Exhausts....

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

currently got what i believe to me a standard exhaust manifold on my 88 1.9gti. this mates to a downpipe quite high up the exhaust, and then basically to a straight through silencer(less) centre, which is welded to the backbox.

 

exhaust note is nice and quite loud, but i know it blows a little. the blowing is slightly from a crack in the exhaust manifold itself, and also it seeps a little from the downpipe-centre section clamp. im used to subarus with gasket joints, hence my general naivety on this subject.

 

basically what annoys me is when the car is warm the exhaust squeeks when you accelerate or pull off and it gets a thrust of gas flowing through it. really p*sses me off sometimes as its very loud. i genuinely cant find how to stop this bloody racket, but i notice its come on mainly ever since i had a stainless steel centre section welded onto the backbox and clamped onto the mild steel downpipe (had to have this repaired as original mild steel centre sections weld had broke and was a possible m.o.t. failure).

 

ok, so my question is this... unless i can get something/do something to stop this p.i.t.a. squeeking when driving, i want to replace the whole b*stard system when money is better. buurt, i dont really know who to go to for a nice aftermarket system. i am considering the exhaust manifold downwards, as i have seen some manifolds are very long and seem to eliminate the downpipe? is this correct? i cant seem to find any reputable companies that do a whole "bolt-on" system, again something i am quite used to with subaru's.

 

ideally id like a nice 3.5-4" stainless backbox mated to a striaght through silencerless centre and manifold/downpipe <needs clearing up that bit. in essence a whole stainless system.

 

so links and/or companies who do this would be much appreciated, EVEN any advice on stoping my current system from squeeking, tricks of the trade etc very very welcome.

 

sorry to babble on, im naturally a perfectionist and i want to keep this car for some time, and get her perfect as im very anal about things like this.

 

muchas regards

 

andy

[DamirGTI 327]

If you want good/quality standard exhaust system i can strongly recommend Arvin Meritor systems

They are easy to fit (no need for welding .. just note that you want mounting set also , which includes bolts/washers/springs , mesh ring for manifold to downpipe joint , and pipe clamps.. ) and are superb design with nice/smooth bends , clean/strong welds etc. .. and all for very reasonable price ..

 

Rgs !

Damir

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

im not really too fussed about standard systems, im used to noisey ones and prefer them to be honest (i sound like a little chav now lol). the system i have now is a good noise, nice and throaty, i would just like a whole new good quality system.

 

what sort of bore is an aftermarket system in reation to standard? i think the bore on mine may be about 2- 2 1/4" bore.

 

again naivety as i had a full 3" on my most recent impreza which was obscenelyt loud and i loved it

 

think its a case of getting a good sized bore with a nice throaty loud but pure noise, ie no tin can raspy crap like the local saxo/civic "cru innit". i do like my japanese sytel backboxs with the slash cut tailpipes, but i think a 3.5-4" would be more than enough rear girth.

[hengti 2]

the std manifold is cast iron, often cracks and is difficult to repair effectively. you could may be improve the blowing from the downpipe joint by renewing the sealing ring/springs (Peugeot sell a kit of the bits).

 

there are a few manifolds available; i had the Magnex on mine - it worked well (more torque in my 1.9) but was unreliable over the years. they're expensive and poorly made IMO - although my car did see some use.

 

can recommend the Piper stainless system - very well made and no trouble at all. they do a 4" tailpipe but, not being my thing, i went for the smaller 3", which still looked large to me.

 

the Piper, mated to a Magnex manifold was actually quite quiet on mine (+/-96db); if you want more noise, your cheapest system option is probably in buying a good stainless back box and having someone fabricate a link pipe (without a silencer) - probably very noisy, though.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

the std manifold is cast iron, often cracks and is difficult to repair effectively. you could may be improve the blowing from the downpipe joint by renewing the sealing ring/springs (Peugeot sell a kit of the bits).

 

there are a few manifolds available; i had the Magnex on mine - it worked well (more torque in my 1.9) but was unreliable over the years. they're expensive and poorly made IMO - although my car did see some use.

 

can recommend the Piper stainless system - very well made and no trouble at all. they do a 4" tailpipe but, not being my thing, i went for the smaller 3", which still looked large to me.

 

the Piper, mated to a Magnex manifold was actually quite quiet on mine (+/-96db); if you want more noise, your cheapest system option is probably in buying a good stainless back box and having someone fabricate a link pipe (without a silencer) - probably very noisy, though.

 

ah, so really what i have now then, just a new better quality job. im unsure as to what is my best option on this, especially re. the manifold, as im assuming the long ones cancel out the downpipe section and join onto the centre section. i think this may be the way to go, but with a good reliable 4 branch manifold from a reputable source. seen a few on ebay, but always sceptical unless its a genuine parts shop with an ebay outlet.

