Purchased a Fab-type rear bumper from Hahajoey, and it turns out the exhaust cutout doesn't line up with the stock bumper cutout.

R & J Custom Cars is doing the install of my body kit. Robert was worried about trying to bend my exhaust too much to make it fit, so he wanted a second opinion. He took my car over to Ed Hansen, who has been building exhaust systems here in San Diego for over 40 years.

Ed liked my paint job so much that he is hiring Robert to paint his car. So Robert worked a deal to get me a brand new exhaust for free! Whoa. :shock: Nice!

When he was telling me about it, Robert mentioned that Ed felt the car should have a bigger exhaust pipe, to complement the cold air intake and the sport muffler. Ed suggested a 3 1/2" [edit: oops, that should be 2 1/2"] diameter pipe. He said not only will it sound better, but it will give the car more power.

I asked if I could pay extra to get the larger pipe, and Ed agreed to do it for an amount that was very acceptable to me. He is going to install the larger pipe from the manifold to the muffler. Also have to put on a new square tip to match the new bumper cutout.

Have a couple of questions... What kind of a power increase would you guys expect to see from this, and how much would it normally cost?

Thanks :)

Christy,

I think 3 1/2 pipe will be too big....The biggest i would go would be 2 1/2. Too big of a pipe will decrease backpressure, causing you to lose a lot of bottom end torque.

What size is the stock pipe?

think about this, my friend has a 65' mercury cyclone with a small block 302 that makes over 400 hp... his exhaust is 2 1/2"! he's got a lot of experience building cars, and i was asking him about exhaust systems for the xB

what he said is that our car's don't need big pipes, they don't make enough power to need such a massive system, he said 2 1/4 is possibly pushing it - you need back pressure to make the exhuast system work efficiently - and throwing a 3 1/2" pipe is like way to big, you'd loose a ton of torque and bottom end hp

he even said that 1 3/4" might even work better than the 2 1/4" pipes most xB systems are running....

what i got out of the conversation was - little motor = little exhaust

- Brian

I believe its 2" before the cat and 2 1/4" after the cat.

Okay, I'd better call in the morning and see if I remembered the size correctly. I was at work and distracted when he called, so maybe I am remembering it wrong. Thanks!

:shock: whoa!!! this guys pipe diameter hungry!! 31/2in pipe is what I install on ford turbo diesals. The pipe that big will be great of quater mile runs only. Not for freeway driving and say good bye to your gas milage! I recomend 21/4in pipe only and 2 1/2in pipe with a turbo or supercharger, the stock exhaust pipe is 2in then to 1 and 1 3/4in pipe. :D

:shock: Thank you ! I am so glad I asked, and now I am hoping I just heard him wrong.

I cant wait to see your xA!

i got mine 2.25" and i like it. it's only cat-back, the guy doing my exhaust said he wouldn't mess with the cat cause things will get funky later on. mines cut 1" from the o2 sensor then just 2.25" all the way back, i had him do as little bends as posible since the axel back part is all funky twisted stock and i've been seeing alot of other exhausts that are axel back have that same funky twist.

:shock: Thank you ! I am so glad I asked, and now I am hoping I just heard him wrong.

maybe he said 2 1/2in pipe. But I would still recomend 2 1/4in pipe. that way u don't pay anything also since he said it was free.

Stylis, those numbers you stated (2" and 1 3/4") are jogging my memory, and I am thinking he said 2 1/5" pipe. I feel like a goober cuz I'm sure I just remembered it wrong as 3 1/2, lol. I am calling in the morning to make sure.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_4.gif

Stylis, those numbers you stated (2" and 1 3/4") are jogging my memory, and I am thinking he said 2 1/5" pipe. I feel like a goober cuz I'm sure I just remembered it wrong as 3 1/2, lol. I am calling in the morning to make sure.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_4.gif
they make 2 1/5" pipe? i agree with stylis, he probably meant 2.5" or 2.25"

Stylis, those numbers you stated (2" and 1 3/4") are jogging my memory, and I am thinking he said 2 1/5" pipe. I feel like a goober cuz I'm sure I just remembered it wrong as 3 1/2, lol. I am calling in the morning to make sure.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_4.gif

Goof ball!! :lol: Let us know how it goes!

2 1/4 would be ideal. Really you don't need 2 1/2 unless your pushing over 300-350 hp.

