Smashback

I am getting ready to do a 3 inch exhaust and am trying to figure out how many of which mandrel bends to order. It looks like, going from the downpipe back, this would work...
1 -45 degree cut and mixed with straight pipe
2 -90 degree
2 -45 degree to get over the trailing arm
1 -muffler welded on there...

Make sense? Anyway, post up what ya got if you've done this before. I like Magnaflow mufflers and I also just don't want to pay $500+ for a Thermal turbo cat back.

Flamenco-T

Hey, I have a custom piping for Integra though
it's basicaly straight from DP, then 90 deg, then straight, another 90 deg.

for the axle back, you'll prolly need 2-45 deg bends, depending on the kind of muffler, more likely you'll need two

Smashback

Sweeet, it's Flamenco the man!

And here I thought all you guys with turbo kits had bolt on exhaust kits too

That's about what I was thinking. I just want to buy the piping and muffler myself, because it will only cost about $200 and I would expect another $100-$150 for somebody to do the welding. Most of these guys charge you out the wazoo for the piping, and they keep the extra pieces.

Who welded yours up for ya? Viren tells me that ctcmotorsports over there is pretty bad *** and their prices are reasonable. I was happy with Jotech's work (for the most part) but they charged me $175 for my 2.5" downpipe, not including flex pipe.

Flamenco-T

I bought the piping already made up to the axle back, as soon as my muffler is here, I am thinking of welding my own axle back by myself. JBSadler has done a few welding job for his old exhaust, I was thinking on renting an electric welder from home depot..
we can split the cost if you want to do it all at the same time. I am making another set of piping anyway for somebody..

let me know

here's my number 469-939-0510

stan

XES

My exhaust was made from stainless steel mandrel bends & straight sections.
It's 3" and uses 2 90degree sections and 2 ~30degree sections. This route is a must when no 3" mandrel exhaust is available off the shelf.

98civicEX

heck yeah guys....need some more info on this! where exactly are you guys planning on getting the piping from?

jamal-188

What's the difference between mandrel bending and any other kind of bending exhaust. Do most muffler shops do mandrel bending? My shop has a big machine that they put different size rounded pieces in it, then they rest the pipe on the rounded pieces and it bends the pipe, is that not a good way to do it?

b18bturbo

that crimp bending which you explained just there. That is what most muffler shops do. Mandrel bend is clean u ben with no crimps. IT the way to go for maximum flow.

dbman96

Crimp bending "flattens" the corners, which translates to a reduced flow area. Creates back pressure. Turbo no like.

jamal-188

So, where do I go to find a shop that does mandrel bending, should I just start calling various muffler shops around until I find one that does?

b18bturbo

thats one way. There is shops in the area that have that ability. So just start calling .They should kno what you talking about if they dont dont waste your time there.

Smashback

I think you will probably have a hard time finding somebody that can do mandrel bending, because the bending machine is like 50k dollars or something.

If there isn't one anywhere in the DFW metroplex (I have called and called and asked all the speed shops) then I would doubt there are any in PA.

Most places just buy pre-made bends like from http://www.jcwhitney.com and then cut and weld them. The bends are pretty cheap, so I am ordering them myself like I did for my IC piping. If you get them from the shop that is doing the work, they will probably mark them up pretty good.