Building Custom Exhaust Piping, tips and suggestions Options

[Element23]

Im looking to build me own catback system. Minus the gato. Ive been lookin around and see that its feesable with some mandrel bent tubing and lots of good welding. Can anyone give me tips on what diameter tubing to buy or anything else, like a really solid, not farty, not too loud but a little raspy, muffler? Also, when welding, what about the flanges, connecting to the headers from the pipe, do those need to be customized or retrofitted somehow? thanks

[KAMiX]

If you don't want it too loud don't get 2.5" because that will be too much. Stainless doesn't really give any benefit over mild steel other than it will last a few years longer, and looks good... but it costs quite a bit more.

I have a full 2.25" system on my NA 5sfe now and it's sweet. 4-2-1 header, flex joint (because it's FWD), downpipe, high flow cat, long stainless resonator, stainless piping back to the axle with mandrel bends over that, then a nice custom 5" straight thru muffler.

It's pretty loud since I got the header put on.. probably Illegal I think. But I got the cat-back section done first.. and it was just for what you want.. Only loud in the high revs and a nice quiet hum at idle, so I'd say go a 2.25" catback. Also make sure you put a resonator in because you don't want any nasty barking/burbling happening.

This post has been edited by KAMiX: May 22, 2004 - 12:48 AM