Fabricating my own custom exhaust similar to ones that are sold - any issue with this

[98_A6_28]

There's a number of exhaust systems I've seen for various car's I'm looking at, not just cars in the VAG, but others out there. Some of them have very pricey performance exhaust systems (cat backs from $1200-$3000+) and most are 2.5-3" from what I've seen. Is there anything special about these exhausts that a good fabricator couldn't build on themselves? I have a shop down the road with 4 guys who have about 30+ year a piece doing exhaust fab and they laughed like crazy when I showed them the price for a couple systems. These guys do everything from old hot rods to exotics from the 90's on up, and much of it is custom fabrication.

I would think it would be easier if there were diagrams to show how long and at what angle the bends need to be, but I was told if they have the car they can make it, especially if it still has the old exhaust system, but even that isn't a deal breaker.

Now I know it can get tricky deciding the proper diameter for the pipe/tube like you don't want to use 3.25" when a performance system is using 2.5" (up from a 2-2.5" stock) b/c it would mess up the back pressure most likely. But if the these guys can make it in house, completely custom and exhaust with a better grade of SS, is there any reason not to do this? The dimensions for the system are already online for the performance exhaust, a number of people have taken measurements and posted, they are all the same +/- about 1/10 of an inch in some places, so it seems there are some good guides.

They said they can even build custom mufflers from scratch, or sometimes using a shell(s) from other units and putting it together for what is asked for.

I guess this isn't too much different than what these performance parts suppliers do, they do this in-house, come up with a good working solution & market it as a product.

So does anyone have any reasons why this couldn't be done by some very skilled fabricators (who are all car enthusiasts as well)?

[PZ.]

No reason not to go to them.

[dirtybrd]

The major difference will be that most exhaust shops don’t have mandrel tubing benders. They’d have to weld the individual straights and bends together this driving up the price or you’ll have crappy pinch bent exhaust


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[4rings5pistons]

My car has a high dollar ARP/corsa in which I will probably sell because it's a bit over complicated. I like it back till the muffler split then it looses me. Nice stuff but no way I would ever payed the money.