Buying Custom Exhaust Questions

**EK1 Civic** · 14-04-2011 07:00 PM

Hey i finally got all my parts for my exhaust sourced waiting for my cat converter which should hopefully arrive 2morro or next week.

I'm pretty set on getting a 2 inch mild steel mandrel bent piping for my ek1 civic. I don't want tinny/raspy noise from the stainless steel, however i plan to keep the ek for another 5yrs so stainless might be better but we'll see. So basically im at the point of searching for a decent exhaust shop. I got 3 questions that i think would be great to ask to spot out a decent shop, was wondering if anyone else has got anything else to add. Ill be searching for shops probably monday.

Questions i thought of so far.
1. The thickness of piping used?
2. Will their be any warranty offered on the work?
3. Welding? (Wondering if anyone knows what type of welding i should be asking for)

So if anyone with experience has anything else that i should add to my question list please help xD

**trism** · 14-04-2011 08:01 PM

stock motor? do you plan on doing an engine swap at any stage?

Personally, an exhaust on a stock EK1 would be the last thing id be doing.

But if youre planning on say, a b swap in a year or so, id get ab exhaust to suit that, so you dont have to get another when it happens.

**EK1 Civic** · 14-04-2011 08:05 PM

Im currently running a sri wit cai feed. Got headers, muffler sitting in the shed atm. I don't plan to change the motor or anything like that. And yes its a stock motor, think stock ek1 size is 1.75 inch for the exhaust so going 2inch isnt a dramatic change. Just want to know wat i should be asking when i ring exhaust shops to find out a good shop out of the bunch. My only plans for performance wise are just i/h/e rather waste my money on a different platform and when im off my p's.

**trism** · 14-04-2011 08:08 PM

not much.

As long as you know if it has a warranty, and how much it is, thats about all you can do over the phone.

unless you actually have a look at their work, you cant really judge anything else.

**EK1 Civic** · 14-04-2011 08:31 PM

Fair enough I heard ringwood performance exhaust or something rather have a good reputation. Anyone else care to recomend a place to check out? I live in the western suburbs of melbourne btw so no sydney locations lol =/ or anything to add to my question list?

**mugen_ctr** · 15-04-2011 12:38 AM

1. thickness will depend on the material used, definite get mild steel, sure its a bit heavier but gives off a nicer tone, stainless steel is a bit more pricey, but looks nicer, again the note is more raspy
2.Warranty, again, depends on the place, usually they wont offer it, as its a custom job.... but odds are if any problems arise, they hopefully should help u out
3.Welding, dont bother, they just do what they can lol... as long as its a constant weld material all around, no leaks, than its a solid weld, im not a welder, but from what i know, it should b fine lol

Definite go with 2.25, most places would recommend it, i got my custom pipe at A1 exhause, its a franchise...good solid welds, an happy with the end results

And also ask for a hotdog to be put in place

**jeremydawg** · 15-04-2011 09:33 AM

I think 2.25 is too much for a stock motor. Just ask for 2" press bend

**EK1 Civic** · 15-04-2011 11:17 AM

Yeah im pretty much gonna go for 2 inch mild steel in mandrel. Not like your cars gonna be seen from underneath =/ and im hoping it will last the 5 years. Press will work fine but i dont mind spending a little more getting it all mandrel. Plus my mufflers a twinloop gonna be enough of a restriction xD. I'll add A1 exhausts to my list, seen it somewhere in the yellow pages. Yeah im getting a resonator for the system to figured id just buy it directly from the place then source one my self.

**jeremydawg** · 15-04-2011 12:24 PM

you could get mandrel but it wont make a difference. You dont have future plans for the car so may aswell save some money and go press bend. Either way it will probably give you 1-2kw max.

Personally i wouldnt mod this motor. just sayin.

**EK1 Civic** · 15-04-2011 12:59 PM

Yeah i dont plan to mod it any further then i/h/e for the sound xD

**dougie_504** · 15-04-2011 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by EK1 Civic

Fair enough I heard ringwood performance exhaust or something rather have a good reputation. Anyone else care to recomend a place to check out? I live in the western suburbs of melbourne btw so no sydney locations lol =/ or anything to add to my question list?

Yes they have a decent reputation, and they DO use good piping (thickness). I've had work done there a few times myself, and several more of my friends have too.

2" is perfect for stock D16 - don't go 2.25"! Mild steel for street sound. Mandrel bends aren't needed for street use.

I'm not sure about warranty.

As for durability...mild steel will last you 5 years mate.

**EK1 Civic** · 15-04-2011 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by dougie_504

Yes they have a decent reputation, and they DO use good piping (thickness). I've had work done there a few times myself, and several more of my friends have too.

2" is perfect for stock D16 - don't go 2.25"! Mild steel for street sound. Mandrel bends aren't needed for street use.

I'm not sure about warranty.

As for durability...mild steel will last you 5 years mate.

Mind hitting me up with their contact details? With work being done did you like ring up and they did the work the next day? Wondering if i should be calling ahead of schedule.