replacement flex pipe for shosource cat back

[tompumped]

I got done welding in a mil spec certified flex pipe on my catback. Their exhaust is very nice, but it could've had thicker flanges and a better section of flex pipe for the price. Stainless flanges and flex would've also been a plus.

I'm happy they make this exhaust, otherwise i'd have had to drive real far to a shop with a mandrel bender. You could also convert back over to the stock spring bolt setup with a donut gasket. I feel that I should've went that route because it would probably last longer and it's way cheaper.

The company I purchased is made in the usa and seems to be the only mil-spec certified flex pipe out there. I could've got away with the six inch, but I purchased the eight because I wanted to get it right the first time. I'd imagine shorter is better, but who knows.

AF2508bss stainless works is the part number and manufacturer. I had to purchase flux cored stainless welding wire, and a ****** with a small section of pipe attached to it.
The pipe was sixty, the wire was forty and the ****** was fifteen dollars. I purchased two flanges because eventually i'll have to replace the one on the y pipe as it's rust pitted bad. It's a huge difference using thicker flanges, they don't flex and leak when you tighten them.

I never thought i'd spend over a grand on an exhaust in the end to get it right, but with band clamps and the full exhaust from the manifolds back i'm in it over a grand.

 

[tompumped]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172566474523?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Here's the ****** that I used to weld onto the flex pipe and it is a very nice piece. I never thought i'd get excited about the quality of a ******, but it is top notch and it was welded inside beautifully.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/STW-AF2508BSS

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-626003 This ****** will get welded onto the y pipe when I put my "freshened" motor in, although I may go with the above since it has a place for the gasket to be held and leaves you the option should you convert back to the donut gasket.. It was the same quality and thickness as above.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/121644779781?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Here's a Vibrant 2599a jdm header ****** i'd imagine could be used if you wanted to save money and have a longer lasting piece. I just wanted to see if the mil spec certification and full stainless flex was any better. With the way I abuse the car i'd probably have been better off going with this style setup.


Surprisingly some cheap mild steel flex pipe from the auto parts store lasted almost a month and was still good when I took it off. I didn't think it'd last a week with the way people speak about it.

 

[zoomlater]

Can you please post a picture of the finished set up

 

[tompumped]

The welds look terrible, but it doesn't leak. If i'd waited and used one of the welders we have in the shop i'd have made it look like a welder did it. I'm having issues with the ************* welder I bought, but thankfully I got it done. I will never buy another cheap welder again. It probably would've been fine with one pass and looked much better, but I didn't want to disassemble it again.

The second pic is of the original flex material.

 

[zoomlater]

Which muffler set up did you go with

 

[tompumped]

Single outlet, and as others have stated that was more than likely a performance gain by eliminating that useless secondary muffler.

I doubt this was coincidence but autozone and advance stock a straight through stainless magnaflow muffler with the exact dimensions necessary. I purchased it from advance. Even after installing two magnaflow cats recently it's still raspy as ****.

I originally had an old catted shoshop y pipe that sounded just about perfect, but one of the cats let loose. More than likely from burning so much oil, but i'm no engineer.

 

[tompumped]

After buying the vibrant 2599a i'd recommend going that route.

It just so happens the spring bolts fit exactly through the holes like they were meant for it. It's cheaper and more reliable to replace a gasket and weld a new ball ****** on. Under severe use it's probably the smartest route.

I haven't searched for a gasket, but i'd imagine the stock gasket would work. Getting everything to line up might be an issue, if you look at the ****** to flex weld on the shosource catback it's welded on an angle. I learned even if it looks good, it's better to tack it in place then weld it on a bench. This is where those expensive band clamps earn their place.