. I will initially use the standard manifolds and Zenith carb, but am seriously considering upgrading to a Weber and possibly a header down thee road after I get it running satisfactorily.

Is it worth going the extra to an Aries "high performance" muffler over the stock? If any of you fine folks have the Aries "high performance" muffler, how much louder over stock is it?

Any recommendations for timing gear, since that seems to be a weak point that would logically be even more vulnerable with the increased hp?

JayJay

So today I spoke with Jim? Joe? Davis, who is Aries Mufflers, he had a seller booth at the Auburn (CA) Swap Meet (down from Oregon). I presented him with the scenarios above and asked his advice on whether a "high performance" muffler was indicated. He said no, the HP muffler is for engines 85 hp and above, and was aimed at the folks who did overhead valve conversions. He didn't think that the modest upgrades I planned in my Burtz would get there, and he advised against the HP muffler. Good enough for me.

BTW, he had one of his polished stainless mufflers on display. Boy is it gorgeous!

Thanks all who responded.

JayJay

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by JayJay

BTW, he had one of his polished stainless mufflers on display. Boy is it gorgeous!

They may start out "gorgeous, but they certainly don't stay that way. MO, you're better off with the painted one (plus dollars ahead). Anything gets on it stains. So not so stainless...

Not to mention they could have put that ugly ass weld toward the middle of the car so you couldn't see it.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

They may start out "gorgeous, but they certainly don't stay that way. MO, you're better off with the painted one (plus dollars ahead). Anything gets on it stains. So not so stainless...

Not to mention they could have put that ugly ass weld toward the middle of the car so you couldn't see it.

Yeah, stainless gets that way when it gets hot. I had polished stainless headers on my last BMW motorcycle (the boxer engine, so the headers stuck out the front of the heads, curled around and went aft to the 'silencer'). They started out nice and shiny, but soon turned that brown that your muffler did. I figured the best way to find out what would restore the shine would be to ask at a Harley Davidson dealer (Harleys are all about bling, right?). They sold me a container of "Blue-Job" ("Removes the exhaust pipe blues, gold and yellow discoloration, rust, and fingerprints"). Didn't work worth a darn.

And you're right, that's certainly not the most attractive weld I've ever seen.

JayJay