Cat Back Exhaust Interest?, Anyone interested in a n/a Cat Back Exhaust? Options

[presure2]

Hey All,

As some of you know, I picked up a Tig welding machine earlier this year, and have been doing some exhaust and intercooler projects for people on the forum for years,.. first with a mig machine, and now with the Tig.

I know the Greddy Cat Back was a really nice option when it was made, but finding them now is getting harder since you cant get em new, and got me to thinking about producing a setup that will probably end up being similar to that.

I'd like to hear your thoughts and ideas on what you'd like to see made, maybe we can come up with one together, and bring a new product to the community!

For a basic idea, I'm thinking somthing like either 2.25 or 2.5" piping (IIRC the Greddy is 60mm/2.36"), with the option of either mild (aluminized) steel to keep it cheap, or 304 stainless steel, with somthing like a magnaflow oval muffler, and optional resonator.
I'd prefer to keep it under axle, for 2 reasons, #1 its better from a performance standpoint, and #2 its cheaper to make (less bends).
I could certainly do it over axle if thats what you guys want, but it will definetly be more expensive that way for sure.

Im figuring we could probably do somthing like that, under axle, in stainless, with no resonator for probably somewhere ~4-500, depending on what muffler we use. in mild steel, it'd proabably be ~300 or so, again depending on which muffler we use.

Some of the things I would like your input on is:
Under or over Axle?
Which material would you prefer? (Mild or Stainless)
2.25 or 2.5" piping?
Resonator or not?
Which Style of Muffler, Oval (similar to Greddy) or Round?
Angled up or Straight out (similar to Greddy)?
and anything else you guys can think of! lol

The catch would be that i would need someone semi-local willing to lend me theyre car for a weekend or so, so I could build the exhaust, and then a jig for it. That person would get an amazing deal on a custom built exhaust! (basicly just over cost of materials)
what do ya think, guys?



::edit:: if we get some interest, I could also do things like test pipes (cat eliminators) ect as well in the future.

[stephen_lee]

Do it bro. If I didn't weld myself I would buy one:)


I'd want mild steel, resonator, oval, under axle.

2" for my 7a though, 2.25 for yall big 5s guys

I used 2" galvanized fencepost, and galvanizing paint over the welds when I was done. Should last OK.

Doesn't stock use plain mild steel? My 94 had NO rust holes in the exhaust, but I am from south Texas... no snow and salt..

[bloodMoney]

^This.

I need a good base exhaust for the swap in the spring, but I would want a 2.5", mild with a resonator and an oval muffler.

I'd also feel better knowing that this was a quality Manny exhaust.

[KAOS]

^This.

I need a good base exhaust for the swap in the spring, but I would want a 2.5", mild with a resonator and an oval muffler.

I'd also feel better knowing that this was a quality Manny exhaust.

^ this. Except I want a round exhaust, under axel angled exhaust. For my 3SGE swap next spring.

This post has been edited by KAOS: Nov 15, 2011 - 10:30 PM

[mandrek]

since i doubt that you will be doing these mass produced, and most likely done per order with a jig, i would think that u should offer your exhaust as about 3 diffrent diamiters.. ex: for the 7a=2", a 5S/7A-turbo=2.5", and the v6/3S guys out there 3". the jig should be just about the same (not like a header). and i would simply offer your exhaust with what YOU would put on it.. then if any one wants somthing diffrent or wants resinator(s) then they can just send em to you.. (not like the resonators are going to go in anyware but the strait section, so, easy to just put them in wile fabbing it up..)

just my $.02....


oh and if it were for me i would do an OBX Evo2 can, 2x arowturbine 25 resonators, under axle 2.5"... with the can tucked as far up as posible (even if it would mean cutting into the bumper to get it to fit [actualy thats what i woudl want, lol ]) oh and in 304SS.. good luck!

[chacha]

still interested in the mid-pipe 3" from the berk dp to the mid-pipe

[presure2]

Thanks for the input so far guys, I appreciate it, keep it comin.

The problem with doing more than one size is each size bend has a diffrent radius. So the jig would need to be diffrent for each size to fit properly.

B-pipes are another tough one, cause I wouldn't really be sure where to terminate it. Since most swap guys just have custom 3" exhaust built, its not like I could build one thqt would fit every swap, although it is a thought for the future.

Keep the opinions coming guys! If I can get say 5 or so initial guys that would get one, ill definetly make them, and hopfully that will lead to more stuff down the road.

[mandrek]

hmmm.. good point on the radius. now correct me if im wrong, but with an under axle setup could'ent you do it with just 3x 45* bends? w/ a slight cheat at the flang up front and at the muffler?

This post has been edited by mandrek: Nov 17, 2011 - 12:32 AM

[chacha]

Thanks for the input so far guys, I appreciate it, keep it comin.

The problem with doing more than one size is each size bend has a diffrent radius. So the jig would need to be diffrent for each size to fit properly.

B-pipes are another tough one, cause I wouldn't really be sure where to terminate it. Since most swap guys just have custom 3" exhaust built, its not like I could build one thqt would fit every swap, although it is a thought for the future.

Keep the opinions coming guys! If I can get say 5 or so initial guys that would get one, ill definetly make them, and hopfully that will lead to more stuff down the road.

That's good to know Manny...if i get the whole set up...would that account for the difference? For ex, if i buy the whole exhaust system and have you make the b-mid pipe too, would that work? of course, that would mean if someone with the swap already done lend their car to you to get the blue print to make it; assuming that it is similar to what I have...or would that not be a plausible idea. I have a gt 94 celica in california hoping to soon swap a 3rd gen 3sgte in. don't know if california spec celica gt model is different from feds' celica GT spec outside of california including the years. keep me posted.

