exhaust questions and suggestions

[terrystalon]

Tax season is right around the corner. Im looking to upgrade my exhaust from the headers back. Now, my question is. What "parts" of the exhaust consist of a "turbo back" exhaust? Im just curious if its more efficient to buy each separate, or to buy as a bundle. Can anyone breakdown the exhaust for me ..... headers ----> downpipes ----> cat. ? Or how does it go? Thanks for any advice

 

[Krusemann99GST]

On my gst I would say a turbo back would consist of the o2 housing and then the downpipe then the cat but most downpipes eliminate that like mine did and then your cat-back. My set up tho is a fp race manifold then Megan racing o2 housing and Megan racing downpipe to a custom 3 inch cat-back. Idk if the turbo back includes the manifold or just from the turbo. But I bought mine all separate.

 

[jpmxrider489]

Some people include the o2 and mani. I'm running a fp mani and stock o2. I'm running a eBay catback. Most downpipes get rid of the cat. Rre has a downpipe that doesn't but not sure on the price. Some people don't like eBay but It's the fitment that counts. I run Japanimportshop.

 

[terrystalon]

Thanks for the input. So most systems will either replaced the o2 housing or eliminate it all together. I found headers and a cat back system I like. Just wasn't sure if I needed to replace the o2 housing or not. I have a 13g turbo so im thinking keeping the 2.5 inch stock o2 housing to the 3" full exhaust may be the best thing for my practically stock turbo

 

[dexterholland04]

Headers are on v8's, we have Exhaust Manifolds. On that tiny 13g turbo, I would stick with the stock 2g exhaust manifold for a while. I would steer clear of ANY E-bay tubular manifolds, the runners are tiny and the welds are very cheap. The collector on my friend's OBX manifold is just screaming to develop a leak. Your best bet is to buy a Megan Racing down pipe and cat-back. They are inexpensive and are well worth the money. I had one and I liked it enough for what it was.

Another (more adventurous) option is to go with a VRS piping kit and fabricate a turbo back exhaust from that. They are cheap and if you can't weld, then take it to a muffler shop and have them build it for you. The whole exhaust would cost you less than $400.

As far as o2 housings go, there are a multitude of decent choices. Megan Racing makes a good one, and Evo III o2 housings seem to be popular as well. Both can be had for decent prices.

 

[crash89]

Headers are on v8's, we have Exhaust Manifolds. On that tiny 13g turbo, I would stick with the stock 2g exhaust manifold for a while. I would steer clear of ANY E-bay tubular manifolds, the runners are tiny and the welds are very cheap. The collector on my friend's OBX manifold is just screaming to develop a leak. Your best bet is to buy a Megan Racing down pipe and cat-back. They are inexpensive and are well worth the money. I had one and I liked it enough for what it was.

Another (more adventurous) option is to go with a VRS piping kit and fabricate a turbo back exhaust from that. They are cheap and if you can't weld, then take it to a muffler shop and have them build it for you. The whole exhaust would cost you less than $400.

As far as o2 housings go, there are a multitude of decent choices. Megan Racing makes a good one, and Evo III o2 housings seem to be popular as well. Both can be had for decent prices.

The problem with an Evo3 o2 housing is they have a slightly different angle than a stock 2g one. This makes things pretty difficult to bolt up an exhaust meant for a 2g. And are you advising the OP to buy intercooler piping and weld it together for an exhaust?!?! Doesnt sound very good at all.

OP: You can stay with your stock o2 housing. Wouldnt hurt to do a little porting however. When I looked at exhausts I couldnt justify paying well over 300 dollars for a "name brand" catback or even 700 for a full exhaust for that matter. So I just went with a Megan dp (cat delete) and an ebay cat back. After all, an exhaust is just bent metal! Why spend x amount of money on the same product but one has a name stamped on it?! Total spent was 220 for the dp and 120 for the catback on ebay and fit perfectly!

Now, if your state has an emissions law I would advise against a cat delete downpipe.

 

[dexterholland04]

The problem with an Evo3 o2 housing is they have a slightly different angle than a stock 2g one. This makes things pretty difficult to bolt up an exhaust meant for a 2g. And are you advising the OP to buy intercooler piping and weld it together for an exhaust?!?! Doesnt sound very good at all.

Now, if your state has an emissions law I would advise against a cat delete downpipe.

VRS is not VRSF...two different companies. VRS has exhaust tubing kits for cheap:
MITSUBISHI TK

$225 to buy all of the piping you would need to build a killer exhaust. Then you could choose a muffler ($50-100) to purchase and would be set. You would have an exhaust that sounds great and wouldn't cost you a ton.

A little more research would have told you that Megan originally made their first 3" down pipes for Evo III housings; they were a full 3" down pipe. They wern't necked up like the newer ones are. I still own one of these, even though I don't use it anymore. It works with Evo and DSM o2 housings; I have run both with that old down pipe. The newer Megan down pipes are 2.5" necked up to 3" and again will work with DSM or Evo o2 housings. Albeit it is a tight fit, it works.

Crash, your method isn't bad either, except I would go with the Megan (or even PR) down pipe and an E-bay cat-back. As long as it would hold together...

OP: Since you have a 95 (OBD I) like me, you can pass NY emissions as long as you don't have a check engine light on. I have never had a problem passing NY emissions on my old Megan. Now that I have a straight-exhaust, I'll have to tap into my source of friends in the auto repair world to work some magic.

 

[terrystalon]

Thanks again for all posts. My 95 actually has the ob2 in it my car is also registered in WA state with no emissions required. So Megan d/p with cat delete and cat back. I really want to do the manifold as well since im replacing the rest anyways. Will the stock o2 housing fit say a Megan racing manifold??

 

[clipto]

Your really fine with the stock 2g o2 housing and 2g exhaust manifold I would just get a 3 inch turbo back exhaust.All 95 cars just like mine still need emissions in washington state aka the smoke one not the obd2 plugin.So probably get a 3 inch high flow cat.

 

[terrystalon]

Emissions test in Washington state are only required in specified counties. Thurston county it is not required. And hasn't been for the last three years I've owned the vehicle, or any other vehicle I've owned. Aside from that. Im just trying to replace old parts as well as upgrade now that im in a position to. I figured I would start with the entire exhaust system. Thanks for you input though. I may just do the turbo back for now and leave it at that. Thanks again for everybodys opinion and suggestions. All are noted.

 

[clipser-gs-t]

Don't get the Megan exhaust mani. Waste of money. Port and coat the stock piece.

 

[Sinister96]

I would consider "turbo back" from o2 housing to muffler. But honestly go to some muffler shops that do custom exhausts. Theres' a place ill be going to in the next few weeks going to do from o2 housing back to muffler for $200. That would be the down pipe and cat-back piping. All with oem bends and hangers and fully welded 3". Cant beat it gauranteed fit and no leaks.

Go buy a good sounding muffler and go up to a shop, don't buy a expensive system the high price dont make you go faster.

 

[terrystalon]

Yeah. All that seems to make sense. Buying online is a concern of mine. As I worry it will not fit properly when I receive it. I will be calling some exhaust shops tomorrow to see what I can get worked up. Everybodies input is appreciated. Im excited to put my first real mod to the car instead of just maintenance here and maintenance there.