Who’s made their own exhaust?

[Custardtart]

Looking into making a race muffler for my NC and wondering who here has made their own and where did they get the material from? I’ve seen sections for sale from Demon Tweeks in the UK but hoping I can source from Aus?
Any advice on tube material, clamps etc?

[hks_kansei]

https://www.performanceexhaust.com.au/

Vic based, but pretty sure they do nationwide.

Nice guys, they're like 10 mins from my house and have a big arse warehouse for the parts.

As far as tube material, clamps, and all the other stuff, really depends on the intended use.

A 2 bolt flange is plenty for basically every join in a non-turbo car, and most of the cat onwards on a turbo car. (heat being the main issue)


Pipe material is more about personal preference and longevity, mild steel is cheap but not particularly pretty since it will rust (worth noting, you'll likely still get 15 years out of it before it rusts a hole through)

Stainless is more costly and comes in a few grades, from the basic "it wont rust but it's not shiny" to the "it's shiny enough to shave with and will stay that way"
both with last pretty much the life of the car, but are harder to work with, and yeah, costly to buy.


They were fine with talking over the finer details with me over the counter, so should be able to do the same via email.




So far as actually making the exhaust at home.
Unless you already own a pipe bender, and a MIG/TIG, or intend to do a few exhausts, it will generally be cheaper to have a shop do it for you, rather than buy the tools.

[bruce]

I remember someone on the forum was all gung-ho about making an exhaust out of aluminium? I wonder how that all worked out.

[Snowmotion]

Interesting you should ask this question.

I was watching the new TCR series at Eastern Creek the other week and noticed that all the cars had almost a straight exhaust out the back under their bumper cut. This has inspired me to redisign the rear muffler.
I am running the Goodwin Headers and mid pipe to the rear diff. The current rear muffler is the Roadster Sport Race muffler from Goodwin.
The plan is to run the exhaust straight back under the boot floor and exit at the centre of the car under the bumper cut.
The parts I got were a 2.5 Lukey muffler that is 4 inch diameter and 14 inches long. The pipe is 2.5 inch with a 30 degree bend. This is all in mild steel.
Hopefully I can do this with my dodgy welding. I guess I will find out this weekend.
I got the parts from Performamce Mufflers in VIC. Ordered Thursday night, delivered Monday. not bad.

[Custardtart]

Thanks guys, good to see there’s a decent supplier.
My welding is shocking, no way I’d do ali welding.
I’ll just go basic mild steel and paint it black.
I would do a straight, middle exit exhaust if it was a race car - nice and simple. Post some pics when it’s done?

[Mr Morlock]

there are any number of exhaust shops around and they have metal forming equipment , pipes ,welders etc. The one thing I gave up on decades ago was working on exhausts systems because I had no equipment - oxygen . arc, pipe bending etc etc and besides I did not get the practice to weld properly anyway.

[Snowmotion]

I got active today and built what I had in mind. Certainly not perfect and needs a few rewelds to seal the exhaust and some high temp paint.
Not 100% sure on the mounts but having a think about it.
A few pics of the work so far.




[youtube]https://youtu.be/vYZ-F16N5pE[/youtube]

[lonesailor]

Just a comment, if the car gets used a lot and gets a good run almost every time it's started a mild steel exhaust should last for many years. If, however it only gets short runs down to the shops a stainless exhaust would be worthwhile but ideally TIG welding gear would be required.

[pcmx5]

You can get aluminumised steel these days, best of both worlds, longer life but without the crappy tinny sound that mostly comes with stainless.
Peter.