Custom Exhaust?
 

Can anyone tell me the benifits or diffrences of say buying a pre-made exhaust system or just having one made locally?

I've got a shop here in Knox that will do me a DP w/hi-flow CAT, plus tubing and muffler for just over $300, all 3" piping.

Other than appearance on say HANN's Stainless Exhaust, is there any other major concerns? I am tempted since the entire system is cheaper than an aftermarket DP is alone.

MEMBERS WITH EXHAUST WORK PLEASE SPEAK UP! My baby can breathe really well, now if it could fart really well too.

Also, is there and ad/disadvantages to going with a larger pipe? 3.5" or 4"?

3" is more then enough man. I bought my exhaust from ADM which is the SW exhaust. 3" all the way through. You would have to have a pretty big turbo to need a 3.5-4" exhaust. If they only want $300 for the whole setup then run with it and please post videos when its done. Also what muffler will you be running?

Well although our's is not a 2.0 exhaust we do love a good exhaust and have receipts to prove it, haha..... To answer the 3.5" to 4" question one problem would be making it fit? Our's is a combo of Magnaflow 2.5" system with a modified 2 1/2" stainless single highflow cat dp that was done specifically for an HHR (1" longer than the Cobalt dp)! The radius of the 2.5" exhaust gets tricky over the rear axle so I can imagine the 3" was tougher, any larger should be almost impossible to fabricate! Also unless your muffler shop is real "high end" the complete system will not be made from complete stainless if you so desire! A couple of fabed joints on our exhaust was not welded with stainless rod and down the road could become a weak link! We did have our exhaust fully ceramic coated from the GMPP manifold back to the muffler which greatly decreased under the hood temps and helped lower what hot air our CGS digests! We also purchased a 3' section of straight 2 1/2" stainless from our local stainless shop along with an extra stainless flange as to fab a section for deleting the resonator which should be do-able in 3" for your application. Also the bends from a standard muffler shop will not be like what Magnaflow or others are able to do produce as the standard hydralic benders make O.D. of the tubing to become smaller when bent! Hopefully some of our experience gives you some help or ideas of what you'd like to do with your exhaust?

Best-O-Luck :thumb:,

i had my local guy make mine...I did straight 3" from exhaust manifold back. W/DMH exhaust cut-out. into the muffler that Magnaflow uses for their setup. and not an issue yet....

new exhaust would require another tune, no? I'd go with local shop for that price.

I think I'll shop around a bit, they seemed a little too cheap without looking. I pulled in 'cuz the owner has a black TB SS. If he can go straight back, then it might be worth it. I may however ponie up for some stainless, and have this guy do the DP and install.... That would set me back about $650-750.... Hum alot to think about.

If i remember correctly i paid like $600 for the full turboback

a pre-made exhaust system like Hahn, Magnaflow, ADM...... are mandrel bent 3" tubing which is awesome for flow.

if that local exhaust shop can do mandrel bends with 3" tubing for $300.... and their welding is good..... i say jump on it.

I bought twin stainless mufflers and paid a local guy to put it in and finished up around 425.00