need advice for custom exhaust system, getting 1 made very soon Options

[TRDDawg]

I went to Merlins Muffler and Brake and got an estimate. They suggested cutting everything from the resonator back and making a 2.25" (stock is 1.75") exhaust system. It will cost $165 ($145 because i have a coupon). The price is without a muffler because I brought my own in (Flowmaster 40). Is this a reasonable price or if not where should I go? Meineke was too expensive. They were going to replace the pipe just before the muffler and it would cost $150.

Thanks

This post has been edited by TRDDawg: Jul 1, 2004 - 2:14 PM

[shid]

2.5; mandral bent. Thats a really cheap cost I think...find out if it's mandral bent

[nik]

mine was only $70 for 2.25 not including my muffler

[BlackCelicaGT94]

yeah mine is mandrel bent 2.5 custom full exhaust. i know everyone will be like u overpaid but i didnt but anyways mine i only had ot pay for part 365 dollars all together. This is totally custom made. every single part of it. Nothing of it has a brand. sounds pretty good i wish it was a bit louder but i cant take the silencer out cuz well its my dads car so what he says goes.

but if i didnt get the price cut it would have been about 600 bucks i believe. the place i went isnt ur average muffler place on the corner its a hidden garage with a guy who is one of the best fabricators in the US (key words there - ONE OF so dont get on my back that hes not the top one cuz i did say ONE OF) and does not do typical imports he usually only does race cars or high end cars but he owed my pops a favor

[moltar]

lol @ hidden garage guy

[TRDDawg]

[Four]

i had from the cat back (legit catback my 2.25 started where the second cat did) and it cost me 63.94 when i brought my own muffler. also that price includes the welding on the muffler.

for a tip, dont go to those muffler shops that are national, go to the owns that are owned by people who live around there and thats the only store there is. those places are much cheaper.

[playr158]

if i did a custom from the cat-back...2.25" and got a dynomax muffler would it be LOUD or quiet?!?

[DoodieHead]

i have one of the cheapest exhaust places around. they did my 2.25 catback for 40 bucks even and i brought in my own muffler. that was 70. so i got whole catback exhaust for $110 i just got it done and it sounds great..really deep. silencer was on and wasnt satisfied, then i took it off and oh man....

[sinner96ST]

this is just like quoting a paint job on the internet...

it's very difficult to say which is the cheapest, there really is no guide. (as you can plainly see.. $365, $40, $165, etc..)

as with anything in life.. shop around, and see what you can get. I'd call around, and ask for 2.25" - 2.5" piping to be used, and get quotes.

for the gains that you would see, you must remember that an exhaust on a 6gc pretty much is just for your personal enjoyment. i.e. what it sounds like. I don't think this is something a person with a 7a/5s should invest in, unless they're planning some serious power down the road or just wants their ride to sound not stock. Keep this in mind when you shop for an exhaust.

[playr158]

ok just talked to my shop....700-800$ for a cat-back exhaust

pipes, resonator, muffler and labor

This post has been edited by playr158: Jul 2, 2004 - 10:50 AM

[SlowCelica94]

From header back, my shop says 400 for mandrel bent stainless steel pipes. That's no cats or resinators.

Ok, some Qs.

Sound I run a cat or resinator? I have a straight through muffler. And straight pipes on 4 cyl, usally sound awful. So should I just run one hi-flow cat, or what?

What piping do I need? Some some know the measurements, so I can just order pipes off the internet?

[playr158]

from experience, keep the cat and RESONATOR<---that piece is most important
sound sucks with out it....

today i got my straight through muffler removed cause too many tickets.. i have a DYNOMAX SUPER TURBO muffler now with no resonator--lil raspy so i need to find a new mid-pipe that has the resonator in it oh muffler = 34$ with discount install plus labor =125$
total= 159$

[SlowCelica94]

Thanks playr. I think I'll just run a catback then

[subsolo_21]

I got a muffler ($129), had a resonator cut out ($30), and gutted my cat. (free - did it myself). I'd say lose the resonator. That made a huge difference in the way mine sounds, but then again I like it kinda loud. When I only had the stainless muffler it didn't change the sound much and I could still hear my intake sucking air over the sound of the exhaust.

[hyp3rk1d]

lol damn.. still the question remains, Resonator or no Resonator

[shid]

no res.

[TRDDawg]

i've heard that if the resonator is taken out it will be too loud.

[playr158]

FROM EXPERIENCE keep the stankin resonator.....you get a ricey tingy sound and its LOUD too LOUD.....it was annoying after awhile...people hear you from 3 miles away cops follow you all over...tickets....can't hear your radio unless it's waaaay up.....just not good keep the resonator if not for volume keep it for a better throatier sound

[x_itchy_b_x]

ive got 2.5 from the downpipe back. Every piece of pipe is 2.5. the downpipe is all custom also. well anyways the flex pipe and the bends around it cost me 150 then 150 from that back. its sounds so loud. not tingy though? and i running no resonator an no cat except an obx high flow. the core in my muffler is rattling a little since i got like 5 psi more going out. but it sounds goooood.