It's confirmed. Imagoober for thinking 3 1/2" - shoulda been 2 1/2". :oops:

Thank you all for your advice! I told him to install 2 1/4" as you suggested.
They won't be starting on it until the body kit is installed... don't want it lined
up wrong. :)

It's confirmed. Im a goober for thinking 3 1/2" - shoulda been 2 1/2". :oops:

Thank you all for your advice! I told him to install 2 1/4" as you suggested.
They won't be starting on it until the body kit is installed... don't want it lined
up wrong. :)

Also please be sure to post up pics. :D Goober! :lol: J/K Can't wait to see the body kit! 8)

If any of you want to read some vey good write ups on exhaust flow & size
check out the articales section at http://www.team-integra.net/sections/articles/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=47
You may have to register to read it but there are several articles on exhaust.

u mentioned u got fab-type rear bumper, what are you putting in the front and sides?
just curious about it.

top secret, HUSH HUSH. heh heh j/k

I got a Kei Design kit from Scionic for the front and sides. It will all be painted black sand pearl to match the body. I really like the way the Fab style rear flares out like the Kei front does. Called the shop today, and my car should be ready by Friday. :D
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/Miscellaneous/XA_Body_Kits-Ken_front-Fab_rear2.jpg
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/SCI%20FIRE/2-SCI_FIRE_4-10-04.jpg

any update on the exhaust?
:D

No, not yet. I heard from Robert on Wed, and he decided not to use the fasteners which he had waited a week for... and he isn't sure exactly how to fit the front air dam on, as there are no markings or cutouts for the fog lights. He said that if he puts it where it seems to need to go, it is only about an inch lower than stock. He wants to talk to someone about how to properly install it, but Scionic hasn't been online and hasn't seen my pm or email asking for help. :cry:

Figured I would go to the shop this weekend to see how he is doing on the rear and sides. He said they require some body work, which is to be expected. I don't even know if he has done the exhaust yet or not. Been too busy at work myself to get over there to see it.

well, I hope everything turns out ok for ya.

I just picked up my car, but the exhaust hasn't been done. The body kit and paint was finished last Thursday, but turns out the exhaust company had to order the exhaust pipe and extension, and they still aren't in yet. Guess they don't keep that size and material in stock. Should be able to have it done this Saturday. Any last minute advice?

OMG, I love the body kit on a black car. I was so right about the Fab rear and the Kei Design kit together. It looks so good.

Any last minute advice?


PICS!!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_20.gif

http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/SCI%20FIRE/001Sci_Fire_5-13-04.jpg

http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/SCI%20FIRE/002Sci_Fire_5-13-04.jpg

http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/SCI%20FIRE/003Sci_Fire_5-13-04.jpg

FREAKING AWESOME!!!(<--Yeah I'm using caps! :o ) have yet to see an xA fixed up like that up here in the norcal! :D Props sci fire! 8)

Thank you http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_105v.gif

Well, I finally got my 2.25" catback exhaust installed today, along with a new resonator and stainless steel exhaust tip. Sounds more throaty, but is quiet, too.

http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/Ravenna3/SCI%20FIRE/02Scorcht_6-2-04new_exhaust.jpg

If anyone in San Diego needs exhaust work, go to Ed Hanson Muffler Service in Spring Valley. They are great!

so I take it that you got what you wanted and the drama was taken care of right? And if you want more throaty sound, use a header and the powerful sound will come!! :D Looks good and nice tip!

hey all. i used to go by the bigger isn't exactly better theory in the exhaust dept. but i recently installed apex-i N1 duals on my stock '90 240sx and i was expecting performance to go down. BUT what happened was the exact opposite. granted it's a cat back system and mani to cat is stock. but it's 3" after the cat then splits into 2.5" duals.
now, by everything i was told before, it should have made my car a pooch, but it actually got a bit quicker.
then again, maybe this is just some quirk with nissan's KA engine :?

sooo.....has anybody actually tinkered around w/bigger (2.5" or <) exhaust on a scion?

dont think anyone has a bigger exhaust system than that. BUT i remember someone, maybe it was eric, who installed a straight through exhaust and lost power. Too much flow isnt good, unless you're turbo or pushing some godly amount of NA power

I think the 2.25" exhaust has increased the power, because getting up to speed on the freeway is easier, and passing other cars is easier. The sound is so much better, too. It is quieter, and has a deeper sound.

I think the 2.25" exhaust has increased the power, because getting up to speed on the freeway is easier, and passing other cars is easier. The sound is so much better, too. It is quieter, and has a deeper sound.

Very true!! 2.25 exhaust pipe on our cars will fit right and give us the right back pressure for power. :D Might I remind you about the Stylis Manifold back system that adds Horse Power :shock:

:shock: Where is that on your website?

(P.S. I like the Pringles can mod on your dash in the Toyotafest pics. Does it interface with a Lays cannister, too? And will it fit an XA?)

:shock: Where is that on your website?

(P.S. I like the Pringles can mod on your dash in the Toyotafest pics. Does it interface with a Lays cannister, too? And will it fit an XA?)

I don't have the results of 2.25 pipe on our cars, because I don't have a cat back system for sale on my website. The pringles can adds 4HP for aerodynamics!!! :lol: Pringles and a SOBE, don't have a road trip without it!!! :D