Cleveland exhausts - anybody made their own?

[hendrixhc 10,921]

Well being the sort of guy that doesnt like to pay any one to do anything i been thinking of making up my  own exhaust system.

 

Has any body made their own and did they find it a pain in the arse or quite enjoyable?

 

Was thinking about buying one of those 12 tonne tube benders and ripping into it. Looks easy enough. Going to start with the XC and then one for XE and maybe the tina down the track.

 

Any comments or opinions! Go for it.

 

And Grommet dont talk about fucking fairy cakes or bakeries!

 

 

 

[robbie 901]

Yeah mate, give it a go.

 

I reckon save your pennies on the tube bender, they'll crush the tubes causing a restriction

 

Buy a crap load mandrel bent bits and cut/join them up as needed

[mcfly94 169]

I did an exhaust for my xf, single 2.5" with hooker aerochamber.

What I did of it was perfect, all done with a gassless mig.

Welded a flange on the extractors, tacked piece by piece to where I wanted it to run and sit.

The only bit I didn't do was the section that passes over the diff, I got a rear section from upullit that had a big resonator on it with 2.5" dump tip, so I welded that to mine, and yeah it was shit should of made the whole lot myself, it use to knock the sway bar.

So I took it to an exhaust shop because I was going to do it again, handed over $120 and he bent a half meter section that bends over the diff and welded it in.

I say go for it, but make sure you do it all yourself and don't use someone elses stuff as it probably wont fit your needs! I thought it was fun and feels like a good accomplishment!

cost me in the end around $520, that's steel, hooker aerochamber, the resonator, flanges/bolts/gaskets, flame proof and heat proof paint and labour to have that over diff section done.

[hendrixhc 10,921]

Yeah i was looking on ebay and you can buy the bends - 3 x 90' and 3 by 45' for $70. Not to bad i guess. I was more looking for varied size bends like join in for a X pipe and the like.

 

I was just watching some vids on Youtube and they were saying about filling the pip with compressed wet sand to stop it crushing.

[robbie 901]

Thats a good idea.. Did it work on the video?

[hendrixhc 10,921]

I did an exhaust for my xf, single 2.5" with hooker aerochamber.

What I did of it was perfect, all done with a gassless mig.

Welded a flange on the extractors, tacked piece by piece to where I wanted it to run and sit.

The only bit I didn't do was the section that passes over the diff, I got a rear section from upullit that had a big resonator on it with 2.5" dump tip, so I welded that to mine, and yeah it was shit should of made the whole lot myself, it use to knock the sway bar.

So I took it to an exhaust shop because I was going to do it again, handed over $120 and he bent a half meter section that bends over the diff and welded it in.

I say go for it, but make sure you do it all yourself and don't use someone elses stuff as it probably wont fit your needs! I thought it was fun and feels like a good accomplishment!

cost me in the end around $520, that's steel, hooker aerochamber, the resonator, flanges/bolts/gaskets, flame proof and heat proof paint and labour to have that over diff section done.

 

I was actually looking on ebay and can buy the 2 tail pipe sections for $190. I was thinking of buying them and connecting it into the front sections i make.

[hendrixhc 10,921]

I guess the other question is how do you know what diameter pipes to run? Any rules of thumb?

[Thom 6,651]

Box mandrel bends is the way to go, you can buy an x pipe or make one<br />

[adrianphu123 73]

I made my entire exhaust on my XF, first time i touched a welder so its not hard. just buy mandrel bends and piece it together like a jigsaw. It can be a pain in the ass but it was enjoyable pun not intended. One piece of advice, dont try and save money by buying a 90 degree mandrel bend, cutting it in half to get 2 x 45 bends. Fitment will suck and you'll blow holes in it. I welded hot with a series of tacks and its not about just getting from point A to B but also making sure you can get to C and D and E from there.

[KRUPTOR 929]

I make my own exhaust's,but i also work at a exhaust shop on the weekends so its easy for me.But if you want to have a go,your better off buying the mandrel bends and a couple of metres of exhaust tube and get started.

[Gav 616]

What about a kit like this :

 

http://www.bestmufflers.com/bshop/product_info.php?cPath=759_781&products_id=4219&osCsid=63e0eaf11ac38185c45950cdb46c6345

 

 

You can also get mandrel bends and straight pipe from the same place. Service is quite good too - quick delivery

[hendrixhc 10,921]

What about a kit like this :

 

http://www.bestmufflers.com/bshop/product_info.php?cPath=759_781&products_id=4219&osCsid=63e0eaf11ac38185c45950cdb46c6345

 

 

You can also get mandrel bends and straight pipe from the same place. Service is quite good too - quick delivery

 

 

Thanks Gav. I'll keep them in mind!

[revhead 1,392]

51 mil is 2inch James i use the builders pipe bender next to me its bolt to there floor its a hand bender il get a picci up tomorrow

[hendrixhc 10,921]

Thanks Pete!

[revhead 1,392]

il get the price they paid and were they got it from

[Gav 616]

Thanks Gav. I'll keep them in mind!

 

I used "Best Mufflers" [ http://www.bestmufflers.com/ ]  to source bits for my 4litre conversion induction pipe and XF exhaust system. They're in Sydney...I'm in Melbourne. As mentioned before the postage was surprisingly cheap and fast - Around 2-3 days from ordering.

 

I used clamps like this :

 

http://www.bestmufflers.com/bshop/product_info.php?cPath=313_320&products_id=1076&osCsid=d48535aab96443d69fdb31f7ae353365

 

To get perfect pipe alignment for my butt welds. Just drill 3 or 4 10mm holes equidistant through the centre of the clamps - enough to tack weld the bends together. Remove and finish the welds at each join - then grind for a smooth finish.

[bear351c 10,270]

Yes, packing with wet sand does work. Stops the pipe from kinking.  My great, great grandpappy used to do it....

[ronny 204]

While we are talking exhausts, anyone know where you can buy stainless oval pipe and transitions (for back to round) in AUSTRALIA?

I know where in USA but would prefer to buy aussie

[Trev Vaa 1,185]

ill ask my mate where he got his for his roller ronny, what size do you need?

[ronny 204]

I used "Best Mufflers" [ http://www.bestmufflers.com/ ]

Just gave him a call, top bloke and really switched on

He's got some great ways to do things especially with xe (and he owns an xd)

Gotta check out his website in the custom exhaust bit!

[ronny 204]

ill ask my mate where he got his for his roller ronny, what size do you need?

Cheers, 2.5" oval they call it which is actually 1 3/4" x 3"

[gerg 10,871]

I say go for it, but if you're doing a 6 cyl, they're critical in muffler placement in order to not get droning and booming at highway speed. V8s are much more forgiving I think.

[hendrixhc 10,921]

Plans have changed for now. I just a quote for a twin 2 and 1/2" system fitted from extractors to tail for $600 cash. Cant beat this price just getting the components alone! 

[revhead 1,392]

oh well heres a picci James of the bender the builders use, you can buy it out of melbourne for $1200 ,

[mcfly94 169]

I say go for it, but if you're doing a 6 cyl, they're critical in muffler placement in order to not get droning and booming at highway speed. V8s are much more forgiving I think.

tell me about it!