exhaust mods - type of replacement piping?
02-22-2012, 12:08 AM
#1
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exhaust mods - type of replacement piping?
I'm pretty sure the exhaust on our cars is aluminized, not stainless - but at any rate - I know that certain materials add (or detract) from the exhaust note... (I know most of the difference in sound is due to the removal of the parts and replacing with open tubes.)
aluminized steel vs stainless 304, 314, 316
Has anyone compared someone's car done with aluminized vs stainless on sound (given the same mods?)
So to those of you who've done the x-pipe and removed the secondary cats - what material did you use to replace those parts?
I've seen the magnaflow x-pipe which is stainless - but what about where the secondary cats were?
stainless vs aluminized which did you use, and did you decide on it? or was it just because it was what the shop used?
aluminized steel vs stainless 304, 314, 316
Has anyone compared someone's car done with aluminized vs stainless on sound (given the same mods?)
So to those of you who've done the x-pipe and removed the secondary cats - what material did you use to replace those parts?
I've seen the magnaflow x-pipe which is stainless - but what about where the secondary cats were?
stainless vs aluminized which did you use, and did you decide on it? or was it just because it was what the shop used?
Last edited by Toadster; 02-22-2012 at 12:13 AM.
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02-22-2012, 10:26 AM
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The only real metal you'll hear a difference of is between titanium and SS/aluminized. Between aluminized and ss is not noticeable
02-22-2012, 11:28 AM
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T304 stainless steel is what we use on all custom exhaust systems. The OEM exhaust is T409 stainless steel which is cheaper than T304 and has a much thicker wall compared to T304. The thicker wall on the T409 will muffle the exhaust pulses better than T304.
The T304 will give a tinnier sound since they have a thinner wall. Aluminized steel is much more cost efficient to use and will not expand like stainless steel does or lose its shape after overheating. It is all about your preference of sound and price.
The T304 will give a tinnier sound since they have a thinner wall. Aluminized steel is much more cost efficient to use and will not expand like stainless steel does or lose its shape after overheating. It is all about your preference of sound and price.
02-22-2012, 11:29 AM
#13
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The stock exhaust is T409 stainless steel. 409 meets the minimum requirements to be considered stainless steel. Its the most affordable grade of stainless steel available. This is why its used by car manufactures.
On my old C55 I had an Aluminized system made from a local shop. It took the guy about 2 hours to make, since he just used a pipe bender rather than a mandrel bender. Aluminized steel is very common in exhaust shops like Meineke and Midas. Its more affordable than SS and hold up better to rust than mild steel.
Alluminized steel is a steel that is coated with an aluminum silicone coating. If that coating comes off or is compromised it will rust. All and all I don't think its bad stuff if thats what your budget wants to afford. However from experiences, I prefer the sound stainless steel has in an exhaust system over aluminized. Also aluminized piping keeps more if its raw look (color wise) than stainless steel. As stainless steel turns gold, even blue once it's heat cycled.
The down sides of both:
Stainless steel is more expensive. most of the the time, much more expensive when compared to aluminized pending on the grade of SS. SS usually required a good fabricator and that has a cost associated with it. Most fabricators choose to TIG weld good stainless steel. Where as just about anyone can MIG weld, TIG welding requires more time and more skill. With that said both of those can come at a cost.
Aluminized can rust if the coating is compromised. Most of the time aluminized is used by a run of the mill or chain exhaust shop it is not mandrel bent. That means there is a guy at the shop with straight tubing using a standard pipe bender to make it on the fly. This isn't a bad thing, but if you are looking to get every last bit of HP out of your exhaust system the creases/pinch in the bent joints will effect the power the system is able to make. Aluminized steel is not ad durable as good stainless steel. This can present issues pending on its use and location in the exhaust system. To a slightly trained ear aluminized tubing doesn't sound as good as quality SS done. Also aluminized will spill heat all over the place. If the system is close to any tuning for brake lines or fuel line it could transfer some heat to those fluids. Where as stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, it likes to keep most of the heat inside the tubing.
Aluminized exhaust isn't a bad option if that's what your budget dictates and I would take if over mild steel any day. When it comes to quality, sound, over all durability its stainless steel all the way.
Aluminized exhaust piping on my old C55
Stainless steel on my old C55 (mock up prototype)
On my old C55 I had an Aluminized system made from a local shop. It took the guy about 2 hours to make, since he just used a pipe bender rather than a mandrel bender. Aluminized steel is very common in exhaust shops like Meineke and Midas. Its more affordable than SS and hold up better to rust than mild steel.
Alluminized steel is a steel that is coated with an aluminum silicone coating. If that coating comes off or is compromised it will rust. All and all I don't think its bad stuff if thats what your budget wants to afford. However from experiences, I prefer the sound stainless steel has in an exhaust system over aluminized. Also aluminized piping keeps more if its raw look (color wise) than stainless steel. As stainless steel turns gold, even blue once it's heat cycled.
The down sides of both:
Stainless steel is more expensive. most of the the time, much more expensive when compared to aluminized pending on the grade of SS. SS usually required a good fabricator and that has a cost associated with it. Most fabricators choose to TIG weld good stainless steel. Where as just about anyone can MIG weld, TIG welding requires more time and more skill. With that said both of those can come at a cost.
Aluminized can rust if the coating is compromised. Most of the time aluminized is used by a run of the mill or chain exhaust shop it is not mandrel bent. That means there is a guy at the shop with straight tubing using a standard pipe bender to make it on the fly. This isn't a bad thing, but if you are looking to get every last bit of HP out of your exhaust system the creases/pinch in the bent joints will effect the power the system is able to make. Aluminized steel is not ad durable as good stainless steel. This can present issues pending on its use and location in the exhaust system. To a slightly trained ear aluminized tubing doesn't sound as good as quality SS done. Also aluminized will spill heat all over the place. If the system is close to any tuning for brake lines or fuel line it could transfer some heat to those fluids. Where as stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat, it likes to keep most of the heat inside the tubing.
Aluminized exhaust isn't a bad option if that's what your budget dictates and I would take if over mild steel any day. When it comes to quality, sound, over all durability its stainless steel all the way.
Aluminized exhaust piping on my old C55
Stainless steel on my old C55 (mock up prototype)
Last edited by MBH motorsports; 02-22-2012 at 11:32 AM.
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02-22-2012, 01:15 PM
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This is my custom T304 stainless steel exhaust. He also did my custom intake using pie cuts for the bends. Its not cheap but man does it look good and never have to worry about rusting.
02-22-2012, 02:48 PM
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Attachment 229096
This is my custom T304 stainless steel exhaust. He also did my custom intake using pie cuts for the bends. Its not cheap but man does it look good and never have to worry about rusting.
This is my custom T304 stainless steel exhaust. He also did my custom intake using pie cuts for the bends. Its not cheap but man does it look good and never have to worry about rusting.
Is that 3" piping?
02-22-2012, 03:18 PM
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All 3 inch piping and all done by hand of course. We thought about the crazy idea of using 3 inch oval but that is $$$$$. This is the custom intake he did for me also. Were not done yet on the intake though 
02-22-2012, 07:24 PM
#23
Looks like Siamese lobster tails 
All 3 inch piping and all done by hand of course. We thought about the crazy idea of using 3 inch oval but that is $$$$$. This is the custom intake he did for me also. Were not done yet on the intake though
Attachment 229106
Attachment 229106
