custom exhaust vs brand name
03-Jul-2009, 10:12 PM
#1
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custom exhaust vs brand name
Hey guys. So finally i've decided to change the exhaust in my civic .After doing a long research i narrow it down to apexi ws2 catback and maybe greddy sp2 ( i still have to research this brand more)...
However while doing the research i read about many people saying having a custom made pipe and a apexi muffler will be a lot cheaper than buying the whole cat back and the results will be very similar. Ofcourse depending in the custom shop
Any of you guys had a good custom made exhaust with an aftermarket muffler .. or should i just buy the whole cat back and spend close to 700 .
Also , any shop recomendations would be good
a while back some people gave me some shops which i m going to call but more will be good to compare prices
and yea my budget is around 500
thanks
However while doing the research i read about many people saying having a custom made pipe and a apexi muffler will be a lot cheaper than buying the whole cat back and the results will be very similar. Ofcourse depending in the custom shop
Any of you guys had a good custom made exhaust with an aftermarket muffler .. or should i just buy the whole cat back and spend close to 700 .
Also , any shop recomendations would be good
a while back some people gave me some shops which i m going to call but more will be good to compare prices
and yea my budget is around 500
thanks
04-Jul-2009, 02:20 AM
#4
I had a custom 2.5" exhaust on my old 240sx but Ill never go custom again I want the Apexi ws2 for my bubble back sooooooo bad 
At the end of the day is all pretty much the same ****, it comes down to $ and preference
At the end of the day is all pretty much the same ****, it comes down to $ and preference
04-Jul-2009, 01:51 PM
#6
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My system (2000 SiR w/ b16a2):
jdm itr 4-1 header with 2.5" collector, which I re-welded, ported (port-matched) and thermal wrapped,
2.5" magnaflow high flow cat,
2.5" magnaflow 20" long by 4" dia resonator,
2.5" in megan racing carbon fiber muffler,
All 2.5" piping.
Pieced and put it all together my self for less than $400 total.
If you can do it your self, it will save you some money. If you can't, then try to find a good used cat-back or buy a new cat-back.
jdm itr 4-1 header with 2.5" collector, which I re-welded, ported (port-matched) and thermal wrapped,
2.5" magnaflow high flow cat,
2.5" magnaflow 20" long by 4" dia resonator,
2.5" in megan racing carbon fiber muffler,
All 2.5" piping.
Pieced and put it all together my self for less than $400 total.
If you can do it your self, it will save you some money. If you can't, then try to find a good used cat-back or buy a new cat-back.
04-Jul-2009, 02:52 PM
#7
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My system (2000 SiR w/ b16a2):
jdm itr 4-1 header with 2.5" collector, which I re-welded, ported (port-matched) and thermal wrapped,
2.5" magnaflow high flow cat,
2.5" magnaflow 20" long by 4" dia resonator,
2.5" in megan racing carbon fiber muffler,
All 2.5" piping.
Pieced and put it all together my self for less than $400 total.
If you can do it your self, it will save you some money. If you can't, then try to find a good used cat-back or buy a new cat-back.
jdm itr 4-1 header with 2.5" collector, which I re-welded, ported (port-matched) and thermal wrapped,
2.5" magnaflow high flow cat,
2.5" magnaflow 20" long by 4" dia resonator,
2.5" in megan racing carbon fiber muffler,
All 2.5" piping.
Pieced and put it all together my self for less than $400 total.
If you can do it your self, it will save you some money. If you can't, then try to find a good used cat-back or buy a new cat-back.
I can spend 500 tops so i ll try to get a quote from them ... I just wanted some feedback from people doing custom exhaust and still using aftermarket mufflers and catalityc converter with a custom pipe
05-Jul-2009, 12:11 AM
#9
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how do you find it ?? I dont want anything too loud , i just want a nice deep sound and something that will give me some performance , although i know the gains are almost nothing ....
Where did you do it and how much did it cost you ... thanks
Where did you do it and how much did it cost you ... thanks
05-Jul-2009, 08:41 PM
#10
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By going custom, you can more easily pick the sound by choosing your own brand of muffler and resonator. You can also pick the material, stainless steel or regular piping, the diameter and if they use mandrel bends. Custom is just that, custom. You can pick and choose whatever you want.
I would think that if you were going to swap your motor or mod the one you have, a custom exhaust would be better. But, if you just want a simple bolt-on exhaust for sound and looks, an off the shelf, store bought catback would probably be better.
