I bought some 2.5" cat back piping with some retarded muffler... Just using it for the piping, i bought a high flow magnaflow cat 2.5" and i have a vibrant muffler 2.5" to match along with it. I also have a hotshot 2.5" collector header that is going on and possibly 2 extra resonators i have from an old apexi exhaust...

Questions...
I am going to be either v banding everything up, or just doing the basic bolt flanges, but should i use a flex pipe?

If a flex pipe is needed, or should be used, what size should i buy?

Also, is it rec. that i buy SS wire when doing muffler work?

(im not super experienced on doing exhaust work, so sorry for the ignorance)

 

Vband FTW! I'll never use anything else again.

Buy the flexpipe that fits the tubing size. Length doesn't really matter. You really should have one on there.

It is not required, but recommended to use SS wire. Reason being, if you use standard mild wire, it will rust at your welds. When I did mine I only had regular wire, and it works just fine.

 

--- I was going to get a v band set up from eBay for 15-20 bucks a set. I would think that there isn't much technology and r and d into a flange haha. As long as it's stainless it should all relatively the same...

As for the flex pipe, I as reading to get the shortest possible because they tend to fail more frequently when they have the longer flex section.

What are your thoughts on that? As for if I don't make time to go get ss wire, my exhaust is getting coated in high temp paint anyways so I don't think Rustin would be a problem.

 

assistance........

 

thoughts on the v bands? i know they sell for cheap, but as long as it is made from stainless, should it really matter brand wise? (idk what brand they are online)

 

can anyone assist me on the above?

 

I don't have experience with the Vbands from ebay, but as long as you keep the heat low and don't let them warp I don't see there being much of an issue.

As far as the flexpipe goes, as long as there is one there I don't see a problem going with a shorter one.

 

Many vband assemblies will have mild flanges, and would be best welded with 309 wire (if you are welding mild to stainless).

The same is true with the flex sections. The ends of the flexes are normal steel a lot of the time.





As far as ebay clamps....for the most part you probably won't notice anything being different. I have found some clamps though, that do not center well when tightened. The flanges did not shift even.

Some flanges are big enough to fit the exhaust tubing all the way through. I like these more, and I usually feed the pipe through on one of the flanges. So that it can help center itself to the other vband flange.

 

Vibrant Vband assemblies are amazing due to the fact that they use a stepped lip on the flange to keep a good seal and center properly.

would reccomend something like that having had both that and Ebay style.

 

OBX has the same step

 

Did pricing on the vibrant v band set up, its like 80$ a pop. That is going to be getting quite expensive since i would need like 3-4 of them.


What would be the easiest way to set up my exhaust...?

Header
Flex
Cat
Piping

Like, should i weld the flex to the header, or should i keep the header separate since the flex pipe should eventually need changing from wear and tare.

Think it would be best to Leave header alone with a 2 bolt flange(doughnut gasket), to the flex pipe, 3 bolt flange to cat, and 3 bolt flange back to piping (piping already has 3 bolt flange ready)...


As for the resonators, i plan on just cutting and welding in as many as i can fit that the exhaust will allow.

I don't really know how many resonators will become pointless, but its just ebay piping with probably a crappy resonator, but like i stated earlier... i could just be wrong. Again not much technology could go into that.

Generic picture of basically what i purchased... all the piping only cost me i think like 95$ and ill be putting on my vibrant muffler.