i'm going to have a 3" dp and exhaust custom made by a local reputable muffler shop (lots of picky hot rod guys recommend them). however, they don't have a mandrel bender, they have a crush bender *NOTE: this is not a crimp bender, it only reduces the diameter by 1/8 to 1/4 inch in bends*
if i want mandrel it'll be at least 300 bucks more for the labour to weld the bends together.

my Q: is it worth it? will i see a huge difference between mandrel and crush bent piping (basically like 2.75" vs full 3")? i'll be running no cat and a 3" muffler also.

 

real picky and crush bent are oxy morons

get pre bent piece cut and welded by a near by honda techer, hell ifyou werei n CT i owuld do it for you, ive done it a bunch of times,
cruch bent is gay

 

well they are good. maybe all the picky guys get them to weld mandrel bends together. they do good quality work is all i'm saying. and thanks for the reply, but that doesn't really answer my question. i can get them to buy mandrel bends and weld them, but it'll cost more. would it be worth it?

 

"reputable muffler shop" with no mandrel bender?! Go some where else and stop listening to the hot-rod guys. And welding bends to simulate mandrel bends is ghetto, ghetto and reputable don't go well in one sentence either.

 

Instead of spending the extra 300 on having them make their own, just buy one that's already mandrel bent and made to fit your car. IMO, it is better to have the full 3", I mean thats what you are going for right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by m R g S r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Instead of spending the extra 300 on having them make their own, just buy one that's already mandrel bent and made to fit your car. IMO, it is better to have the full 3", I mean thats what you are going for right?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

there is no one with a mandrel bender in my city. it's stupid, i know, but everyone i ask says no one has one, and kind of puts them off like they're a waste of money.

regardless, thanks for your advice, but my question still hasn't been totally answered...
will it make that big of a difference compared to a mandrel bent dp and exhaust?

 

I am sure a dyno would show a difference.
Besides, crush bent looks like ****.
Go buy the bends, and have them welded together yourself.
I built my own exhaust, looks damn better than anything else if seen, and the whole thing uses V-Band clamps.

 

If I'm not mistaking importparts is selling thermal 3" catback systems for about $500 right

 

crush bent doesnt look much different from mandrel bent. you're probably thinking of crimp bends where the inside curve looks all wavy.

 

I am suprised no one has mentioned kteller8 very reasonable price for a pre bent kit and select your own muffler!

 

yea i got my piping off Kteller for Dirt man , cant beat his prices.

 

$300 more for labor just to have mandrel bends stupid hot rod guys

Pm kteller for about $100 less you can get your exhast piping setup, pick your muffler and have the shop weld the bends. It will look much nicer and be cheaper in the end, plus Mike is a standup guy.

 

Get mandrel bend. It'll make a big difference.

 

haha stupid domestic guys.

The same crowd recommended to me a local engine/machine shop to build up my motor. They gave me a quick tour of their machines and the guy bores cylinders by eyeballing it he told me, its not computerized or anything, just like a big drill that he operates. Yeah thats going to work out great

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rudebwoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I'm not mistaking importparts is selling thermal 3" catback systems for about $500 right</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's actually $525.00. Check here for details: http://www.importparts.com/honda-tech.html

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by quikB18B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$300 more for labor just to have mandrel bends stupid hot rod guys

Pm kteller for about $100 less you can get your exhast piping setup, pick your muffler and have the shop weld the bends. It will look much nicer and be cheaper in the end, plus Mike is a standup guy. </TD></TR></TABLE>

True to that...IGGY sent me his way and after that im hooked...I plan on buying it this coming week...I cant wait

 

just bought the kteller8 piping yesterday. got a dynomax ultra-flo welded muffler sitting here to go with it. should flow really well and be relatively quiet i hope (at least it's no N1)