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Exhausts


mat_the_cat

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Posted

I'm on the look out for one to fit the Stellar...seems like I have two real choices. Get a Cortina one and adapt the front end to fit the non-Ford engine, or get one made to fit. Done a spot of Googling and have found HIB exhausts only about 60 miles from me. Bearing in mind I'd have to trailer it anywhere to get one fitted, that option is looking quite attractive given that a stainless system should last, and has a lifetime guarantee, for what it's worth (I'm guessing it would be easy to wriggle out of!)

 

It's a long shot given they're in the arse end of nowhere, but has anyone else used them? I've not found a bad word yet, which gives me confidence. Or http://www.alunox.co.uk/ in the opposite direction...but the flashy website makes me think pricy!

 

Any thoughts? I'm reasonable with a welder but haven't got the equipment to bend tubing to fit.

Posted

i had a stainless exhaust done by our local powerflow dealer for the saph, ill be honest its the best £270 i spent on it.

Posted

Second the Powerflow option, they build it to the car so no wonky rejects from NOS* suppliers (i.e. kept in a leaky shed and dropped a few times)

Posted

Powerflow up here are shite. I know they're franchised TireSpot dealers and the quality varies...

 

The one I had made was wonky and not as requested. They also couldn't fit me in once for the annual inspection (for the guarantee), so tried to say I had missed it and it was now invalid.

 

AAS on the other hand are superb. I have mates who have had full systems made there and at AAS and there are no comparisons.

They also make manifolds and cages - had a stunning MSA spec weld-in made for my old Volvo.

So that should give you an idea how good their exhaust systems are.

 

Shame you are so far away. My mate who now lives in Somerset is going to trailer his car up here to have Stuart make him a system...

 

Have you heard of Welsh Coast Customs? They are/were owned by a lad on the Nova forum. Powerflow dealer again, iirc, but he was turning out some nice stuff and as he was into his cars, was always willing to go the extra yard.

 

As well as having a cool name. :)

Posted

A vote here for good old Custom Chrome, once seen on the back pages of Custard Cart or St**t Ma***ne back in the day but still around and knocking out quality systems. Back in '03 my girlfriend-now-wife took her brand new full abarth kitted punto from the Fiat dealers to them and they did an awesome bespoke system working perfectly with the factory 'kit and it cost £325

 

Later, I took a mk4 Cortina in and had a centre/back system for £175

 

Also, the wife later went through a Subaru Impreza phase and we had a "bugeye" back-halved for £135

 

All with lifetime warranty.

Posted

Hadn't heard of Welsh Coast Customs, cheers. But unfortunately they're around 200 miles away, and the choice of tow vehicles is either the Disco @ 10 mpg on gas, or the van at 18 mpg on diesel. Neither ideal for a long trip!

 

 

no wonky rejects from NOS* suppliers (i.e. kept in a leaky shed and dropped a few times)

 

That's kind of my thinking - if I'm going to be spending a couple of hundred on a system (which I then have to adapt), I might as well save up a little more and get something that *will* fit and (hopefully!) last.

Posted

Hadn't heard of Welsh Coast Customs, cheers. But unfortunately they're around 200 miles away, and the choice of tow vehicles is either the Disco @ 10 mpg on gas, or the van at 18 mpg on diesel. Neither ideal for a long trip!

 

 

 

That's kind of my thinking - if I'm going to be spending a couple of hundred on a system (which I then have to adapt), I might as well save up a little more and get something that *will* fit and (hopefully!) last.

 

Shame. Had a feeling, given the name, they wouldn't be close.

 

Agreed on the thinking behind a bespoke SS system, though.

Posted

If you don't mind diy have a look at the jetex website . You can get all sections and bends etc in mild and stainless. When I made one for my kit car I ordered jetex through halfrauds and was very reasonable .

Posted

I had Powerflow make me a decat pipe for a 91 Golf and they were pretty good, even found something they viewed as an offcut so the whole lot cost me about thirty quid. There was a Jag or summat up on the ramps when I went in, quite a fancy twin system and there was obviously a lot of effort going into it. However they are franchised so you might find one that doesn't give a toss - you need reviews for your local one really.

  • Like 1
Posted

Custom Chrome might be a possibility, the nearest one is in Cheshire.I guess I need to have a chat with the few options and see which one seems best (and laughs the least at the idea of restoring such a car!)

Posted

If you don't mind diy have a look at the jetex website . You can get all sections and bends etc in mild and stainless. When I made one for my kit car I ordered jetex through halfrauds and was very reasonable .

 

I need to repair my 4-2-1 manifold. I looked on Jetex and for some 1.25" pipe, a Y piece and a flexi, it gets epensive.