[rave2n]

If you can make one for the 3sgte, I'd go for it. Under over, oval round doesnt matter to me. I just prefer to purchase from fellows on here, then local chop shops.

[presure2]

hmmm.. good point on the radius. now correct me if im wrong, but with an under axle setup could'ent you do it with just 3x 45* bends? w/ a slight cheat at the flang up front and at the muffler?

Yea, it'd prolly be 4x45*, makes for a nice free flowing system.
I won't know for sure till I actually get under a car and map it out.
Swap exhausts is somthing I would like to do, just figured there would be more interest in a na application first.
The other thing I would be concerned about would be shipping.

[bsamps4]

I want to buy one of your 3 inch b-pipes!!!

[KAOS]

The other thing I would be concerned about would be shipping.

I thought about that too - especially for me being located where I am...

What about if you welded them up into sections - would that make it easier/cheaper to ship?

[trdproven]

Some of the things I would like your input on is:
Under or over Axle? Good question, looks cleaner over axle and is OEM path but under axle seems to flow better but is exposed similar to the camry
Which material would you prefer? (Mild or Stainless) - mild is the typical is much more affordable than stainless, but stainless is nice
2.25 or 2.5" piping? 2.25 for zero to little mods and 2.5 for strong N/A or entry turbo setup
Resonator or not? resonator for sure
Which Style of Muffler, Oval (similar to Greddy) or Round? I've always been a fan of ovaled
Angled up or Straight out (similar to Greddy)? angled is too trendy for our models or custom built, reminds me so much of fwd trying to do the angled style of RWDs. especially the TCs i always see.
and anything else you guys can think of! lol - Will it incorporate to go up to the bottom cat or not at all meanign the 2nd cat below? 5zigen catbacks don't reach all the way to the downpipe end for non cali celicas and greddy ones go all the way to the downpipe end.

downpipe production perhaps? but again it leads to multiple versions to be made for specific model or motor.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Nov 20, 2011 - 7:26 PM

[BonzaiCelica]

like he said ^



or

[presure2]

The other thing I would be concerned about would be shipping.

I thought about that too - especially for me being located where I am...

What about if you welded them up into sections - would that make it easier/cheaper to ship?

I'm thinking that I could do it in 2 sections, the midpipe would go from the end of the cat, to probably just before, or just after the rear subframe, then a rear section.
Definetly won't be doing a header. With how cheap those eBay ones are, no one will pay what it would cost to produce a quality one.
Even a mild steel one would prolly cost at least a couple hundred bucks to build with a decent collector.

[mandrek]

true on the point of the headers, there presure2, but with as much turbo work you do, i would think that (and i know that this would be a COMPLEATLY diffrent project) if you looked into offering quality TURBO manifolds with proper flanges, and mounts for the not so popular aplications (again since you are not going to have these maunfatured) like the growing 7afte and non-standard 5s/3s variations (like top mount and side mount) you may be able to carve out a nice niche in a market that is populated by bigger manufatures that do not take the time to address small (yet growing) markets.

[k-weaver]

Not trying to throw down the idea but is it actually worth it? I paid about $140 to have a 2.25" catback over axle stainless, installed. This didn't include any muffler, just the piping and labor.

[presure2]

true on the point of the headers, there presure2, but with as much turbo work you do, i would think that (and i know that this would be a COMPLEATLY diffrent project) if you looked into offering quality TURBO manifolds with proper flanges, and mounts for the not so popular aplications (again since you are not going to have these maunfatured) like the growing 7afte and non-standard 5s/3s variations (like top mount and side mount) you may be able to carve out a nice niche in a market that is populated by bigger manufatures that do not take the time to address small (yet growing) markets.

naa, the 7afte and 5sfte guys in general are all budget minded guys, that arnt looking to spend as much on a manifold as they do on the rest of theyre projects. lol
building a good manifold is defiently not cheap, thats for sure.
the 5s guys can totally have custom manifolds made quite easily because of the 3s flange similarity.
guys like racerx or baktash over on mr2oc would be able to do those without a problem, hell, im sure jeff would even do a 7a setup without a problem.
Right now, I more just trying to find something more universal that I could make more than 1 or 2 a year of...lmao
I know strut bars are something that would sell well, but getting the proper material to make a quality peice like the j-speed or TRD isnt as easy as exhaust stuff.
I would like to have some really nice strut mount peices made, (the part of the strut bar that mounts to the strut tower)because IMO to make a quality bar, that needs to be a cast or machined peice, so I will need to have that part of it contracted to someone, and I do have a few contacts for things like that...
But that is for another thread...lol
Back to the exhuast talk!
any guys out there with the greddy exhaust on an st?
So far, it looks like the first exhaust will probably be 2.25 or 2.5" mild, under axle with resonator and oval muffler.
If I haddnt cut up my exhaust last year, I would just use my car for the first one, but since I did, Im gonna need someone at least semi local that has a stock setup to build the first one for.
whos down!?
Once I build one, I can tack another one up and have the whole exhaust digitized by the company I get all my bends from, and then all the bends will come premade into sections I will weld together, instead of having to cut and weld each bend for each exhaust.
that makes for a stronger, more rust resistant exhaust, cause there will be less welds.

[presure2]

Not trying to throw down the idea but is it actually worth it? I paid about $140 to have a 2.25" catback over axle stainless, installed. This didn't include any muffler, just the piping and labor.

REALLY? in stainless?
you cant even buy the pipe (in stainless) to build an ehxuast that cheap.
was it mandrel bent? 99.9% of the local shops that bend up pipe for you while you wait dont do mandrel bends. its either crush bent, or compression bent.
reason being, is a mandrel bending machine typicly runs ~ 30K lol.

besides, the greddy ran ~ 500$ new IIRC..