I am thinking about getting custom piping with an ebay SS muffler or mufflers. Is this recommended?

I am planning on using mandrel bends to keep the piping consistent throughout the system. Additionally, Since I am in california I don't see much advantage to have SS piping as opposed to aluminum or aluminized.

I would like opinions on this? Especially someone who has had best of both worlds (custom vs. aftermarket).

I am against what is known as drone (I would call it raspiness) from the exhaust at constant cruising speeds and during acceleration.

I previously had a 3in cat-back exhaust with aluminum piping on a 240sx. stock 2.4L motor and I was very fond of the sound, although it was a bit loud without the silencer. It was a deep tone with no raspiness. I would say the extra .4 L of displacement helped in this case. I am not sure if the ap1 motor will produce the same deep tone that I had on my nissan.

As far as rust goes (aluminum vs SS), The car will not see any snow as I am located in southern california, however I do want protection from rain. I was informed that SS will last way longer than aluminum (or is it aluminized?) but the latter will last at least 7 years.

I would appreciate if someone can shed light into this subject. By all means, If an aftermarket exhaust is better in all ways then please do enlighten me on this.

Thanks in advance.

 

Making a custom one with ebay mufflers will be much much worse than even a poor aftermarket exhaust system. Research the exhausts available and buy after hearing them and reading feedback on them. Best way to go about it imo.

 

^agreed

 

I'd suggest using a decent muffler. I love my vibrant. See my build thread for more details: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/855...t__p__20400885

 

termination- lol man. that's almost exactly what i'm goin to do next year to my car. i was srsly thinking of getting either the berk header back exhaust or just go w/ a custom exhaust w/ vibrant's muffler and resonator. and that turbo set up you have, i will be goin w/ the same thing almsot except it's all godspeed turbo kit. and of course, i will be keeping everything in that kit except the bov, downpipe, and wastegate. i'm hoping to push about 300whp w/ this set up at 7 psi and i believe i can when i upgrade the down pipe and exhaaust to 3". yeh i'm not going for big numbers here obviously. just something way more than stock is what i'm shooting for.

 

I totally agree about using a good muffler. It would be a HUGE waste to spend hundreds on mandrel bends and fabrication, then buy a crappy muffler to save $50. However, if you are concerned about drone, you may be in for a big disappointment. Every exhaust will drone, but a "good exhaust" will only drone in conditions that it doesn't normally experience. A poorly designed exhaust, like most on the market, just so happen to drone during common cruising conditions.

 

in the long run it'll cost you more.

 

A custom aluminum exhaust would cost far more than a custom stainless exhaust, and a custom stainless exhaust would cost far more than most of the production stainless exhausts available for the S.

Dig around, listen to sound clips and order an exhaust that you like the sound of. You cant really improve exhaust performance without significantly increasing noise.

If you dont want a drone or loud exhaust, keep the OEM exhaust and look into other ways to increase power.

 

If you're going custom, make sure you go with a high quality muffler & resonator.

 

I am not as concerned about loudness as i am about drone. I looked at the vibrant pieces and I have become a fan of the black.