Another bloody exhaust question

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Morning chaps and chapesses

Still on the hunt for a new exhaust - I've been following the recent posts and £500+ is still above budget sadly. I have however found a performance exhaust company called Pipewerx who said they could make and fit a stainless steel with lifetime warranty for £325!

Anyone ever heard of them or tried them? I know all the arguements for a Baxter (but my whole thing needs to be done really), JP or Turbothomas and if money was no object I would be getting one, but at £325, I am sorely tempted.

Thanks in advance.

[CovKid]

Well sure don't rule it out fella. As I mentioned in another thread I have a local place that will make up anything in stainless and to be honest, its not rocket science unless you're using a puch maxi silencer as a template. I was amazed by the quality of their work and they're highly respected by local engineers. There are quite a few places around the country that make up systems - always worth talking to them. I'm a bit spoilt in the Midlands as we have an excess of back-street engineers from the closed car plants. Often their knowledge is highly valuable and a few of them set up on their own making all kinds of things, including parts no longer available commercially. Often its a case of dropping in for a chat and seeing what they can do.

Don't get me wrong, there is a tuning aspect to exhaust systems and ensuring the engine breathes, not enough to make a really massive difference on a stock and providing you're not strangling the engine, you should be able to find a place to replace yours for reasonable cost. Just keep asking.

[Ian Hulley]

Just make absolutely sure that they understand what is required of them AND that the exhaust studs are prone to snapping off and they cannot us air tools on them The last thing you need is for them to shear off all the studs and then say .... that's not our job guv.

Ian

[Cruz]

The points Ian has given is the reason why I have eventually shied away from local exhaust places. I have been to several in the area, all with good reputations, and all of them sucked air through their teeth and didn't want to know. If I just wanted a backbox they would have done it, but as far as removing the studs and bolts I got the distinct impression they couldn't be arsed. Maybe they are all secret millionaires and don't need to work?

Like a lot of garages these days they just want the easy jobs on new cars.

That's why I have decided to get the late style cradle fitted and then get one from Baxter or JPexhausts. But I'm lucky that I am within shooting distance of a few T25 specialists. Still unsure as to which one to choose.

But then again my vans a keeper and I wouldn't spend £700 on an exhaust if it wasn't

[CovKid]

Must admit, I hadn't even contemplated garages. I use local machine shops and engineering places although clearly some of them must be good.

[Ian Hulley]

Like a lot of garages these days they just want the easy jobs on new cars.

It's the difference between 'fitters' and 'mechanics' ... fitters fit new things, mechanics attempt to repair the old things first.

[CovKid]

Or in laymans terms, the difference between Kwik-Fit and old Charlie Higgins up the road who has worked on more VW's than you've had hot dinners. That said, definately worth talking to independents. You could always have sections made up a time. My local place will do that. They just copy what you give them basically - minus rust holes.

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Thanks guys. These guys look like they know what they would be doing, they are a performance exhaust specialist - http://www.pipewerx.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - so I would hope removal/fitting should be okay. But I didn't talk through exactly what I wanted - just told them what van and engine it was and if they had down owt similar.

So I should make it clear that they can;t use airguns to remove studs, but is there anythng else? And is there anything I can do to aide stud removal (i.e. a daily dose of WD40 for a week)?

Another quick qestion, when you talk about letting the engine breath etc - what exactly do you mean?

[Cruz]

Or in laymans terms, the difference between Kwik-Fit and old Charlie Higgins up the road who has worked on more VW's than you've had hot dinners. That said, definately worth talking to independents. You could always have sections made up a time. My local place will do that. They just copy what you give them basically - minus rust holes.

Every place I talked to around Preston were independents who have been around for years (supposedly), all claimed to be the dogs "Balls". Nobody wanted to know. They all must own Greek Islands to be able to turn work away in these economic times

Wouldn't dream of taking a wheel for a valve to kwik-fit et al, let alone a crusty T3 exhaust

[Cruz]

And is there anything I can do to aide stud removal (i.e. a daily dose of WD40 for a week)?

Plusgas

[Ian Hulley]

WD = Water Dispersant as mantioned above you need plus gas.

Ian

[CovKid]

Another quick qestion, when you talk about letting the engine breath etc - what exactly do you mean?

Its all about air in and gases out and getting it right. This is why an exhaust with a hole in it not only sounds poo, it degrades performance. You'll find that with engines with whopping carbs bolted on invariably have a more substantial exhaust on to match. Not the easiest of sciences to explain but thats about the long and short of it.