US Exhaust Suppliers

[TommyK]

I'm looking for a complete exhaust system upgrade in the US. Bill's no longer makes/sells theirs. Are there any options on this side of the lake or am I going to have to get one custom built??? Will a RHD exhaust fit on a fed?

[Doug]

Are there any options on this side of the lake?

Nope.

Am I going to have to get one custom built???

yes, but since that practice is fairly common now, you should be able to find an exhaust shop to do it for you. Just get yourself a "stiffy" and get the rest made.

[TommyK]

Thanks for the heads up. Already inquired about a Stiffy with Stevo. I guess I'll just have to add this to the list of stuff to talk about with Marie on Monday.

[jimothy]

If I were to get a high flow cat and replace the tubing from there back with 2.5" how much should it cost to have it fabricated by a shop. I went down to the local motorsports shop here and the guy estimated 1500 which seems really high. Just wondering if I have unreasonable expectations

[Doug]

well the cat should be a couple hundred at most and the same for a muffler and then a few more for the pipes in between -- so yes 1500 is too high!!!

[algirdas]

Dear Jimothy:

If it is quality stainless steel with a good cat and muffler, I think $300 to 400 is reasonable. If it is quality stainless with mandrel bends and brand name cats and mufflers, then around $500-ish should be more than plenty.

$1,500? Sounds like that dude was trolling for a sucker. Just don't you be it!

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[jimothy]

Thats what I thought. Thanks for confirming. Good thing I'm in Detroit. I'll just drive down the street to the next guy. Thanks guys.

[Elanlover]

Late to the party but...............

Don't take your car in to see the guys when you first start talking to them. Tell them you want a section of exhaust from the cat back (or downpipe back) with whatever you want in it - free flow muffler, FF cat, size of pipe, stainless, etc. Tell them you are mating this to an Isuzu engine. Ask them for a ballpark figure based on similar work. Don't forget that most of the parts will be standard stock items with set prices. A cat, muffler, resonator, nice tip and even SS pipe all have set prices you can shop for. The only thing they can jack up is labour. Our pipe run is NOT that difficult to install at all. My guy was done by lunch. When it comes to the muffler you'll need a small body one as there's not much room to fit a regular sized one in there.

I find that as soon as you mention "Lotus" or show up with the car, the prices seem to double. If you can get them to give you a range first it'll be hard for them to double it when you pull in with the car. It may not be on paper as a quote but if you return in a few days they'll remember.

As for the price, my experience was a bit more expensive than what Algirdas has suggested but your mileage may vary. A good free flow cat, muffler, resonator (if you want one), tip and all the SS piping could easily add up to $400. Then you've got to pay the guy to install it. Mine was about $800 USD all in. I'm very happy with the work they did.

[nitroman]

As for the price, my experience was a bit more expensive than what Algirdas has suggested but your mileage may vary. A good free flow cat, muffler, resonator (if you want one), tip and all the SS piping could easily add up to $400. Then you've got to pay the guy to install it. Mine was about $800 USD all in. I'm very happy with the work they did.

I conqur. Roughly 5 years ago a complete 2.5" mandrel-bent system cost me (and Dave M. plus a couple others) nearly $800 apiece. That was truly top-quality speed-shop work though; not some "metal-bender" down at the local Midas shop.

[White91elan]

Yea I paid $460 for a complete system here in Sacramento. It is amazing how someone would have the nerve to try and charge you that type of money like that. I agree with the other guy that said when you say Lotus the price doubles. lol.

[nitroman]

Yea I paid $460 for a complete system here in Sacramento. It is amazing how someone would have the nerve to try and charge you that type of money like that. I agree with the other guy that said when you say Lotus the price doubles. lol.

Quality isn't cheap. If I wanted a cheap system I too could buy one. Almost no muffler shop has a mandrel-pipe-bender, and most speed shops don't "make" parts, they simply install what vendors sell them. With standard pipe-benders you get a major flow constriction for every bend they make; and the greater the angle, the greater constriction. Lasty, since you are in CA I'm betting they only replaced your system from the converter back, whereas I'm quoting a price from the turbo back.

BTW I had a system made for a Mercury as well, and it cost $50 more. "Lotus" doesn't matter to Dwight as he gets Ferraris, Porsches, and Lambos trucked up from South Florida on a regular basis, for him to work his magic on.

[White91elan]

LOL...A1 job was done on my system from the turbo back. Its my buds shop, and ah by the way you said a mouth full about your guy. Does'nt need to work on them? Yea I know a few guy's like that they go out of business real quick when they charge like that for a "quality job". I have more money than god, I am 24 and still have more sense than to spend over a thousand on that.

[nitroman]

Well then young demigod, let's see pictures of the 90-deg bends your buddy put in your pipes. Talk is cheap. Pictures don't lie.

[Doug]

[White91elan]

[lotusgirlmarie]

I'm curious as well. My Peco/Borla system ran me just under $600 and that was without a cat. Granted I ptobablly could have saved a bunch by sticking with the Peco mffler, I wanted a dual tipped setup so I built my own. The Borla parts alone were $270

[knoxmotorsports]

we are contemplating making direct fit stainless exhausts, and are located in richmond, va. we cannot start on the project just yet, but it would be comparable in quality to say a Piper kit. Could include stiffy/cat elimination if that would be a perk. What would you all prefer if this were to take place, especially those of you needing to retain a cat?

[lotos]

Great idea! We'd save a fortune in freight costs.

I'd say follow Piper's lead - use a flexible section at the front, offer two pipe diameter sizes, and with/without cat. (I personally live in a strict emissions area where it's required, others don't).

[nsr250]

I'm interested too. I agree, I'd need a cat.

[steve matthews]

The SPCA has many cats to choose from.
Different colors sizes and shapes.
Me I'm a dog person.
Steve