If I buy a new exhaust system, must I buy a down pipe?

[NC99Eclipse]

I'm about to buy my full 2.5'' exhaust system, and I was wandering if I had to buy a down pipe also. This may be a bad question, but I wouldn't know until I asked.

 

[nothingfiction]

did you just get a cat-back exhaust? cat-delete exhaust? did you order headers as well?

 

[NC99Eclipse]

No not yet, I plan on getting the Tsudo N1, then get some headers after I build many back up.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I'm about to buy my full 2.5'' exhaust system, and I was wandering if I had to buy a down pipe also. This may be a bad question, but I wouldn't know until I asked.

Full exhaust means full which includes a downpipe. Honestly though, and I speak from experience, without a turbo you are better of just upgrading the cat-back portion of your exhaust piping. With a full exhaust you lose needed back pressure and just make more noise instead of more power.

Just a heads up, when you get a header it usually comes with the "downpipe" portion of the piping.

Hope this helps!

 

[NC99Eclipse]

You recommend upgrading the cat-back portion? As in adding a new cat back? Could I get a link to a few parts you recommend, and if possible, a guide on doing it yourself? Thank you for the advice, maybe this will save money!

 

[pgarland]

Cat-back means from the catalytic converter to the rear of the car, everything from your exhaust manifold to the catalytic converter would remain stock and untouched. There are tons of different options out there for cat-back exhausts, just check this link: DSM Cat-back Exhausts - DSMtuners.com

Or check Ebay, you should be able to find some great deals there.

The reason that nothingfiction asked some more in depth questions is because you can go with different options when upgrading your exhaust system. The cat-back is the cheapest, and ultimately makes the most sense for most applications. Most people go with this and then purchase a high flow catalytic converter later in their builds. Some (people whose home states don't do emissions testing, or who use their car at the track only) will go for the cat-delete option, which means nothing more than taking the catalytic converter out of the system altogether and replacing it with an open pipe.

What are your plans for the car? If you plan to go turbo anywhere down the line then getting headers is pretty much a waste of money, and you will only see very minimal gains from them. And the conventional wisdom around here is that the cheap (Ebay) headers are just as good (or better in a lot of cases) than the expensive ones.

Hope this helps.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

I've thought about turbo, but it would cost a lot
more to turbo a 420a. I basically plan on doing bolt on mods,
gaining a little HP and making the car fun to drive. As the guy said above, i should upgrade the catalytic converter portion back, so i will do this. I'm not sure what to search for, just A upgraded cat for my car? Links would be great, thanks again.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

This one on ebay looks nice, 2.5" polished Stainless Steal catback system for about $110 shipped. Just search "99 eclipse catback" in ebay and find one you like. The main things to look for are 2.5" piping, mandrel bends, and a provision for bolting it to the Catalytic Converter (as pgarland mentioned, some do not). Also make sure you include shipping when comparing prices.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

How is this different from a full exhaust? I'm just upgrading the cat back portion back? So it's similar to s full exhaust system without anything in front of it?

Thanks

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

How is this different from a full exhaust? I'm just upgrading the cat back portion back? So it's similar to s full exhaust system without anything in front of it?

Thanks

Full exhaust = Headers/manifold, downpipe, hi-flow or no cat, cat-back pipes, and a muffler.

Cat-back exhaust = Cat-back pipes and a muffler. The "front part" stays stock.

You can replace everything (ie, full exhaust) if you want to spend the money but it won't be much of a benefit if any at all unless you are turbocharged.

Hope this helps clear that up.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

Ok, hopefully that eBay one doesn't sound like a fart can.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Unfortunately thats just a non-turbo thing. Its hard to get around it but keeping the factory exhaust manifold and catalytic converter will help keep that noise down.

I had a full 2.5" exhaust on my non-turbo and it was loud as crap. I changed mufflers, added a resonator and it was still loud.

Swapped to a turbo engine with a full 3" exhaust and it's a LOT quieter. It sounds awesome now.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

Could I put a set of headers onto the stock piping? Along with the cat back exhaust, or will the noise sound like a sh!tty fart can?

Also, quick note, anyone with a 95-99 Eclipse GS that has only upgraded the cat-back portion of the car, post a video, Youtube doesn't have any good quality ones.

