davcivic

The purpose of an aftermarket downpipe on a factory turbocharged car is to open the exhaust up to allow the gases to escape faster, right?? If we all agree I want to get a new donwpipe for my WRX, and take that factory 2", two cat piece of crap out. Everyone on the WRX world agrees on going with a 3 inch pipe, but most of this kids are little rich boys spending daddy's money, not to offend anyone, but it is the truth. They all reccomend going with a brand name downpipe, usually around $400 . I think that's too much for a piece of pipe. There are some cheap reproductions on ebay going for like $135, or better yet make my own. Here's the question.

Do you think it will make a difference if I go with a no name downpipe or DIY pipe? I mean it's just going to open up the exhaust I think any pipe should work, right??

88crxSi

look for a used one. WRX boards maybe? ebay?

davcivic

I've been looking but they sell like gold, even used ones go for around $250

Semnos

Make you own man.
Look at my home made custom downpipe for my civic



Not to bad with an arc welder....welds look pretty good and yeah I can grind them of if i want and spray the downpipe...but i don't care...
Oh and it cost me only $25 in bends and pipes and electrodes.I got the flanges for free..my uncle made them for me on a computerized CNC

projekteg

yeah dude, make your own or buy one of the knock offs, the only reason they're going for so much is because they can, if you buy a wrx and have money to upgrade as well, then obviously (in their eyes) you have the money to spend so they jack up the price. a downpipe is a downpipe, i would say make your own, it will be cheaper and you don't know how good the knock off ones will be, the flanges could be warped or not line up properly or something. as far as performance, it's the same damn thing.

davcivic

That's what I wanted to hear. I've asked stuff like this on wrx boards, and they always say, no go with this and that its better blah, blah. I have some money to mess with the car, but I have to work for it, not like some other guys in those forums. I love the car but for some reason, most owners are little rich boys. Good, I won't be afraid and just go ahead an do it. I have a welder, well my dad, not sure what type, it has a little wire inside to weld, but the one time I tried to weld it came out like ***.

I've learned a lot here in HMT, to the point of turbocharging my Civic, which I still have and it's a lot of fun, to do stuff myself. I can't believe how some guy with the wrx are alway like, "yeah I paid $300 for my springs and the paid $300 for the install and came out really good". I'm like ---- I'll do it for $50, I rather do it myself and then be proud of my own work. But I'm not so sure about welding. I paid someone to make mine for the hatch, $75.00, maybe I'll try him for the WRX. If not I'll get the knockoff.

DAMN LONG POST
THANKS

davcivic

Here are the ones

Ebay $135.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEBWA%3AIT

Perrin $429
http://www.wrxhookup.com/index.asp?P...PROD&ProdID=32

Turbo XS $488
http://www.wrxhookup.com/index.asp?P...PROD&ProdID=33

Cheapest aftermarket
Helix $295
http://www.wrxhookup.com/index.asp?P...ROD&ProdID=108

HKS $165
http://www.wrxhookup.com/index.asp?P...PROD&ProdID=34
But the HKS has a blocked wastegate port, is junk. All the others hava a big bellhousing where all the gases escape to. And the advantage of the ebay one is that if needed you can keep the third cat because it is a 2 piece downpipe like some other manufacturers. I'm in FL don't get the car smog, but If I ever move I could slap that third cat in quick to get it checked.
Thanks for your help, after considering all the options I think I'll go with the knockoff, if the flanges warp or anything I could always either weld better ones, or probably get the money back selling it used.

airtonics

Make your own or go with the cheap ebay one. Seroiusly all your paying for is a brand on the otherones....maybe some better steel but that wont have any change in the performance.