i finally decided to get a custom downpipe fabricated today... i went down to one of the local shops and i was gettng the car checked out. the guy said he COULD do it with a straight pipe but that something would break under the stress of movement from the engine since the stock downpipe has some flex pipe in it to absorb some motion.

i don't know about where the hangers are on a stock exhaust but i've got hangers on either side of the cat and then nothing until i get to the muffler and axleback section where there are three total. aside from that there is nothing keeping the entire system in place. it's sturdy, but it's not exactly super-ridgid.

i also know that the OBX, RPW, and kamikaze downpipes are all one piece but if i remember correctly the RRM header (which is on my car) is a little different from those in design.

so, if i were to have a custom downpipe fabricated would i have to worry about stress like that? any of you guys had issues with your header+downpipe combos?

 

The stock pipe has a flex pipe for a reason, the whole exhaust system moves while you drive. If you went to a solid pipe, it could break due to the stress. I've heard this can be avoided by upgrading the motor mounts so the engine doesn't rock as much.

 

How much are you paying for you downpipe?

 

i was going to be paying like $60--but it's not being done now.

has anyone had problems with the header and downpipe combination sets? i've never heard of anyone complaining that they broke anything with those...

 

Even the aftermarket setups have the flex pipe. My Kamikaze setup has one, and it looks like the OBX setup has one also (assuming the pictures are accurate). You can buy a section of flex pipe for ~$25.

 

do they? i think it may have been the RPW only that i was thinking of.

thanks for posting up that info!

 

I have the Deyeme front motor mount. I made several "hard pipes" and each of them cracked- one of them even developed a crack that was not on a weld! I went with that stainless steel coiled flex stuff that JCWhiney sells (RRE sells soemthign similar if you're going 2.5" and 3"). Sure 'nuff you can weld stainless to the aluminized mild that I was using for my DP; it's a brittle weld and if it wasn't already a flex section it probably wouldn't work. No leaks. No cracks. It's been since December of 06 and that includes a full season of Autocross to abuse it.