When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
IMO, it looks much better than the oval tips. Wouldn't you agree?
It also looks too flush with the diffuser, but it's difficult to tell from a straight-on picture. And it also looks like the diffuser is resting on the tips, or pretty close, which doesn't seem right. I thought you were having the CF modified? Seems to me, it would look right if the cut-outs were more rectangular with rounded upper corners.
Now that they're on the car and have decided they're keepers, you can take your time finding another shop who would maybe be more attentive to the details of this project.
The mechanic actually told you your catback would magically stretch 2 inches, huh? I'm no ME, but... WTF, man? Are you sure you heard him right, and instead maybe he said two millimeters?
Yes I definitely think they look much better than the oval tips.
The diffuser is not resting on the tips, It may look like that but it's not, there is some gap for slight exhaust movement.
Yes I had the exhaust opening enlarged, cut out obviously to fit those tips in there, I like the cutouts, they're not the issue here, he did a pretty nice job with that, I actually like it that way more than having the cutouts too big and too much room between the cutouts up top and the tips, allowing to see through and see the exhaust mufflers... He was attentive to the details of the project, he's done so many of quad tip installs and bumper cutouts in order to fit them.
Yes I'm sure he said 1.5 to 2" expansion and I even asked him again if he said INCHES... He was dumbfounded that I never noticed that on my exhaust, but to be honest, if that was true, I would have noticed for sure.
I don't know what to think, I do like it but it's still like 50-50 to me , I'll just leave it be for now, and maybe it'll grow on me more, but I do think the tips could be a little more outwards indeed IF the theory of SS expansion doesn't apply here.
The owner of the shop who did the work and has far more knowledge than most of us here said that SS expands which is true and that SS exhaust expands up to 2 inches given how long the whole catback is.
Like I said, I'm no mechanical engineer, and yet that seems a ridiculous claim. But I'm not proud, so it's worth researching, if only a little bit. Mike, apparently this thing about SS catbacks is an urban myth, although one I've never heard of. In any event, the exhaust will not expand two inches. That's just not going to happen.
The real question here is this: why would an auto mechanic, particularly one skilled with welding, repeat that fallacy? Without being a party to the event and the players, one explanation is that he knew it was recessed too far, or too far to your liking, and he just didn't want to keep working on it, or ask you for more money on the same. Spread a little BS over the issue, and maybe he can be done with it.
Actually I take back what I said and my uncertainty about how they came out... after I washed the car and looked at them from several angles, I can easily say that I like it, looks sleek and they're not sticking out too much. IDK why I wasn't sure but now I know they're good.
They're not tight in there, the cutout is good enough not too small and not too big where exhaust cans would be visible , it's fitted great if you ask me.
Here's several pictures from different angles for you to see
This is the pic, right here. Looks fine to me, Mike.
I'm glad you're coming around to liking it. Now that I see the better photos, I have a better impression of the job, too. If there were anything to comment constructively, it's that the cutout is fairly, um, raw. And while that's a subjective evaluation, it's certainly true that the perspective necessary to see that is not a normal one. You would have to be literally lying on the pavement to get that point of view. In 99% of every perspective, it would look totally fine.
Looks like a nice job there Mike. I'd imagine the main issue is getting used to having quads back there, it is dramatically different so it will take some time to sink in. Having the diffuser that's not made for those tips also adds some variables, think the shop did well w/ that cutout, and the amount the tips extend out seems spot on.
I think you'll be liking these more & more as time goes on. And having all that additional clearance when navigating steep inclines is a huge WIN!
Oh, and another lol at the 2" expansion/contraction, at least in the short length of an exhaust, maybe for something like a school bus, but ????
Looks like a nice job there Mike. I'd imagine the main issue is getting used to having quads back there, it is dramatically different so it will take some time to sink in. Having the diffuser that's not made for those tips also adds some variables, think the shop did well w/ that cutout, and the amount the tips extend out seems spot on.
I think you'll be liking these more & more as time goes on. And having all that additional clearance when navigating steep inclines is a huge WIN!
Oh, and another lol at the 2" expansion/contraction, at least in the short length of an exhaust, maybe for something like a school bus, but ????
I don't know maybe he was referring to that because many exhausts he does he custom makes em and I'm guessing they don't come with flex pipes, which is something he asked me about after the fact on instagram.
And yes you're spot on, what made me not sure how I feel about them is that, it is a dramatic change indeed and that's why I was so uncertain about it. Now looking back at the pictures I really really like it!
OH DUDE!!! from another angle it looks incredible. The pic you posted in the chat thread made it look almost flush to the diffuser. This, this is beautiful.
I don't know maybe he was referring to that because many exhausts he does he custom makes em and I'm guessing they don't come with flex pipes, which is something he asked me about after the fact on instagram.
FI exhausts don't have flex-sections. And my tips don't get a chubby when the exhaust is hot.
Well.. His theory of exhaust expansion seems to be checking out... I just noticed this today at work, car has been parked for good 4 hours and the exhaust was obviously cold versus the picture of the hot exhaust that I have posted here before. It didn't happen with the original tips or I have never noticed? no clue. I know I will make a time-lapse with my go pro mounted tomorrow to catch it expanding on video
11-29-2015, 01:28 PM
Thank you sir!
