Chris155
Member
- Messages
- 196
Thread update.
MOT passed, No advisories.
Screenshot 2020-10-24 at 01.43.38 by Chris, on Flickr
Pleased with that.
And as I alluded to in one of my recent posts, I've had the exhaust modified.
This thought process started shortly after I acquired the car, I was offered a Larini 'x' pipe for £350. I went off and researched it and found that most people regard it as a worthwhile, almost essential change.
However, nicely welded, the larini part is, in my view it is not worth the asking price, new or 2nd hand. Thusly, I decided to embark on a voyage of welding discovery...
I have a MIG welder that I've not really mastered but I investigated welding Stainless steel using it and, based on internet advice, dismissed it as unviable. I'm not sure why but IIRC it's difficult to get a decent weld and the gas is expensive?
Anyhoo, I decided to buy the cheapest centre box I could find on eBay with the intention of chopping it up for £65. I figured I could chop off the X pipe section and remake the rest using sleeved joints, some straight pipe and some clamps.
I started off by taking some measurements and labelling the exhaust up (using the base of the x pipe as a datum for length) IDs, ODs and CL distances (Thank you Bad Obsession M/sport for showing us how to accurately find the CL distance)...
IMG_0788 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0799 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0796-2 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0789 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0792 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0794 by Chris, on Flickr
At this point, I was feeling confident I could make something up as planned using an eBay pipe bender like this;
However, I the realised it's not just the C/L difference end to end that I'd have to account for in the horizontal plane, it's also convex, bending upwards in the vertical plane, presumably to gain ground clearance;
IMG_0806 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0818 by Chris, on Flickr
Placing it upside down probably shows this better?
IMG_0810 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0817 by Chris, on Flickr
At this point, I stated questioning whether it was viable in the practical sense and worthwhile financially. Yes I'd gain a pipe bender out of it butIt'd be a PITA to store and it wouldn't be something I'd use often.
Coincidentally, my Dad had taken my mother's Brera to an exhaust fabricator for a new centre section as they can't be sourced easily in the meanwhile. I ended up chatting with the Farbicators about their cars and decided to ask then for a quote to remake the centre box with straight pipes for me.
I ended up going with this option as it cost £130. Bringing the total cost to £200. But I also have the original centre box should I choose to revet back to standard. I suppose that I could sell this for around £100 if I chose to.
Sound wise, it's not much louder, as the internet suggested. What I really like is that the exhaust crackles are now more pronounced - valve overlap, as an engine should sound, not the pretend manufactured nonsense most fast VAG products have.
I'm really pleased with the result in spite of the fact I chickened out out on making it myself.
MOT passed, No advisories.
Screenshot 2020-10-24 at 01.43.38 by Chris, on Flickr
Pleased with that.
And as I alluded to in one of my recent posts, I've had the exhaust modified.
This thought process started shortly after I acquired the car, I was offered a Larini 'x' pipe for £350. I went off and researched it and found that most people regard it as a worthwhile, almost essential change.
However, nicely welded, the larini part is, in my view it is not worth the asking price, new or 2nd hand. Thusly, I decided to embark on a voyage of welding discovery...
I have a MIG welder that I've not really mastered but I investigated welding Stainless steel using it and, based on internet advice, dismissed it as unviable. I'm not sure why but IIRC it's difficult to get a decent weld and the gas is expensive?
Anyhoo, I decided to buy the cheapest centre box I could find on eBay with the intention of chopping it up for £65. I figured I could chop off the X pipe section and remake the rest using sleeved joints, some straight pipe and some clamps.
I started off by taking some measurements and labelling the exhaust up (using the base of the x pipe as a datum for length) IDs, ODs and CL distances (Thank you Bad Obsession M/sport for showing us how to accurately find the CL distance)...
IMG_0788 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0799 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0796-2 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0789 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0792 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0794 by Chris, on Flickr
At this point, I was feeling confident I could make something up as planned using an eBay pipe bender like this;
Heavy Duty Hydraulic Manual Exhaust Pipe Tube Bender Machine Bending Formers UK | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Heavy Duty Hydraulic Manual Exhaust Pipe Tube Bender Machine Bending Formers UK at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
However, I the realised it's not just the C/L difference end to end that I'd have to account for in the horizontal plane, it's also convex, bending upwards in the vertical plane, presumably to gain ground clearance;
IMG_0806 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0818 by Chris, on Flickr
Placing it upside down probably shows this better?
IMG_0810 by Chris, on Flickr
IMG_0817 by Chris, on Flickr
At this point, I stated questioning whether it was viable in the practical sense and worthwhile financially. Yes I'd gain a pipe bender out of it butIt'd be a PITA to store and it wouldn't be something I'd use often.
Coincidentally, my Dad had taken my mother's Brera to an exhaust fabricator for a new centre section as they can't be sourced easily in the meanwhile. I ended up chatting with the Farbicators about their cars and decided to ask then for a quote to remake the centre box with straight pipes for me.
I ended up going with this option as it cost £130. Bringing the total cost to £200. But I also have the original centre box should I choose to revet back to standard. I suppose that I could sell this for around £100 if I chose to.
Sound wise, it's not much louder, as the internet suggested. What I really like is that the exhaust crackles are now more pronounced - valve overlap, as an engine should sound, not the pretend manufactured nonsense most fast VAG products have.
I'm really pleased with the result in spite of the fact I chickened out out on making it myself.
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