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The wheels keep turning in my head to have the ideal exhaust built for my needs. I have spent a lot of time researching different cat-backs, watching videos and chatting with vendors and enthusiasts in my pursuit to educate myself as much as possible before I do anything.
I am definitely not going with any of the mainstream cat-backs unless one magically fell into my lap for around $400...yeah right like that will happen.
I just called my exhaust guy and he ball parked what I wanted for $300-400. This would include the following:
-Mid muffler and resonator delete and replace with Glasspack
-Magnaflow "knock off" mufflers (stainless and made in Magnaflow factory)
-My tip of choosing (not sure if I want 1 double-walled or a dual-outlet set)
My research has brought my to an interesting option: The TruBendz piping kit.
I guess I am wondering if anyone has used this kit paired with their exhaust of choice? I like the fact that this kit is a true 2.5" system, matches OEM specs for bends and such and is mandrel bent. I was thinking I could order this in either stainless or aluminized and then have my exhaust guy throw the resonator and mufflers of my choosing. I would then feel confident that I did it the "right" way instead of him just hacking pipe and the system not really working "as one".
I am guessing I would be into the system about $500 if I went stainless which I likely would. What are you guys thinking? Good idea or not so good? Any and all thoughts appreciated!
Looks the same as that, don't know what they charge for shipping but it could work out cheaper. I think one member with an Accord tried the 3" and said it was good quality, I thought about trying it but don't want to put the money into an exhaust right now for this car.
But then again, suppose the Tsudo catback is basically the same thing that the TruBendz kit would be aside from the fact that I would get to choose my own resonator, mufflers and tips.
Looks the same as that, don't know what they charge for shipping but it could work out cheaper. I think one member with an Accord tried the 3" and said it was good quality, I thought about trying it but don't want to put the money into an exhaust right now for this car.
Same exact kit and price regardless of if you buy through Ebay or website direct.
They are the same price. Once is stainless the other is aluminized. I think 275 is too much for stainless piping alone, but for something you don't have to hack up, I guess it's not that bad. Then you could get some magnaflow mufflers and be under 700 for the full catback, not including labor.
In any case, you'd come out cheaper than any of the pre-fab exhausts on the market other than the Tsudo.
They are the same price. Once is stainless the other is aluminized. I think 275 is too much for stainless piping alone, but for something you don't have to hack up, I guess it's not that bad. Then you could get some magnaflow mufflers and be under 700 for the full catback, not including labor.
In any case, you'd come out cheaper than any of the pre-fab exhausts on the market other than the Tsudo.
How is the build quality and sound of the Tsudo in your opinion?
These are the Magnaflow "knock offs" I am pretty sure my exhaust guy used on my last 2 VR6 Jetta's.
Go for it, seems like the best deal you're gonna get. Where are you located? If you're not in the rustbelt/snow states I'd probably just get the aluminized pipes unless you plan on keeping the car forever.
Go for it, seems like the best deal you're gonna get. Where are you located? If you're not in the rustbelt/snow states I'd probably just get the aluminized pipes unless you plan on keeping the car forever.
The longest I have ever kept a car since I have had my license is about 3 years lol. However, Iam financing this for 5 years and hope I can be a big boy and just keep this one until it literally bows up. I really love this one and want to do a few things to make it perfect.
Anyways, I am almost leaning towards the $350 route via my exhaust guy, as the TruBendz would be awesome, but it almost more of an unknown.
Does anyone know how the 2.25" factory exhaust with high flow resonator, mid muffler delete and rear performance mufflers will sound/flow compared to a 2.5" mandrel bent system with the exact same things? I am guessing there isn't any kind of HPTQ differences you can actually feel in the "butt dyno" but possibly on an actual dyno?
The longest I have ever kept a car since I have had my license is about 3 years lol. However, Iam financing this for 5 years and hope I can be a big boy and just keep this one until it literally bows up. I really love this one and want to do a few things to make it perfect.
Anyways, I am almost leaning towards the $350 route via my exhaust guy, as the TruBendz would be awesome, but it almost more of an unknown.
Does anyone know how the 2.25" factory exhaust with high flow resonator, mid muffler delete and rear performance mufflers will sound/flow compared to a 2.5" mandrel bent system with the exact same things? I am guessing there isn't any kind of HPTQ differences you can actually feel in the "butt dyno" but possibly on an actual dyno?
