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Fabricating your own exhaust?

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Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:15 PM
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Default Fabricating your own exhaust?

Has anyone actually done this?
I see an inlet manifold has been made but no threads on building a full system.
I know the middle section should be really easy as its almost just a straight pipe with 2 flanges welded onto the ends. Downpipe will be a turbo flange an exhaust flange and quite a few bends.

The only thing that would be technical would be the back box section. Could you leave it out and weld a tail pipe on.

Would love to know if anyone has attempted this with any success and if there will be any BHP gains lost over a bought system which is comparable.

Assume 3" all the way through on a 1.6 with T28 running say 14psi boost
This is theoretical so any opinions welcome.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:17 PM
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Are you seroius?

Literally 90% of this forum has either made their own exhaust or had a friend do it for them.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:20 PM
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Yes serious I can see that most people have custom exhaust wrote on there signitures but cant find theads to show any builds of them so I was assuming people went to an exhaust shop and had them made.

What I want to do is buy the pipe my self and then get a lad I know to weld the flanges on etc
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:24 PM
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There's not many write ups because it's very easy for any fabricator to do. If someone can make a downpipe, full exhaust is cake.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:24 PM
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Can't imagine searching too hard would be useful.
https://www.miataturbo.net/build-threads-57/y8s-put-his-spec-all-over-me-i-liked-exhaust-build-48215/







Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ronniebiggs
Yes serious I can see that most people have custom exhaust wrote on there signitures but cant find theads to show any builds of them so I was assuming people went to an exhaust shop and had them made.

What I want to do is buy the pipe my self and then get a lad I know to weld the flanges on etc
There are tons of exhaust fabrication threads man. I'm serious.

Search for "exhaust build"

There are TONS of pictures of different members doing different routing and different exhaust variations.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by y8s
Can't imagine searching too hard would be useful.
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=48215







Im not trying to be spoon fed. I did do the searches but I was searching exhaust fabrication which may not have been the best keywords to use for the search.

Thanks for the link thats what I was trying to find.

I know I could go to an exhaust shop and have them make it. I was thinking of trying it myself and having a friend who is an expert welder just do the welds for me to try and save on cost.

Also what do you do with regard to the back box. You cant really make that bit can you?

I will have a read of the attached link.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:28 PM
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Though this is a retarded thread, I have a serious question:
How long did it take you to learn to weld to the point where you could fab up a catback?
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:34 PM
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Give it a week of practice and you could sufficiently weld up an exhaust. The part that's harder to learn is visualizing how the bends will fit together to get it where you want to go, just take your time and measure twice cut once
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by rider384
Though this is a retarded thread, I have a serious question:
How long did it take you to learn to weld to the point where you could fab up a catback?
I hate to be sarcastic but you asked for it.
You have put that its a retarded thread yet you are asking me how long it took me to learn to weld to fab an exhaust when I never said I could!

If you read the thread properly I put I have a friend who is an expert welder!!

Anyway back ontopic. I can weld but very badly and hence why I wouldnt. My appologies for not searching well enough. But stop shooting people down for an honest mistake.

Thanks to the people who have helped I appreciate it
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:46 PM
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I'm not talking to you dipshit. If you speak English, you would know that "You" can be used specifically or as a general term.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 03:59 PM
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welding is easy. welding properly takes skill and dedication. otherwise it comes out looking like doo doo
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:08 PM
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Very true. My last weld looked like pigeon ****!!

I would never try and do it myself as I want a good job doing.

I see from the above thread they used the magnaflow box and welded to that. I assume that was done to deaden the noise of the exhaust.

Good read though!
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by ronniebiggs
Very true. My last weld looked like pigeon ****!!

I would never try and do it myself as I want a good job doing.

I see from the above thread they used the magnaflow box and welded to that. I assume that was done to deaden the noise of the exhaust.

Good read though!
No, it was done to add weight to the exhaust. A pipe without a box section would be too light for the miata. The back tires would spin and you'd crash!! Make sure you put the box where mazda did in the back!!!
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:15 PM
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Do you mean the weight distribuition due to having no box? I never thought such a little thing would have that much difference. Thanks for the heads up.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by rider384
Though this is a retarded thread, I have a serious question:
How long did it take you to learn to weld to the point where you could fab up a catback?
I took a one quarter welding class in college that was 1 hour of lecture and 3 hours of lab once a week.
i was welding random stuff immediately following that.

of course i laid down my first beads when I was a pre-teen, but that was trivial and hardly relevant.

my welds aren't pretty for two reasons: practice and equipment.

but the exhaust i made for my car has been holding together for about 6 years now. the updated downpipe and muffler stuff are maybe 3 years old.



Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by ronniebiggs
Do you mean the weight distribuition due to having no box? I never thought such a little thing would have that much difference. Thanks for the heads up.
Dumbass, he's ******* with you.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:36 PM
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if you know how to use a chop saw grinder and a welder, you can do it, its easy just takes time. My first exhaust hung low and used shitty 3 bolt clamps. My last exhaust is tucked nicely and utilizes v band clamps. Worth the money imo.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by TurboTim
No, it was done to add weight to the exhaust. A pipe without a box section would be too light for the miata. The back tires would spin and you'd crash!! Make sure you put the box where mazda did in the back!!!
Originally Posted by ronniebiggs
Do you mean the weight distribuition due to having no box? I never thought such a little thing would have that much difference. Thanks for the heads up.
Old Jun 24, 2010 | 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by SKMetalworks
if you know how to use a chop saw grinder and a welder, you can do it, its easy just takes time. My first exhaust hung low and used shitty 3 bolt clamps. My last exhaust is tucked nicely and utilizes v band clamps. Worth the money imo.
Hack saw, grinder and a welder works for me. I actually tried to make a living designing and welding custom bicycle frames before deciding I needed to finish my engineering degree though, so I did learn and develop my fabrication skills a bit.

I am an ok welder with quite a bit of experience but where I really stand out is my hack saw skill. I seem to be able to cut straighter and more efficiently with less effort than most people with a hack saw. There is definitely an art to operating a hack saw well.

Bob



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