 

im wondering whether it may be the case for me to end up getting a custom system made. i dont really like silencers etc, and i dont do much driving on motorways, so noise isnt an issue, so long as its a nice sound.

 

would be nice if anyone has any links for various exhausts components for me to browse. this is my main issue, finding my feet in another marque. suppliers of good manifolds and the other section of the exhaust system would be really appreciated, as relying on ebay for info has/can be a minefiled at the best of times.

 

appreciate the info thus far, but please keep it coming. i wish to soak all this new learned knowledge up.

 

andy

[hengti 2]

not sure of all of the different manifolds - there aren't that many and you could try picking out the names from search; Autofive sell an Iresa manifold, i do know

 

a tubular manifold will terminate under the car and you'll loose the downpipe; if you're not using one of the commonly used systems that are known to bolt straight up to whichever manifold, you're going to have to fabricate something. companies like Longlife and Powerflow specialise in fabricating SS systems and could probably help if it's not something you could do. i doubt either would be willing to make you a manifold (?) but they do have various silencer/tailpipe options which are probably detailed on their websites

[monty69 6]

If you want good/quality standard exhaust system i can strongly recommend Arvin Meritor systems

They are easy to fit (no need for welding .. just note that you want mounting set also , which includes bolts/washers/springs , mesh ring for manifold to downpipe joint , and pipe clamps.. ) and are superb design with nice/smooth bends , clean/strong welds etc. .. and all for very reasonable price ..

 

Rgs !

Damir

arvin are the worst quality exhaust ive ever fitted, have fit hundreds over the years to all makes and models. The parts suppliers moved to these because they are cheaper. Poor welds, poor quality steel(try and weld it) noisy baffles(many returned), poor fitting, flanges bird sh*tted at wrong angles, short life. Im sure they employ scrote aprrentices to make em after a night on the cheap vodka. Our suppliers has finally ditched them for bosal after countless returns and complaints.

It just shows there are so many conflicting opinions on this forum, its so easy to take someones advice and be left in the sh*t

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

i think im starting yo understand now. the tubular manifolds which are the long ones rule out the need for a downpipe, where as the cast iron ones require a downpipe as they are much shorter.

 

for performance, which are better then? the tubular ones for lack of cracking would have been my guess.

 

is it possible for members to maybe post some pics up of their after market systems with some details?

[GLPoomobile 958]

arvin are the worst quality exhaust ive ever fitted, have fit hundreds over the years to all makes and models. The parts suppliers moved to these because they are cheaper. Poor welds, poor quality steel(try and weld it) noisy baffles(many returned), poor fitting, flanges bird sh*tted at wrong angles, short life. Im sure they employ scrote aprrentices to make em after a night on the cheap vodka. Our suppliers has finally ditched them for bosal after countless returns and complaints.

It just shows there are so many conflicting opinions on this forum, its so easy to take someones advice and be left in the sh*t

 

I can't speak for the rest of the system, but I purchased an Arvin downpipe after reading on here that they were one of, if the only, supplier who produced the proper split downpipe, which is 2 D shaped tubes welded together to give the full length split down the middle, just as Pug's OE one did.

 

I had absolutely no complaints about that particular product. It was very well made, fitted correctly, and lasted fine. And I was satisfied that I was fitting something that matched the OE design, unlike many other downpipes that have no split at all, or just a very short split near the top.

[GLPoomobile 958]

A tubular manifold does remove the need for a downpipe, but unless you buy a full system that matches the manifold you will need to do some fabricating to make another system match it, as has been said. I've heard that the Magnex ones tend to crack at the welds, although I did not experience this with mine.

 

For the system I'd recommend a Group N stainless from DES Developments, BUT, go and get them to fit it! They'll do free fitting for forum members, and the system is not really designed as a DIY fit, as I've found. I'm going to have to do some cutting to my downpipe and get a joiner to make it all fit together. I think they really intend for it all to be welded up.

[dirtdog 4]

dont mean to hijack here guys but its relevant....seen 3" OMP systems on ebay. wondering if they are any good? priced at 270quid. supposed to be steel AND aluminium. thought it would have been SS but...who knows

 

i dont know anywhere that sells manifolds, prehaps ashley competition exhausts?

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

dont mean to hijack here guys but its relevant....seen 3" OMP systems on ebay. wondering if they are any good? priced at 270quid. supposed to be steel AND aluminium. thought it would have been SS but...who knows

 

i dont know anywhere that sells manifolds, prehaps ashley competition exhausts?

 

really what im asking for, re. good suppliers and fitters of full systems.

 

i dont mind getting something fabricated, but this is what i recently did when an old weld broke and now the system creaks like mad.