I would think that if you were going to swap your motor or mod the one you have, a custom exhaust would be better. But, if you just want a simple bolt-on exhaust for sound and looks, an off the shelf, store bought catback would probably be better.
06-Jul-2009, 01:47 AM
#12
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pick a highflow cat and a muffler of choice. then decide whether or not you wish to have a resonator. since you said you didnt want something loud, use the res, it has no affect on emissions but it just quiets the exhaust down. then get the cat/muffler/res if you choose to use it, bring it to a shop and get them to weld it all up. a full catback brand new goes for 500+. you can get a magnaflow cat for **.99 and a vibrant stealth series muffler for under 100$. you can reuse the res.
TBH just get a muffler of your choise and get a shop to weld it on..and be happy.
TBH just get a muffler of your choise and get a shop to weld it on..and be happy.
06-Jul-2009, 06:34 AM
#13
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On my b16, I found it gave noticable gains, mainly up top but throughout the rpm range above 3500-4000rpm mostly. Also noticed an improvement in fuel mileage too. Some of these gains may be a result of the header I'm using, complemented by the full 2.5" exhaust system. Are you planning on doing the header and full exhaust, or just the cat-back? To see actual results, you need to do header and everything. If it's just sound you're after, then just do the cat back system and save your money.
What car/engine do you have?
06-Jul-2009, 05:49 PM
#14
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so i call hot rods scotts today , guy said 350 for a cat back with a vibrant muffler... sounds like a good deal to me ( not sure if this is stainless steal though ) but this place was highly recomended by a lot of people so i m taking my car tomorrow ....
06-Jul-2009, 06:51 PM
#15
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I did my whole custom exaust hypertech 4-1 header b16 200$ ..magnaflow high flow cat 125$ crappy tire.. and just a no name muffler...I had from my old car.. 2 1\4 pipes with sleved mandrel bend 90's cut and welded them clamps and muffler seal for good measure... spent max 450$ and its amazing...and I had a good time doin it
10-Jul-2009, 11:53 PM
#16
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i lost this topic , since it was moved by the mods..
Anyhow this is what i ended up doing...
stainless steel piping 2.25"
baffled resonator
magnaflow muffler
and they raised up the exhaust since my car is lowered
total came to 550 including taxes and everything... I know its a little more than other shops...
I went to hot rod scotts to do it and the results were great. I love the sound , it sounds really deep , not too loud at low rpms however it get pretty loud at high rpms which is somewhat what i wanted it.... I doubt i get pull over by the cops if i just drive it carefully however i can still feel the sound if i want to
The guys at work said it was a nice sound , my dad said it sounded great and most importantly i like the sound.
I could of probably got a better deal but the other two places i called ( JPG and zorro muffler) wanted 600 + with not resonator....
BTW Scott ( at hot rod ) is a great guy to deal with , very patient and never pushy.... H e actually took the time to respond all of the questions....
A lot of people said he is great but he is expensive , however when comparing his shop to the two other ones , his actually was the cheapest.I could of probably found somewhere cheaper but i m happy and thats all it matters
thanks for the help guys !!
Anyhow this is what i ended up doing...
stainless steel piping 2.25"
baffled resonator
magnaflow muffler
and they raised up the exhaust since my car is lowered
total came to 550 including taxes and everything... I know its a little more than other shops...
I went to hot rod scotts to do it and the results were great. I love the sound , it sounds really deep , not too loud at low rpms however it get pretty loud at high rpms which is somewhat what i wanted it.... I doubt i get pull over by the cops if i just drive it carefully however i can still feel the sound if i want to
The guys at work said it was a nice sound , my dad said it sounded great and most importantly i like the sound.
I could of probably got a better deal but the other two places i called ( JPG and zorro muffler) wanted 600 + with not resonator....
BTW Scott ( at hot rod ) is a great guy to deal with , very patient and never pushy.... H e actually took the time to respond all of the questions....
A lot of people said he is great but he is expensive , however when comparing his shop to the two other ones , his actually was the cheapest.I could of probably found somewhere cheaper but i m happy and thats all it matters
thanks for the help guys !!
11-Jul-2009, 04:00 PM
#18
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Unless its not stainless steel and I doubt its mandrel bent.... Not too many shops in the gta can actually do mandrel bents.
whats the shop that did it ....
Cheapest quote i had was 450 with not resonator
12-Jul-2009, 01:40 AM
#20
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maybe call him again... He may of dropped his price....
I also read in other forums that hot rod was very pricy ... However JPG and Zorro muffler ended up being more expensiveéé
