Cutom 3" Exhaust vs Stainless Brand name

[Myth33]

Ok I'm close to buying an exhaust for my R33 GTS25T. I am on a budget and these are my options for an exhaust as I see it:

OPTION 1: Full 3" Custom Mandrel Bent system including dump pipe, Hi-Flo Cat and stainless steel muffler. Best price quoted: $1080 Fitted

OPTION 2: APexi or HKS Stainless Steel Cat-back only: $1200 (not fitted)

I'm seriously considering Option 1 only because I think it will give me a bit more power with the dump pipe and HI-FLO cat, and it is a bit cheaper What do you guys think?

[alstar]

i did the same as you are thinking on my car, there is no need to go and spend all that money on a brand name when a custom one will do the job just as well and sound the same too..

[Myth33]

thanks alstar! How did you find it? Custom one seems quite good?

[alstar]

sounds great amd it doent sit to low like some of the brand named ones it a little bigger than 3" mines 31/4" pipe from the turbo back and a 4" tail pipe, that sits back under the car a little. no one ever see it so why spend heaps of money on it, spend what you save on something that people can see

[Myth33]

Thx for the advice mate! Sounds like good logic to me, I would imagine I'd get better performance with a custom 3" full system icluding dump, then if I went for the cat-back only brand name system.

[lukits01]

When going for custom exhaust what points do you looks for?

I mean what requirements is considered important

I know it has to be mandrel bent, usually 3" piping or bigger

anything else to look for? such as material etc. ?

[Steve]

$1080, and thats a cheap option????

Dont do it, buy a second hand Jap one, they flow well (they have been developing these things for a long time), they fit up perfectly (their systems are modular, and they change out in a few minutes), and they will retain their resale value.

I have now tried 3 different cat backs, an apexi N1, a nismo street legal, and now on a HKS super dragger. All up it has cost me $50 to swap between them, if you shop around, you can find a good system at a good price and if you sell it get your money back, try that with some no name made system.

If you want power I can recommend either the N1 or super dragger, both flow very well, if you want street legal, go something like the nismo.

And you can expect $300 plus change from your $1080 if you buy second hand Jap system, and that is a pretty good saving IMHO

[Steve]

Just be careful buying an unknown quantity - it may be 3", but how well does it flow? do you have a verifyable result available to check? I have had 3 cat back systems, and they all flowed very differently, and made for a different car to drive.

Upside to buying a Jap cat back would be ease of fitment (all modular systems ), proven product (alot of R+D) and good resale value if you want to change it.

I have spent $50 changing my cat back systems, I am on my 3rd system, cos I wasnt 100% happy with the previous ones (too loud, quiet but choked top end above 290rwkw, and now just about spot on)

If you are after good power, get an N1 system (as long as noise isnt an issue). dump pipe wont make a huge difference with stock turbo, but front pipe will as will cat - with cat, make sure it is a high flow, not just a standard cat with 3" flanges. I have seen a few of these getting around, and they are a total waste of money.

[Steve]

lukits01, what to look for depends on what you want.

Noise and power go hand in hand, but noise doenst always mean power.

Look for 80mm+ diameter, straight pipes, ie the more severe the bends the more restrictive

Mufflers/resonators should be straight through design and the same diameter as the pipe

A good example is the Apexi N1 system, and as the pipe has few bends, the rear resonator sticks out at an angle.

[alstar]

lukits01, what to look for depends on what you want.

Noise and power go hand in hand, but noise doenst always mean power.

Look for 80mm+ diameter, straight pipes, ie the more severe the bends the more restrictive

Mufflers/resonators should be straight through design and the same diameter as the pipe

A good example is the Apexi N1 system, and as the pipe has few bends, the rear resonator sticks out at an angle.

thats right the straighter the pipe the better and make sure that the cat and muffler are the same size as the rest of the pipe, other wise your wasting your time....

[Myth33]

In regards to the cat: Does anyone know how to tell the difference between a true HI-FLO cat and a standard cat with 3" flanges?

[Elithrar]

If noise is a real issue for you, silencers are available for N1's. From my limited knowledge, they barely limit the flow whilst clamping down on the noise.

[Steve]

Myth33, cat size is usually (AFAIK) measured in litres. A true highflow cat will be alot larger in diameter than the stock one. Some highflows are only marginally larger. Cats are a major restriction, therefore, make sure you have a look at a few and get the largest one you can find.

Internally they are all pretty much the same design, with a honeycombe type arrangement, which wont vary a heap, but often inside has thick packing material between the catalyst and the side of the canister - so even though it looks alot larger, it may not be quite so good.

the people I know that have used the exhuast plug that goes in the rear of the tail pipe have all said it kills power a fair bit. I know a guy with a 250rwkw supra that had one, then changed to an Apex flap valve, and found that alot better, and more user friendly as it can be adjusted from inside the car - a bit more expensive though.