[Ahl 4]

arvin are the worst quality exhaust ive ever fitted, have fit hundreds over the years to all makes and models. The parts suppliers moved to these because they are cheaper. Poor welds, poor quality steel(try and weld it) noisy baffles(many returned), poor fitting, flanges bird sh*tted at wrong angles, short life. Im sure they employ scrote aprrentices to make em after a night on the cheap vodka. Our suppliers has finally ditched them for bosal after countless returns and complaints.

It just shows there are so many conflicting opinions on this forum, its so easy to take someones advice and be left in the sh*t

The general concensus on the forum has always been that Arvin exhausts are good, and similar to OE, though not the same quality. I've had Arvin exhausts for various peugeots and always found them to good quality, long lasting, not noisey etc.

 

I get the impression from the Bosal exhausts that have come fitted to a few cars that they are not very well made.

 

I'm suprised noone has mention the DES Developments group N and group A exhausts that they do for the 205.

I don't know too much about them, but believe that they are well made and can be made in stainless steel?

[welshpug 1,626]

yep, all the systems that DES do are in SS, seen a few though not have one myself, quite impressed with the quality and the service I have seen others get.

 

If any of their off the shelf patterns dont suit they can alter them if required.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

ive had a look around today on several sites and there are decent systems available.

 

i think im looking manily at magnex systems, seen one on ebay which includes the tubular manifold for reasonable prices.

[Guest Dennis]

Tube Torque Compition Manifolds (macclesfiled)

 

These guys are masters of their trade, they not only do bespoke manifolds and systems (they are quiet happy to join to exhisting systems to save £££) they produced homiligatd sytems for rally cars etc. and had a contract with merc to produced sports systems for Merc (yes the actual car company not just a merc car).

 

They are not cheap but you can spot one of their systems by the quality of the welds etc (I have done this at RS shows)

[Guest cooper205]

I have an ashley middle and rear on my 205 GTI 1.6 and it sounds nice if a little too loud with a 4" end can, although its a deep tone rather than the usual tinny saxo esq chav stuff. they are only about £150 for the midle and rear, and they clamp on to the original downpipe too.

 

As for arvin. i fit them all day long, and i have to agree there quality is very poor, they are alot louder(tinnier) than o.e. fit stuff, and also the the baffles do indeed go quite quickly, another thing i have found with the arvin parts(mainly cat middle and rear sections) is that where they are made of a poorer quality mild steel, they tend to resonate alot moreand cause a few fitting issues too, also we have alot comming back with cracks where the pipework meets the boxes. but as with anything you get what you pay for

 

But i can highley reconmend the ashley system, i am going to purchase a 3" rear box and replace the 4" one.

[daveyboyblack 1]

I've definitely recommend DES Developments if you can make it over to them to fit. I've got one of their full systems, with an extra middle silencer (as I do trackdays).

 

It sounds awesome with a nice raspy note, but it's not overly loud or chavvy.

 

 

Dave

[timmsy19 3]

^^ out of interest Dave what size rear can is that you have and how much is it down pipe backwards from DES these days?

[miamichris 9]

I really like the look of that DES system, looks standard/OE but being stainless it should last a good bit longer! hearing great things about them too..for anyone that has DES system, do you stick with the std. manifold or use a 4-branch?

 

i'm that impressed that I think my miami will have to get one when I get round to that stage of the rebuild!

 

just out of interest, what sort of money are we talking for a full system?

[GLPoomobile 958]

The DES system isn't meant to be a bolt on replacement for a standard system, so if you fit it yourself it will need som modification no matter if you are using the standard downpipe or a tubular manifold.

 

It's mostly in one part - the center pipe and back box being as one. Then there's a long section of front pipe that bolts on to the center pipe, and this really needs to be cut to the right length to suit your downpipe and, I guess, if they were fitting it they'd weld this to your downpipe. I'll be cutting mine and joining it with a suitable pipe joint from Car Builder Solutions.

[flipperthebushkangaroo 2]

as miamichris said what sort of cost are they as their site does not seem to say,

do they do a standard exhaust in stainless steel?

mine is starting to blow so new exhaust now required

Thanks

Roddie

[welshpug 1,626]

best off giving Neal a ring on 01922 657900, he doesn't get change to get on t'internet much.

 

prices back in late 2006 were;

 

GpN 2" with single 8"x4" straight through back box = £200+VAT

 

GpA 2 1/2" with single 8"x4" straight through back box = £220+VAT

 

GpA 2 1/2" with 8"x4" straight through back box and 4" round centre box = £240+VAT

 

Bear in mind that the prices are nearly 2 years old and the price of metals fluctuate a lot.

 

saw this car at the rally cross at Lydden last Monday, GpA exhaust with additional centre silencer.

 

 

a very pleasing but distinctive note, well within the noise limits too.

Edited August 28, 2008 by welshpug