Custom Piping vs brand name exhaust

legendman · 04-09-2006, 02:03 PM

I'm just wondering what you guys would think of custom piping(2.5") vs any of the brand name exahausts out there? I'm actually looking for performance here, not for looks or the sound. I just find it difficult to understand why I should pay 500-600 for a brand name exhaust when you could run custom piping with a decent muffler for 200 or so. Is the difference really worth 300-400 bucks? I'm not tryin to make a debate, I honestly just don't understand. I know how exhausts work and I know that bigger can be better(to an extent) for backpressure and such, I just don't quite see the edge that these companies have over custom piping.

Any thoughts?

leviathan18 · 04-09-2006, 02:19 PM

perfect fit materials used and that kind of things...

bradvb · 04-11-2006, 05:15 AM

I'm having the same ordeal...and basically the only thing I can see is the offering of good warranties...but if you go to a reputable company that does exhaust...they usually stand behind their work too...so far for what I have found in my city, they want $2.00 and inch for stainless steel 2.5 inch pipe plus labour...so they figure about $400-500 when all is said and done (with muffler).
So I guess what I am trying to say is it is pretty hard to say...because they are kind of in line as far as price goes...from what I hae found anyways, and is it worth the exctra money to get one that has already been tested and proved?

skittleslegend · 04-11-2006, 06:34 AM

You're not paying $500-600 for the materials. You're paying for the tuning and R&D. Not all aftermarket companies offer different sized piping for their systems. Even then, not all aftermarket companies off their systems for all cars. Sometimes you have to either buy one for another car and have it modified or buy one of their universal mufflers and have custom piping made.

But in all honesty, it's really about preference. I'm considering a universal muffler with custom 3" piping (yep, it's N/A) so I'm in the same boat.

**twistedframe** · 04-11-2006, 08:06 AM

not trying to argue skittles, but isn't 3" exhaust kinda big for a little four banger w/o a turbo?

skittleslegend · 04-11-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistedframe

not trying to argue skittles, but isn't 3" exhaust kinda big for a little four banger w/o a turbo?

Yep :) But there are lots of people running 3" piping on N/A 4 cyls...

On Honda's you'll lose a bit of low end in exchange for a stronger midrange and top end :)

A lot of people love to go against the grain.

**twistedframe** · 04-11-2006, 08:21 AM

sounds good, are you going to dyno it to see exactly where you gain and lose power?

***Jrfish007*** · 04-11-2006, 02:36 PM

Should be an interesting dyno.... but you have to dyno before and after since each is a little different. I'm betting if you find a well dyno tuned system won't be much larger than stock. On older civic's I found the best bang for the buck was just to change the muffler out with a slightly less resitrictive one, but you are going to pay upwards of $300 for a decent one that isn't to loud and annoying.

2RotorMotor · 04-11-2006, 02:49 PM

WEll, I paid $500 for 3" turbo back mandrel bent with magnaflow can and muffler (resonator)...

Kroze · 04-11-2006, 04:52 PM

go turbo or go home. everything else is just a waste of money for minimal gain.

1zach4 · 04-11-2006, 06:06 PM

I agree with the above statement...however that is pretty close-minded seeing as how you are on a Honda board, and drive a Honda which is based on a N/A platform and is pretty much the best in terms of N/A performance to this day.

2RotorMotor · 04-11-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kroze

go turbo or go home. everything else is just a waste of money for minimal gain.

Sorry buddy, nitrous is more power/buck....

1zach4 · 04-11-2006, 06:35 PM

yes but to correctly run nitrous it requires the same overall preparation and tuning as a turbo setup.

You still need a full fuel setup @ the LEAST!

**webby** · 04-12-2006, 12:32 AM

keep this thread clean please - no more comments like "ricer" or whatever derogatory comments you want to use toward other users. If you have a comment or question about this - pm me. Don't clutter the thread with comments.

04-09-2006, 02:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
legendman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 660 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Custom Piping vs brand name exhaust I'm just wondering what you guys would think of custom piping(2.5") vs any of the brand name exahausts out there? I'm actually looking for performance here, not for looks or the sound. I just find it difficult to understand why I should pay 500-600 for a brand name exhaust when you could run custom piping with a decent muffler for 200 or so. Is the difference really worth 300-400 bucks? I'm not tryin to make a debate, I honestly just don't understand. I know how exhausts work and I know that bigger can be better(to an extent) for backpressure and such, I just don't quite see the edge that these companies have over custom piping. Any thoughts?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Any good exhaust for the regular civic 06 coupe?	Civic Pride	Civic Coupe And Sedan	5	05-06-2006 05:16 PM
Honda Civic SI 2006 Parts	SpeedDemon	Civic SI	2	03-30-2006 12:29 PM
exhaust question	leviathan18	Bolt-Ons And All-Motor	17	03-26-2006 04:03 PM

04-09-2006, 02:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
leviathan18 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Age: 22 Posts: 380 iTrader: 0 / 0%	perfect fit materials used and that kind of things...

04-11-2006, 05:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
bradvb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Age: 25 Posts: 177 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I'm having the same ordeal...and basically the only thing I can see is the offering of good warranties...but if you go to a reputable company that does exhaust...they usually stand behind their work too...so far for what I have found in my city, they want $2.00 and inch for stainless steel 2.5 inch pipe plus labour...so they figure about $400-500 when all is said and done (with muffler). So I guess what I am trying to say is it is pretty hard to say...because they are kind of in line as far as price goes...from what I hae found anyways, and is it worth the exctra money to get one that has already been tested and proved?

04-11-2006, 06:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
skittleslegend Senior Member Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stowe, Vermont Age: 23 Posts: 7,825 iTrader: 1 / 100%	You're not paying $500-600 for the materials. You're paying for the tuning and R&D. Not all aftermarket companies offer different sized piping for their systems. Even then, not all aftermarket companies off their systems for all cars. Sometimes you have to either buy one for another car and have it modified or buy one of their universal mufflers and have custom piping made. But in all honesty, it's really about preference. I'm considering a universal muffler with custom 3" piping (yep, it's N/A) so I'm in the same boat.

04-11-2006, 02:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
*Jrfish007* STIG: a tamed race driver Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 28 Posts: 1,631 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Should be an interesting dyno.... but you have to dyno before and after since each is a little different. I'm betting if you find a well dyno tuned system won't be much larger than stock. On older civic's I found the best bang for the buck was just to change the muffler out with a slightly less resitrictive one, but you are going to pay upwards of $300 for a decent one that isn't to loud and annoying.

04-11-2006, 02:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
2RotorMotor Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,903 iTrader: 0 / 0%	WEll, I paid $500 for 3" turbo back mandrel bent with magnaflow can and muffler (resonator)...

04-11-2006, 04:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kroze Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 661 iTrader: 0 / 0%	go turbo or go home. everything else is just a waste of money for minimal gain.

04-11-2006, 06:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
1zach4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 22 Posts: 330 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I agree with the above statement...however that is pretty close-minded seeing as how you are on a Honda board, and drive a Honda which is based on a N/A platform and is pretty much the best in terms of N/A performance to this day.

04-11-2006, 06:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
1zach4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 22 Posts: 330 iTrader: 0 / 0%	yes but to correctly run nitrous it requires the same overall preparation and tuning as a turbo setup. You still need a full fuel setup @ the LEAST!

04-12-2006, 12:32 AM	#14 (permalink)
webby Acorns! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Storage Room B Posts: 14,182 iTrader: 12 / 100%	keep this thread clean please - no more comments like "ricer" or whatever derogatory comments you want to use toward other users. If you have a comment or question about this - pm me. Don't clutter the thread with comments.