New exhaust time

andi · 20 Jan 2006 at 00:46

I'd try and find an off the shelf system. Could even have one modified to change the tailpipe by one of these places.

Problem with Powerflow and Longlife is your exhaust is being designed by a guy with a welder. How much consideration is he going to give gasflow? Even the cheaper off the shelf exhausts will have been designed by someone who knows what they're doing. Never seen an off the shelf with a 90º mitred joint *shudders*

[TW]Fox · 20 Jan 2006 at 00:56

andi said:
How much consideration is he going to give gasflow?

Errr, loads, given that all he does every single day is design and fit exhuast systems?

Ultra_Extreme · 20 Jan 2006 at 00:59

If you have a good engineering works near you then buy some exhaust piping and get it shaped and welded to spec, far better imo.

andi · 20 Jan 2006 at 01:07

[TW]Fox said:
Errr, loads, given that all he does every single day is design and fit exhuast systems?

So if he knows how to design proper exhausts, whats he doing working in a little garage welding then?

Your never going to get a system as good when the bloke makes it up on your car. How much testing will he do? Will he use a computer to simulate the gasflow? Or will he weld some metal tubing together, stick a backbox on and move on to the next job?

[TW]Fox · 20 Jan 2006 at 01:11

Does it really matter given most of these systems get fitted to run of the mill Clio's and stuff? It's hardly a racing exhuast, even the worlds greatest exhuast for your Ford Focus or whatever will give what, 3 bhp?

andi · 20 Jan 2006 at 01:45

I'd rather get an off the shelf one and maybe gain a bhp or two than risk losing some.

Trojan · 20 Jan 2006 at 09:40

Ev0 said:
Personally I'd probably stick with a standard Renault unit, all in including fitting it'll be around 280-300 as the two sections were £180 and £90 last time I checked.

The problem with the factory 172 exhaust is that it's not quite in two sections, from the factory the exhaust is put on at an early enough stage that the two sections are actually welded together as one and it's put on as a whole. So when it goes that's it, you need to replace both bits

The standard exhaust isn't bad, iirc for the mk1 at least I've been told it's a stainless unit (although it's not shiney) and unless you are doing it to get more power I'd just stick with that personally, plus you won't have to declare it on your insurance.

Or if you want more power go the whole hog and get a 182 setup on there

Having spoken to Renault, they wanted £350 for the 2 exhaust sections, and £70 for fitting. Erm, no. Getting a Longlife stainless steel, I end up saving money, and get the system guaranteed for life

Trojan · 20 Jan 2006 at 10:31

andi said:
So if he knows how to design proper exhausts, whats he doing working in a little garage welding then?

Making a shedload of cash? The garage isn't a poxy little backstreet number you know.

andi said:
Your never going to get a system as good when the bloke makes it up on your car.

Total speculation on your part, you've no idea whether that's true or not.

andi said:
How much testing will he do? Will he use a computer to simulate the gasflow?

No idea, that's why I'll go in, have a chat, have a look at examples of their work, and generally discuss exactly whats's going to happen.

andi said:
Or will he weld some metal tubing together, stick a backbox on and move on to the next job?

What, you don't think that happens in the factories where the 'off the shelf' exhausts are made?