 

[pgarland]

You can install headers on the stock exhaust manifold and piping, but like I posted above, this is one modification where strangely enough the cheaper parts seem to do just as well (if not better than) the super expensive name brand stuff. Everyone who I have seen with the cheaper Ebay headers have been happy with their purchases, and I know a guy who spent a ton of money on a more expensive set (I believe he purchased a Greddy 4-2-1, but I'd have to ask him to be sure) only to have them crack 4 months later. Do a search here for "headers", I know there is a pretty recent thread here talking about them that is full of good information. Keep in mind though, like I said above, if you do eventually decide to turbocharge the car, the headers will have to come off. Don't waste time or money on these if you're planning on boosting!

As for the exhaust, what are you going for? Are you buying for sound, or for the hp gain? Every exhaust sounds different (if you want to, you can change the sound by changing the muffler or using a silencer). Like 9!'clipseDOHC said, if you keep the factory exhaust manifold and factory catalytic converter in then the sound should be much quieter (the tradeoff here is that you wouldn't be getting as much of a gain in horsepower though). I would just check around on Ebay and see whats available (and check there for video/audio links too), the link that 9!'clipseDOHC posted seems like a great deal for a decent setup. Most people here tend to go for a 2.5 inch cat-back setup, and like I said above, a lot of people go with a high flow cat as well. This doesn't mean you have to (you can run a smaller or even a larger diameter pipe if you want, but 2.5 inch is recommended, as it is ideal for most people's needs) and regardless of the pipe size, your car's factory cat should be able to stay in.

It just depends on what your overall goal is. For hp gains, look into upgrading the full exhaust in order to increase flow, if you're just looking for a certain sound, focus on a cat-back system with the right muffler. Make sense?

Hope this helps.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

Ok, yes that all helped a bunch man. I recently found out, just today, that my Eclipses exhaust has already been upgraded with pretty high dollar stuff, I've just thought it was just a muffler tip. I'm going to get a set of headers soon. I'm mainly looking for a hp gain over sound. I'm still waiting on the last owner to tell me what he done to the exhaust though. If it's already been upgraded, I may put a different tip and definately get a set of 4-2-1 headers. Thanks for the replies.

 

[nothingfiction]

with a pre-modded car i would get under it and actually check the exhaust. like you said... you thought it was just a muffler tip... he may have went cheap and just did the muffler and not the other pipes from the cat-back. pretty pointless to do, but i have seen it done hundreds of times.

the main thing to look for is colour differences between the entire exhaust plumbing.
is everything relatively the same size (to the eye) of the exhaust? if it's not, you will know what i am talking about.
look at the bolts holding the system down. usually when replacing parts of the exhaust the bolts and nuts are a bi*** to get off and either break or need to be torched off. Therefor usually are replaced for new bolts (and/or nuts). So you can look for that too. That will give you a good idea as to how much of the exhaust has been upgraded.

As for that fartcan sound mentioned... that normally (as far as i can tell) only comes from when you just upgrade the muffler. the back-pressure is still in the system and the muffler is the first place it is released. That is why it farts. if you have a cat-back exhaust you don't have that fartcan sound because that back pressure is released much sooner and gives the muffler a chance to breath, per say. Compared to tiny piping into a muffler that only drowns the muffler with exhaust gas. a cat back relieves that pressure so it flows smoother.

 

[pgarland]

Like nothingfiction said, there is absolutely no substitute for getting under the car and checking things out for yourself. In my experience, you will never find a person so quick to lie to you as the person who just sold you something (especially if it was expensive). Get under there and look at the entire setup, from the muffler to the cat, and from the cat to the exhaust manifold (in the engine bay). You should be able to easily see whats been changed, if for no other reason than it'll look newer than the rest of your 11 year old stuff. If you see something you're not sure about, take pictures and post them here, someone will be able to identify it for you.

Make absolutely sure that you know what is on your car already before spending money on new parts. This may sound stupid, but I have seen way too many people go out and waste money on parts that they don't need, parts that won't work for their car, or parts that are of a cheaper quality than the ones they already had installed just because they were too lazy to check and see what was already there. This can be a very costly mistake, and an easily avoidable one.

 

[NC99Eclipse]

My dad, Sheriff of the county, bought the car a
year ago for me.
We bought it from my dads chief deputies son. The car has a
deep strong tone, my dad swears the whole exhaust
as been upgraded.It does look like it has. He's off the
college now, so I'm waiting to find out what he done exactly.

My dad, Sheriff of the county, bought the car a
year ago for me.
We bought it from my dads chief deputies son. The car has a
deep strong tone, my dad swears the whole exhaust
as been upgraded.It does look like it has. He's off the
college now, so I'm waiting to find out what he done exactly.