How long ago did you order it via Halfords?

Posted

 

Good spot! I've got an ebay search set up but got sick of all the unrelated tat which got thrown up. It then becomes the question of do I spend more on something which will last, and what price do I put on the nice feeling of getting something 'special'...? Hmmm.

 

I've had crap exhausts which have only lasted a year of daily use, although limited milage (so long as it's warmed up) will help. No way of really knowing the quality beforehand.

Posted

It's a pity that there are no OE old stock available - the ones fitted to the car when new are much better than the shite you get from fast fit centres.

 

The ford item on my mother in laws granada lasted 15 years and the car was used for short journeys.

 

Many moons ago I bought a genuine vauxhall system for a senator I had. I struggled to carry the thing it was so heavy.

  • Like 3
Posted

As said, be careful with Powerflow. The stockist nearest me is shocking and not one shit is given by them.

Posted

As said, be careful with Powerflow. The stockist nearest me is shocking and not one shit is given by them.

 

I can think of two, Newcastle and Darlington, that are both wank.

 

Glad to hear I am not alone in this opinion.

Posted

Overrun . Been thinking , twas about 9 years ago I got my zorst from halfrauds . Shit , time just flies by. Makes me feel so old .

Posted

AAS did mine... GR9 + wallet lightening thrown in  :shock:

 

sstip.jpg

 

ssbkbox.jpg

 

Butt joints and all mandrel bent..... Superb @ allday!!  8)

 

TS

  • Like 3
Posted

It's a pity that there are no OE old stock available - the ones fitted to the car when new are much better than the shite you get from fast fit centres.

 

The ford item on my mother in laws granada lasted 15 years and the car was used for short journeys.

 

Many moons ago I bought a genuine vauxhall system for a senator I had. I struggled to carry the thing it was so heavy.

 

+1

 

Micra exhaust began blowing and falling to pieces in its 14th, and final, year. Still on original battery aswell.

  • Like 1
Posted

Micra exhaust began blowing and falling to pieces in its 14th, and final, year. Still on original battery aswell.

The original exhaust on our Micra began to blow on it's 15th year. It got replaced with a shitty cheap pattern-part which didn't sound very nice when given the beans, driving at higher speeds on the motorway made it buzz through the gear tunnel. At lower town speeds it sounded Ok, a bit like an old XR2.

 

I found and bought a whole OEM system for £25. It got fitted and the Micra sounds a load better and a lot quieter.

 

Exhausts have always been the bain of my life, being a cheapskate I always end up with shitty quality exhausts that start blowing after a short while. The only time I spent real money on an exhaust was on my old '87 Sterling, it made a real difference, sadly the car died about 6 months later and the exhaust presumably went with the car when it was finally weighed in.

Posted

I've had 6 different powerflow exhausts, and can think of only one that was actually any good.

  • Like 2
Posted

This thread is sounding a bit grim for people's experiences of powerflow franchises, I'm glad our local ones decent

Posted

Although I can't make a personal recommendation, there are massive differences in stainless exhaust quality. My bike has Sandybikespares piping and a Viper can (installed by the previous owner - honest!). The pipes are burnishing heavily and there is plenty of surface rust on the can, and it's been on the road for less than a year. At £250 it wasn't even a cheap one either.

Posted

I've no positive experience of a powerflow franchise either, I've used one and I won't be going back there.

One place I can recommend though is blueflame performance in Skelmersdale, however it is 8 years since I got one of their systems, so they may be shit now.

Posted

I've always wanted a stainless steel exhaust.

 

There is no happy ending to this short story.

  • Like 2
Posted

The trouble with sourcing a replacement exhaust for an old car that's not well backed up by spares supply is that you either take a gamble on a NOS steel item, which is likely to have corroded inside and not last long, or you fork out on a stainless system but it seems you have to be careful even there.

 

Unless you can find a dirt cheap old stock exhaust, it makes sense to buy a stainless one if you plan to keep the car long-term.

Posted

Oh, it's definitely a keeper. It'd be the last car I'd ever get rid of, as I plan to keep it as long as I last...

 

Still leaning towards a custom stainless job, but that could well be a minefield in itself! Not found any long term comments from the couple of places within around 70 miles, just customers who are pleased with the systems after initial fitting.

 

I'm due to be losing storage for the car in a couple of months, so if I take it anywhere to get a system, I might as well do it then seeing as I'll have to borrow a trailer to move it. Might as well bring it home via an exhaust maker...

Posted

What about the guy in Leeds with barns full of nos exhausts? I bought one off him a few years ago and it waa cheap. Think his ebay is glynnexs

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