How hard to do my own exhaust?

So with a $1600 bill looming over my head from Mazda, I'm inclined to try and tackle this exhaust issue myself. I would need something that replaces the exhaust downpipe, or have to take that part to a shop to get welded on.

Also, what headaches would I run into with makin the catalytic converter play nice?

Halp?

I can't imagine it'd be too difficult. Order up some bends and a couple of flanges that match the part (any decent muffler shop should have em) and put em together in a manner that fits. I know i've done intercooler pipes this way. You could also get some pvc from LowesDepot to do the test fit, plumbing bends is cheap.

So what's the question? Just get the MIG welder out and get after it. Weld the cat on the rest of the pipes. The biatch is crawling around on the floor with the car up on jack stands.

Dr. Hess wrote: So what's the question? Just get the MIG welder out and get after it. Weld the cat on the rest of the pipes. The biatch is crawling around on the floor with the car up on jack stands.

I don't own a MIG welder (or any welder for that matter) and this isn't a good time for me to try and convince the wife I need one.

Talk to a good ol' boy out at a diesel shop in your area. Betcha he'd do it on the cheap.

Rather than pay $1600 for an exhaust repair, buy a really good welder for half that and you can fix thousands of other jobs on the cars and around the house.

I love my Lincoln 180 MIG

A welder like that^^ will pay for itself quickly. Lot's of folks need something welded up, from mower decks to trailer stuff and many other things. Tell hunnybunny it's a business opportunity, and you won't be lying. A 130 amp/ 110vac welder can be had for 4-500.00 and you can take it anywhere, even under your car.

Exhaust is easy.

Good, tight fitting, non rattling exhaust is hard.

Header, High Flow Cat/mid pipe, Exhaust from FM.

All bolt on, No welding and should be less than a grand. Still not the cheapest option but less than $1600 and it will sound bitchin' when it's done.

If you wanted a little cheaper option Moss has some stuff in the Cobalt line that might save you another $100-200.

Going this route will give you a bolt-in converter @ $200 in case it goes bad again. It will also be all stainless so it should last the life of the car.

Marty! wrote: Ebay manifold, Used Turbo, High Flow Cat/mid pipe, Exhaust from ebay. All bolt on, No welding and should be less than a grand. Still not the cheapest option but less than $1600 and it will sound and be bitchin' when it's done.

Fixed that for you!

Well, the FM stuff will fit and has a lifetime warranty....

Marty! wrote: Header, High Flow Cat/mid pipe, Exhaust from FM. All bolt on, No welding and should be less than a grand. Still not the cheapest option but less than $1600 and it will sound bitchin' when it's done. If you wanted a little cheaper option Moss has some stuff in the Cobalt line that might save you another $100-200. Going this route will give you a bolt-in converter @ $200 in case it goes bad again. It will also be all stainless so it should last the life of the car.

Yeah, Keith already sold me on the FM line of goods. Sure, I could maybe knock a few hundred off with ebay stuff, but I like the price to quality ratio here. Good stuff with a lifetime warranty, cheaper than stock, sounds better, and will net me a few more ponies in the deal? I'm sold. Now I just need to figure out how I'm going to afford it.

couldnt you just replace the portion thats broken.....? or is the whole system falling apart?

failboat wrote: couldnt you just replace the portion thats broken.....? or is the whole system falling apart?

The last shop that replaced the cat for me last time, cut off the mazda flange and welded the cat on directly. So I have to replace that, or pay someone to cut it off and weld a new one on.

All the FM parts use factory flange locations - so if you still have a good axle-back section, you could retain that.

for a cheap quick fix find a muffler shop in the hispanic area near you. It will be crush bent and welded, but it will work.

internetautomart wrote: for a cheap quick fix find a muffler shop in the hispanic area near you. It will be crush bent and welded, but it will work.

Funny how true that is...and I'm Hispanic

Yeah, for what you are wanting to do, I would just order up a magnaflow weld on cat, take it to a local exhaust shop and have them weld it in. Should be done for under $200 total. A buddy who owns an exhaust shop pointed me to the Magnaflows as they last longer than the "one smog check specials." At the time he was running a special and sold and installed me one for $100. I'm all for buying a welder and fabbing your own exhaust, but for what you are wanting to do, it's overkill. Heck, I bought a Magnaflow bolt in cat with new gaskets for my wife's Honda for $100 shipped so they may be even cheaper.

internetautomart wrote: for a cheap quick fix find a muffler shop in the hispanic area near you. It will be crush bent and welded, but it will work.

If its a DD appliance car this is what i would go with.

We did some exhaust testing a few years ago and found that the Magnaflows were a lot more restrictive than some of the hand-built mufflers we compared them to, with the benefit of higher sound levels. We were using Magnaflows at the time. We don't any more...

Buy a used stock manifold/downpipe/whatever was hacked by the last shop, then buy a replacement cat from the aftermarket.

For those who don't know - the cat in a 2001 Miata is part of the midpipe. It runs from the flywheel to the rear axle. So a "replacement cat" will either be a weld-in or it will be a full midpipe.

Ojala wrote:

internetautomart wrote: for a cheap quick fix find a muffler shop in the hispanic area near you. It will be crush bent and welded, but it will work.

Funny how true that is...and I'm Hispanic

It was not meant to be an insult just a real observation.