robertst
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| posted on 17/10/07 at 07:17 PM |
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Time for the exhaust!
This week has brought loads of progress. the engine is in, mounts are done, braking is almost done...
i'm going to tackle making an exhaust system and at the moment i have some idea what i want to do from seeing different posts here about DIY
exhausts.
obviously, due to my welding capabilities, i will have to make it from steel and rust-proof it as best i can.
i just wanted to share my ideas to see if they are too ambitious/outrageous.
i plan to try to obtain 45º and 90º bends and arc-weld those to 42mm steel i just bought and obtain the Y-reducers already made from an exhaust shop
as well as the silencer.
however, the trick comes with the welding. although i'm completely confident with my welding, i dont know how it's going to turn out using
an arc-welder.
i already have the dimensions and the primary lengths figured out, but i guess patience and cold-blood are needed to tacke such a thing as the exhaust
system?
what's definitely ruled out is buying a made system because: a) its too expensive, and b) it probably wont fit my car.
in a nutshell: what are my options? am i being too ambitious?
cheers
[Edited on 17/10/07 by robertst]
Tom
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Confused but excited.
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| posted on 17/10/07 at 07:30 PM |
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"i plan to try to obtain 45º and 90º bends and arc-weld those to 42mm steel i just bought"
Well that flange won't distort!  
Seriously, nothing ventured......
Try playing with some odd bits before commiting your cash.
I intend to have a go at making mine when the time comes.
Options;
1) Stainless steel. Shiny.
2) Mild steel and get it ceramic coated. 
Tell them about the bent treacle edges!
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907
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| posted on 17/10/07 at 08:41 PM |
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All I can say is 10 out of 10 for having a go. Well done, a true Locoster.
Ten years ago I owned a ZX10 bike. The MOT was looming and the cans had rust holes in them.
Kawasaki wanted £900 for a new pair, so with some scrap sheet and tube scrounged from work I made my first cans.
IIRC they cost me £30.
Just like the first engine start up, or the first drive, I get a buzz when I hear the sound of an exhaust for the first time.
IMHO the sound a car makes is almost as important as its performance or its looks.
ATB
Paul G
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robertst
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| posted on 17/10/07 at 10:26 PM |
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cheers mate. helpful motivation there 
Tom
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DarrenW
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| posted on 18/10/07 at 08:19 AM |
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Would another option be to find a manifold for sale. get the seller to post some pertinent dimensions. If it wont fit exactly maybe then just modify
it to suit.
I considered diy exhaust for mine but in the end decided skills werent up to it (probs more to do with time and patience) and decided the exhaust
could also be an aesthetic part of the car so bought one, but as you say a good one isnt cheap.
Are you planning an external exhaust or trying to keep the manifold within the engine bay.
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Peteff
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| posted on 18/10/07 at 08:57 AM |
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Put the standard one on till you have it on the road. The twin downpipe cast manifold is supposed to be adequate up to 150bhp according to a lot of
Ford performance literature and just because a manifold looks trick doesn't mean it is an improvement.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 18/10/07 at 10:09 AM |
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I'd second stickling with the standard outlet manifold. Not nice looking but you could them mod a new standard down pipe (cheap as chips)...
(Mind you I'm biased as this is what I'm doing!)...
Then change latter if you feel the need..
But I would encourage you to have a go (maybe make a test peace first) if you feel like it and have the time to try!
Dan
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robertst
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| posted on 20/10/07 at 12:38 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
Put the standard one on till you have it on the road. The twin downpipe cast manifold is supposed to be adequate up to 150bhp according to a lot of
Ford performance literature and just because a manifold looks trick doesn't mean it is an improvement.
i was just about to ask whether the standard manifold was any good... i'll probably use it now and make a downpipe as Dan suggested.
i just dont want to go through the whole bike carb and megajolt conversion and find out that any performance benefits are eliminated with a bad
exhaust.
Tom
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