YACT: any particular muffler chains have longer lasting exhaust systems?

[Squisher]

This has to be my third exhaust system on my '91 Dakota with 125K mi.

Last two were Midas with a lifetime muffler, but it's never the muffler that goes bad anyway.

I wouldn't mind paying a little more if the next one is the last one, but I don't want to break the bank for my beater.

 

[T2T III]

Have you considered installing the next system yourself? Order some stainless steel pipes - and it should be the last exhaust system you need. The parts cost for quality items could cost the same as labor/parts at Midas, but you'd have a much better system.

 

[iamwiz82]

A Dakota is a pretty common vehicle, why not just buy an aftermarket for next to nothing?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Have you considered installing the next system yourself? Order some stainless steel pipes - and it should be the last exhaust system you need. The parts cost for quality items could cost the same as labor/parts at Midas, but you'd have a much better system.

I concur! :beer:

http://www.flowmaster.com 🙂

 

[Shawn]

What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

 

[Squisher]

I have installed about 20 exhaust systems in my lifetime. The last time was 20 years ago.

I will never do another one myself without a cutting torch, an air impact, and the ability to lift the car over my head.

Eating rust is something I'll leave for 20 year olds.

For the price difference I'll never do another exhaust system or a set of shocks.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Squisher
I have installed about 20 exhaust systems in my lifetime. The last time was 20 years ago.

I will never do another one myself without a cutting torch, an air impact, and the ability to lift the car over my head.

Eating rust is something I'll leave for 20 year olds.

For the price difference I'll never do another exhaust system or a set of shocks.

do you have an obsession with the number 20?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Squisher
I have installed about 20 exhaust systems in my lifetime. The last time was 20 years ago.

I will never do another one myself without a cutting torch, an air impact, and the ability to lift the car over my head.

Eating rust is something I'll leave for 20 year olds.

For the price difference I'll never do another exhaust system or a set of shocks.

do you have an obsession with the number 20?

I was thinking the same thing. lol

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

It has nothing to do with the salt 😛😉

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Supercharged

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Squisher
I have installed about 20 exhaust systems in my lifetime. The last time was 20 years ago.

I will never do another one myself without a cutting torch, an air impact, and the ability to lift the car over my head.

Eating rust is something I'll leave for 20 year olds.

For the price difference I'll never do another exhaust system or a set of shocks.

do you have an obsession with the number 20?

I was thinking the same thing. lol

Well, I was thinking it was 4:20.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

It has nothing to do with the salt 😛😉

True too. But is this normal, new exhaust ever 2+ years?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

It has nothing to do with the salt 😛😉

True too. But is this normal, new exhaust ever 2+ years?

Maybe up north, but I dunno. My car is a 94 and it's original exhaust was in great condition when I replaced it a year ago. Of course my car has lived in Florida all it's life. Yet another good reason not to buy cars from up north.

 

[db]

Originally posted by: Squisher
...it's never the muffler that goes bad anyway.

Yeah, it's usually the welds that rust out.

Also, make sure the system is electrically *grounded* at each segment.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

It's also because of where you are. The midwest is not kind to un-painted metal because of all the salt in the winter.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Supercharged
What are you doing that's causing your exhaust not to last?

Driving about 25K mi.

That's about it.

Maybe it's because my workplace is only 10 miles from home and condensation is doing it.

It has nothing to do with the salt 😛😉

True too. But is this normal, new exhaust ever 2+ years?

For a daily-driver, it's not that abnormal. My family would get 3-4 years on aftermarket exhausts. A lot of newer cars are using stainless though, so the exhausts aren't rusting anymore.

Aaron

 

[OS]

heh, i think this thread answers my own question of if I want to get a ceramic coated or stainless steel header.

 

[TechnoKid]

Stainless is the way to go. Either that, or when you get one put on by a local place, take off the exhaust later and then (re)spray all the welds and the pipes with heatproof paint to protect against rust.

Are you pipes rusting first or the mufflers (both the rear one and the resonator)?

I'd reccomend a small shop versus any of the major chains. I have about three in my town, and they are loads better than the midas in town.

Heck, if i had a pipe bender (mandrel machines are wayyy to $$$), a welder, and knew how to weld, i'd do it for ya.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: OS
heh, i think this thread answers my own question of if I want to get a ceramic coated or stainless steel header.

You should also think about under hood temps. Stainless lets off a lot more heat than ceramic. But ceramic is a lot better than plain nickel chrome. If the stainless header isn't absolutly clean during installation, it will discolor when it heats up. If anything, get your headers jet hotted.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: OS
heh, i think this thread answers my own question of if I want to get a ceramic coated or stainless steel header.

You should also think about under hood temps. Stainless lets off a lot more heat than ceramic. But ceramic is a lot better than plain nickel chrome. If the stainless header isn't absolutly clean during installation, it will discolor when it heats up. If anything, get your headers jet hotted.

Do you recommend coating stainless to reduce under hood temperatures?
We built a custom set of headers for a T-70 Lola that was being converted into a ?street? car. Due to the tight confines of the engine bay, the owner wanted to try coating the headers to reduce the under hood temps. The owner was fanatical about measuring and recording all engine operating data-he had thermocouples on everything! After coating, he did not see one degree change in the under hood temps.

source

Also, using stainless steel has basically the same effect as coatings on mild-steel headers.

source


I'm not sure it actually makes a difference. Alot of people say that SS heats up more, but I wonder how many of those people have used both in similar cars. I talked to one guy on honda-tech.com who runs a shop, gone through several sets and he says there's not much difference in heat.

This situation is kind of annoying because it goes both ways. If one was a head and shoulder above the other, I would have just bought one like a year ago instead of sitting on the side, waiting and looking.

As for the look, I don't really care if it discolors or not. The header on my car is in the back of the engine bay facing the firewall so no one can see anything anyways.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: OS
heh, i think this thread answers my own question of if I want to get a ceramic coated or stainless steel header.

You should also think about under hood temps. Stainless lets off a lot more heat than ceramic. But ceramic is a lot better than plain nickel chrome. If the stainless header isn't absolutly clean during installation, it will discolor when it heats up. If anything, get your headers jet hotted.

Do you recommend coating stainless to reduce under hood temperatures?
We built a custom set of headers for a T-70 Lola that was being converted into a ?street? car. Due to the tight confines of the engine bay, the owner wanted to try coating the headers to reduce the under hood temps. The owner was fanatical about measuring and recording all engine operating data-he had thermocouples on everything! After coating, he did not see one degree change in the under hood temps.

source

Also, using stainless steel has basically the same effect as coatings on mild-steel headers.

source


I'm not sure it actually makes a difference. Alot of people say that SS heats up more, but I wonder how many of those people have used both in similar cars. I talked to one guy on honda-tech.com who runs a shop, gone through several sets and he says there's not much difference in heat.

This situation is kind of annoying because it goes both ways. If one was a head and shoulder above the other, I would have just bought one like a year ago instead of sitting on the side, waiting and looking.

As for the look, I don't really care if it discolors or not. The header on my car is in the back of the engine bay facing the firewall so no one can see anything anyways.

to add to this, i just read that stainless steel cannot take as many heat cycles as coated [mild] steel can; maybe this is why i always see thicker flanges on stainless headers versus coated ones?