custom exhaust questions
custom exhaust questions
hey guys, I was thinking about building an exhaust, just had a few questions, I've never done it before just thought it will be cheaper/more fun to make my own.
first: how much pipe should I buy? I was thinking of doing true dual as straight as possible with two mufflers at the end instead of the stock style,
second: what diameter? I know to stay either 2 1/2 or 3" and 2 1/2 would be $5 cheaper/5 ft. section of pipe.
I know it's not gonna be easy and will be a ton of work and probably not net much gains it's just something I really wanna try and if works great if not then oh well
first: how much pipe should I buy? I was thinking of doing true dual as straight as possible with two mufflers at the end instead of the stock style,
second: what diameter? I know to stay either 2 1/2 or 3" and 2 1/2 would be $5 cheaper/5 ft. section of pipe.
I know it's not gonna be easy and will be a ton of work and probably not net much gains it's just something I really wanna try and if works great if not then oh well
I did my 2.5in dual with x pipe and it took me a full day with my car being on a lift. im a auto collision tech that knows how to weld and very DIY kind of person but it cost me 350 just in CF megan mufflers and like 160 in 2 vibrant resonators and another 150 in mandrel bend exhaust kit from columbia pipeing? cant remember the name. dont do this trying to be cheap youll just end up letting another shop do it and end up spending 800ish and hope it sounds good. just save for a used set up. but heres my exhaust pics
was going for this look (only 1 company makes it for like 1400)
Ypipe converted into Xpipe
Thats my first time making somthing mandrel bent and it sucked lol
was going for this look (only 1 company makes it for like 1400)
Ypipe converted into Xpipe
Thats my first time making somthing mandrel bent and it sucked lol
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Falls
Do you have access to a mandrel bender and welder?
It is also much easier to have access to a lift as well. If you don't, it's not worth the headache and hassle of rolling under your car 1000 times.
Is your car NA or turbo? What are you looking to have between the engine and mufflers? Cats? Resonators?
This is a whole bunch of work. So much measuring, bending, measuring, cutting, measuring, welding, measuring, bending, measuring, bending etc etc. That's generally why exhaust systems are much more expensive than the amount of piping and mufflers that they are made up of.
It is also much easier to have access to a lift as well. If you don't, it's not worth the headache and hassle of rolling under your car 1000 times.
Is your car NA or turbo? What are you looking to have between the engine and mufflers? Cats? Resonators?
This is a whole bunch of work. So much measuring, bending, measuring, cutting, measuring, welding, measuring, bending, measuring, bending etc etc. That's generally why exhaust systems are much more expensive than the amount of piping and mufflers that they are made up of.
my car is na. was gonna see about renting a bender for a day (split the cost with my brother possibly) I was thinking of keeping the manifold, and cats but instead of it being a y pipe and that big single muffler, and split it somehow, I havent really put much thought into it yet it was just an idea I got mid conversation.
the pipe I would be getting is stainless steel .071 wall and comes in 5' sections and is about 30-35 per section
the pipe I would be getting is stainless steel .071 wall and comes in 5' sections and is about 30-35 per section
I've always wanted to try something like this.
Just for funsies if I had a bunch of money and time laying around.
In for tips from people who've done their own custom exhaust.
@Z Enthusiast. Exhaust looks good to me. Diggin it.
Just for funsies if I had a bunch of money and time laying around.
In for tips from people who've done their own custom exhaust.
@Z Enthusiast. Exhaust looks good to me. Diggin it.
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Falls
my car is na. was gonna see about renting a bender for a day (split the cost with my brother possibly) I was thinking of keeping the manifold, and cats but instead of it being a y pipe and that big single muffler, and split it somehow, I havent really put much thought into it yet it was just an idea I got mid conversation.
the pipe I would be getting is stainless steel .071 wall and comes in 5' sections and is about 30-35 per section
the pipe I would be getting is stainless steel .071 wall and comes in 5' sections and is about 30-35 per section
If your brother wants an exhaust done as well that is pretty lofty for a first time go around in one day on the bender. Have you welded stainless before? It is a bit more temperamental than mild steel, but nothing too difficult to overcome. You'd probably want to purchase a bit more pipe than needed just in case. Z_Enthusiast: Looks great! Love the setup.
Keeping your cats would make it much easier along with doing single instead of dual. If you are doing just a single catback you might want to consider buying pre-bent piping instead of renting a bender for the day. Cutting pre-bent will be more cost effective than the rental depending on the rates. But bending it yourself is pretty fun. If your brother wants an exhaust done as well that is pretty lofty for a first time go around in one day on the bender. Have you welded stainless before? It is a bit more temperamental than mild steel, but nothing too difficult to overcome. You'd probably want to purchase a bit more pipe than needed just in case.
Z_Enthusiast: Looks great! Love the setup.
If your brother wants an exhaust done as well that is pretty lofty for a first time go around in one day on the bender. Have you welded stainless before? It is a bit more temperamental than mild steel, but nothing too difficult to overcome. You'd probably want to purchase a bit more pipe than needed just in case. Z_Enthusiast: Looks great! Love the setup.
Keeping your cats would make it much easier along with doing single instead of dual. If you are doing just a single catback you might want to consider buying pre-bent piping instead of renting a bender for the day. Cutting pre-bent will be more cost effective than the rental depending on the rates. But bending it yourself is pretty fun. If your brother wants an exhaust done as well that is pretty lofty for a first time go around in one day on the bender. Have you welded stainless before? It is a bit more temperamental than mild steel, but nothing too difficult to overcome. You'd probably want to purchase a bit more pipe than needed just in case.
Z_Enthusiast: Looks great! Love the setup.
