Project: 3" Exhaust [Archive]

Staggerlee

01-30-2009, 08:59 AM

Decided it was time to step up to a full 3" turbo-back exhaust; unfortunately I haven't been real inspired by what's available on the aftermarket.

Sooooo, I took matters into my own hands. Started off with a table piled full of exhaust parts:
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/parts.jpg

And since my Chinese Army chop-saw finally shit the bed, I picked this up to keep my cuts straight. Dunno how I ever got along without one.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4022.jpg

Since I wanted to run v-band clamps throughout, I picked up this adapter from ATP that converts a standard T25/28 discharge into a 3" v-band. True to form, it didn't fit; I had to massage it a bit with a BFH. The gasket they sent didn't even fit their own flange without some Dremel work. [confused]
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4018.jpg

The downpipe starting to take shape.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4023.jpg

And completed. I hadn't intended on making a one-piece downpipe/cat, but space is at such a premium with that 3" tube in the tunnel, I couldn't find a good spot to add another v-band clamp. I gotta figure something out tho, 'cause it's a real bitch to get in & out.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4024.jpg

Plenty of clearance to the DTS, though it does have to come off to get the downpipe up & out.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4037.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4036.jpg

And the rest was easy; cut, fit & paste.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4026.jpg

Snug as a bug...
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4030.jpg

The tip on the left droops about 1/8"; bugs the shit out of me. It looks like its got a lazy eye or something. Still need to fix that.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4040.jpg

So yeah, I'm super pleased with how it turned out. I wasn't quite sure how the Magnaflows were going to sound compared to the Borlas that were on there, but I like 'em better already. The new system is quite a bit quieter than the TT/Borla 2.5" system; less "boomy" I guess you could say. At full snort, they sound really, really good.

a4mafia

01-30-2009, 09:11 AM

looks awesome man. you should sell me a 3'' downpipe :)

thopp00

01-30-2009, 09:21 AM

Looks kinda familiar haha
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p11/tylerhopp/The%20A4/P1060266.jpg
Do you like it? I love mine!

blkb6a4

01-30-2009, 09:27 AM

I want to do something like this in thenear future, just need to save up for a welder first, if you don't mind me asking how much did all of the materials together cost you?

zrowcool

01-30-2009, 09:29 AM

have a sound vid? Nice work on the downpipe and it clearing the DTS.

Militant-Grunt

01-30-2009, 09:54 AM

Identical setup to mine, except mine is crush bent =).

Blake260

01-30-2009, 09:59 AM

which magnaflow is that? (single in dual out), and which tips are those?

Staggerlee

01-30-2009, 10:18 AM

...if you don't mind me asking how much did all of the materials together cost you?

Don't mind at all. I'd say that all said done, I'm into it for a little more than $600.

which magnaflow is that? (single in dual out), and which tips are those?

P/N 12198.

The tips are just some generic 3" stainless tips that I sourced from fleabay. The auction was for slash cut tips, but these are what showed up, so I just ran with 'em. I may end up changing them out down the road at some point if they don't start growing on me.

A4Rob

01-30-2009, 10:26 AM

Nice exhaust!

Avant1.8BT

01-31-2009, 04:03 PM

nice. when i live in AZ next year you can make me a new exhaust.

Staggerlee

01-31-2009, 04:44 PM

Yeah sure, but you gotta come to Oregon. The desert and I don't agree with each other.

So after looking at it for a couple of days, I ended up taking about 1" out of the length of the left exhaust tip; I think it looks MUCH better with the proper amount of offset:

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii181/Staggerlee101/IMG_4050.jpg

v1nyd

01-31-2009, 04:50 PM

njm23

01-31-2009, 05:13 PM

bbkid43

02-02-2009, 08:46 AM

damn that exhaust is nice. you should post up some sound clips! you get a cel yet?

Staggerlee

02-02-2009, 09:45 AM

Nice! [up] I saw you posted your total. Just wondering, ONLY including piping assuming you had everything else how much did that run you, and where did you find it at, was it reasonably priced? I gotta re-work my exhaust a little bit, Feel free to PM me..

The tubing cost me less than $200. I get all my mandrel bends from this place:

http://store.racing-solutions.org/

Hands down the best prices that you'll find on mild, stainless, aluminum; whatever. Plus they're local to me so I can just run out there and pick the shit up if I don't want to wait for shipping.

you get a cel yet?

Nothing yet.

tdn

02-02-2009, 09:54 AM

looks awesome man. you should sell me a 3'' downpipe :)

I was thinking the same thing.

Nice set up.

blkb6a4

02-02-2009, 10:54 AM

I was thinking the same thing.

Nice set up.

I third that statement

f15046

02-02-2009, 12:50 PM

What welder did you use?

Staggerlee

02-03-2009, 08:53 AM

Just an old Hobart wire feed that I've had for years.

kevin12

02-05-2009, 07:10 PM

You don't happen to have the P/N for the other Magnaflow do you?

Thanks

MOtown A4

02-05-2009, 07:43 PM

i get to use my miller delta fab FINALLY when i do this!

Jibberific

02-05-2009, 07:51 PM

you should start making down pipes and selling them cause there isn't much on the market for the downpipe/flexpipe like right now I have my 3 inch test pipe to my stock 2 inch downpipe/flexpipe to my 2.5 inch exhaust...not exactly how I want my exhaust to flow lol

Same exact problem i have..... it sounds like ass because of all the turbulence and i'm sure it's killing my spool.