Sean
Sean
Ha I'm in the same boat, except for my Impala I've kept most of my daily drivers about 2 years, been in the TL 2.5 years and I have the itch to switch it up but I'm gonna try to be smart and keep it 10 years.
The stock pipes can be made to sound good but will not gain any HP by switching mufflers. Really the only performance justification you can make about modding the stock catback is weight reduction. There's probably less than 10 HP to be had by going to 2.5".
That's the only thread I could find on someone using those pipes, I'll probably cave and do it sooner or later because I've hacked up my stock exhaust a few times but not at the moment.
Ha I'm in the same boat, except for my Impala I've kept most of my daily drivers about 2 years, been in the TL 2.5 years and I have the itch to switch it up but I'm gonna try to be smart and keep it 10 years.
The stock pipes can be made to sound good but will not gain any HP by switching mufflers. Really the only performance justification you can make about modding the stock catback is weight reduction. There's probably less than 10 HP to be had by going to 2.5".
That's the only thread I could find on someone using those pipes, I'll probably cave and do it sooner or later because I've hacked up my stock exhaust a few times but not at the moment.
Yeah, haha. The older I get the smarter and more realistic I seem to get...funny how that works eh?
Yeah that is the way I see it also 350. Modding the factory setup is only reserved for tone differentiation. So I suppose the real question at hand is this:
Will the TruBendz system yield ANY kind of performance OR tone differences compared to doing the same exact thing with the factory system? I would think the 2.5" mandrel bent system SHOULD give a throatier sound but have no clue regarding the performance aspect.
The larger diameter pipe should be a little deeper sounding, and single digit HP gains unless there are extensive mods already done to the car to make the extra flow necessary.
The larger diameter pipe should be a little deeper sounding, and single digit HP gains unless there are extensive mods already done to the car to make the extra flow necessary.
OK, so now this question:
What about a full 2.5" NON mandrel bent custom setup? I think I am after more sound than performance gains, so would a non-mandrel bent setup yield and sound any differences compared to the same setup with mandrel bending?
Not gonna lie, this is making me highly consider going with a mandrel bent system. If I am going to keep the car a bit, I may as well do it right, right!?
I would buy the trubendz well before I built a custom crush bent exhaust.
In fact, I had never seen the trubendz before, but I will definitely be using it for my exhaust when I build one. I plan on doing a turbo and I like the fact that they offer a 3in, or 3in tapered to 2.5 at the split. It's also kinda cool that they give the option for the single exit, though I think it would look weird on a TL with one muffler.
For N/A I'd say the 2.5in, or even the 2.5 to 2.25 would be fine and would probably have less resonance than a 2.5in all the way back.
From everything I've read here lately on exhausts, you WILL want a resonator if you have PCDs, or you will get rasp. If you don't have them now, you could always add the resonator later once you do add them.
I would buy the trubendz well before I built a custom crush bent exhaust.
In fact, I had never seen the trubendz before, but I will definitely be using it for my exhaust when I build one. I plan on doing a turbo and I like the fact that they offer a 3in, or 3in tapered to 2.5 at the split. It's also kinda cool that they give the option for the single exit, though I think it would look weird on a TL with one muffler.
For N/A I'd say the 2.5in, or even the 2.5 to 2.25 would be fine and would probably have less resonance than a 2.5in all the way back.
From everything I've read here lately on exhausts, you WILL want a resonator if you have PCDs, or you will get rasp. If you don't have them now, you could always add the resonator later once you do add them.
I will never have PCD's. HFPC's? Maybe, but doubtful. TruBendz 2.5" exhaust into high flow resonator (glasspack probably) mid muffler delete and Magnaflow "knock offs" in to slant cut double walled tips.
Wonderful work of resonators and all this rasp hate, its not as bad as most make out to be, unless hard or WOT don't get any, can hardly tell modded exhaust. Even under hard & WOT don't scream til >3k RPMs. But I'm with Grand_hustle17, best mod I've done to date
I have the 2.5 stainless steel single exit one from true bendz. It's nice you can really hear the cams at idle. I don't have any mufflers and 3rd cat delete. Little bit of rasp at 34 00rpm kinda sounds like vtec kicked in type of rasp lol. It's pretty loud and at 2900rpm in 3rd (6spd MT) it pops like crazy.
02-11-2015, 04:47 PM
and all this rasp hate, its not as bad as most make out to be, unless hard or WOT don't get any, can hardly tell modded exhaust. Even under hard & WOT don't scream til >3k RPMs. But I'm with Grand_hustle17, best mod I've done to date
