Ugly exhaust tip

"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated) 08/20/2013 at 13:40 • Filed to: Blinglopnik

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I installed a new exhaust in my Subaru, a full catback system from Walker. I bought it from Amazon because it amuses me to make Amazon ship heavy and bulky things 2nd day air at no cost to me (Prime).

Build quality is decidedly "good enough." The muffler section is very close to OE, the midpipe less so. But with a little elbow grease, some filing, and a hacksaw to trim one of the hangers that was way too long, I got it all installed. I also installed a new Subaru OE "donut" gasket while it was apart.

The reduction in drone and noise is incredible. The tires and wind noise are now louder than the engine at highway speeds.

The only thing I really dislike about the new setup, and it really galls me to have to say this, is the cheesy "exhaust tip" - this from Captain Form Follows Function. The OE muffler had a large stainless exhaust tip and a matching cutout in the bumper. To fill the larger bumper cutout, the replacement muffler simply has an adapter to a very large diameter exhaust pipe, which got dinged in shipping so it's not quite round.

I grabbed my trusty Sawzall and cut the tip off the old muffler as close to the muffler as I could. It's a little dirty but I think with some steel wool or something it would polish up nicely. I'll have to see how much my local awesome exhaust guy will charge to swap tips.

Any thoughts? Should I forget about re-using the old tip and buy a new one? What should I use to clean up the old tip?

CalzoneGolem > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 13:45

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Just the tip!

NaturallyAspirated > CalzoneGolem 08/20/2013 at 13:48

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Dammit, I had to hold back so hard to avoid making that joke.

6cyl > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 13:50

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your local exhaust guy should be able to stretch the tip that is on there like 1-2mm and that should eliminate the dent and round it out

CalzoneGolem > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 13:51

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Why?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 13:55

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Well I could tell you what I use to clean my tip but then I'd need diagrams and video which I don't think anyone really wants to see.

Takuro Spirit > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 13:56

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Soooooo no UEL header and high flow cat? STi muffler? Stromung cat-back? EHHH??

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 14:07

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Since that tip appears to be stainless don't use steel wool to clean it. The steel wool will contaminate the stainless with ferrite and it will result in the tip rusting to shit in short order. Try using a Scotchbrite pad or maybe even degreaser and a rag to clean it up.

#tips

/I'll show myself out now

NaturallyAspirated > Takuro Spirit 08/20/2013 at 14:07

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Naw, this is my DD. I need something that's comfortable to drive long distances, and loud exhaust bothers me if I'm just cruising.

NaturallyAspirated > CalzoneGolem 08/20/2013 at 14:09

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Not subtle enough.

NaturallyAspirated > Takuro Spirit 08/20/2013 at 14:11

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Although I would love to put Borla-copy stainless UEL header on it. Unfortunately the California Smog Police would be less than impressed, and it would be pretty obvious as the only shiny thing underneath the car.

Takuro Spirit > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 14:26

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I hear ya. Really I do. Mine was never too lour or drone-y. Even with stiff exhaust hangers. I drive 60 miles a day, so I know them feels.

Takuro Spirit > NaturallyAspirated 08/20/2013 at 14:30

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I lucked out and found a 2.5RS at a salvage yard where I used to do a lot of business with. They were gonna toss it out since they don't sell exhaust, so I scored the whole thing for $125.

I just used the header and cat (I already had the Borla mid-pipe from a logn ago trade), sold the rest off to a guy who wanted a fartcan on his Impreza for $75.

Thankfully we don't care too much about smog here, but it never set a CEL.