If your brother wants an exhaust done as well that is pretty lofty for a first time go around in one day on the bender. Have you welded stainless before? It is a bit more temperamental than mild steel, but nothing too difficult to overcome. You'd probably want to purchase a bit more pipe than needed just in case. Z_Enthusiast: Looks great! Love the setup.
I think this is alot more trouble than what its worth unless you have the expertise and access to the equipment(benders/welding etc).Also,you'll have no idea what its gonna sound like until you are done.What if you don't like it?too loud?
It sure won't be too quiet.
I'd opt for a system engineered for the car--known results on what to expect in quality and performance.Maybe mod from there if you like.
It sure won't be too quiet.
I'd opt for a system engineered for the car--known results on what to expect in quality and performance.Maybe mod from there if you like.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Niagara Falls
^agreed.
But OP, 3" will probably be fine. The debate between 2 1/2" vs. 3" on NA cars has raged throughout the internet for many years. Essentially you want to avoid backpressure but maximize exhaust gas velocity. Too small and you have too much backpressure. Too big and you don't have enough velocity. But this is also related to the number and radius of all of your bends, xpipe/ypipe etc.
Companies spend hours and hours developing exhaust systems to maximize performance using a dyno. This is where the cost of them pays off. Someone has done the work and put in the time to make the most efficient exhaust possible. Again that is all a matter of opinion otherwise there would only be one type of exhaust for every car.
But you could in fact hinder your car's performance if your exhaust isn't done right. Not saying don't give it a go, but if you're just making a catback it's not going to be worth it. You may hurt your car's performance and you may not like the sound. Doesn't seem to be too many upsides to this project, other than an intense learning experience.
But OP, 3" will probably be fine. The debate between 2 1/2" vs. 3" on NA cars has raged throughout the internet for many years. Essentially you want to avoid backpressure but maximize exhaust gas velocity. Too small and you have too much backpressure. Too big and you don't have enough velocity. But this is also related to the number and radius of all of your bends, xpipe/ypipe etc.
Companies spend hours and hours developing exhaust systems to maximize performance using a dyno. This is where the cost of them pays off. Someone has done the work and put in the time to make the most efficient exhaust possible. Again that is all a matter of opinion otherwise there would only be one type of exhaust for every car.
But you could in fact hinder your car's performance if your exhaust isn't done right. Not saying don't give it a go, but if you're just making a catback it's not going to be worth it. You may hurt your car's performance and you may not like the sound. Doesn't seem to be too many upsides to this project, other than an intense learning experience.
^agreed.
But OP, 3" will probably be fine. The debate between 2 1/2" vs. 3" on NA cars has raged throughout the internet for many years. Essentially you want to avoid backpressure but maximize exhaust gas velocity. Too small and you have too much backpressure. Too big and you don't have enough velocity. But this is also related to the number and radius of all of your bends, xpipe/ypipe etc.
Companies spend hours and hours developing exhaust systems to maximize performance using a dyno. This is where the cost of them pays off. Someone has done the work and put in the time to make the most efficient exhaust possible. Again that is all a matter of opinion otherwise there would only be one type of exhaust for every car.
But you could in fact hinder your car's performance if your exhaust isn't done right. Not saying don't give it a go, but if you're just making a catback it's not going to be worth it. You may hurt your car's performance and you may not like the sound. Doesn't seem to be too many upsides to this project, other than an intense learning experience.
But OP, 3" will probably be fine. The debate between 2 1/2" vs. 3" on NA cars has raged throughout the internet for many years. Essentially you want to avoid backpressure but maximize exhaust gas velocity. Too small and you have too much backpressure. Too big and you don't have enough velocity. But this is also related to the number and radius of all of your bends, xpipe/ypipe etc.
Companies spend hours and hours developing exhaust systems to maximize performance using a dyno. This is where the cost of them pays off. Someone has done the work and put in the time to make the most efficient exhaust possible. Again that is all a matter of opinion otherwise there would only be one type of exhaust for every car.
But you could in fact hinder your car's performance if your exhaust isn't done right. Not saying don't give it a go, but if you're just making a catback it's not going to be worth it. You may hurt your car's performance and you may not like the sound. Doesn't seem to be too many upsides to this project, other than an intense learning experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CZMOEl5AMQ
My previous listed setup w/ Resonated TP's now i have Art pipes and it sounds deeper and less raspy. 2.5in aluminized piping
My previous listed setup w/ Resonated TP's now i have Art pipes and it sounds deeper and less raspy. 2.5in aluminized piping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CZMOEl5AMQ
My previous listed setup w/ Resonated TP's now i have Art pipes and it sounds deeper and less raspy. 2.5in aluminized piping
My previous listed setup w/ Resonated TP's now i have Art pipes and it sounds deeper and less raspy. 2.5in aluminized piping
I did my 2.5in dual with x pipe and it took me a full day with my car being on a lift. im a auto collision tech that knows how to weld and very DIY kind of person but it cost me 350 just in CF megan mufflers and like 160 in 2 vibrant resonators and another 150 in mandrel bend exhaust kit from columbia pipeing? cant remember the name. dont do this trying to be cheap youll just end up letting another shop do it and end up spending 800ish and hope it sounds good. just save for a used set up. but heres my exhaust pics
was going for this look (only 1 company makes it for like 1400)
Thats my first time making somthing mandrel bent and it sucked lol
was going for this look (only 1 company makes it for like 1400)
Thats my first time making somthing mandrel bent and it sucked lol
haha theres different techniques to weld. on my exhaust i used a spot/stitch type weld so i didnt burn holes or get it to hot. sorry my welds arnt robotic tig welds. o ya i obviously used a mig...