Topic: build my own exhaust or go to an exhaust shop

[h20pumper]

This week my intake piping and rubbers should be in. Leaving only a wideband, turbo coolant lines and the exhaust piping to finish the jeep. Right now im not sure if i want to lay on my cold garage floor by the heater and make my downpipe and turbo back or go to a shop. Ive been looking at piping from http://www.mandrelexhaustsystems.com. Its aluminized piping but very thick and said they would flare for me at no extra charge. Or I drive over to an exhaust shop. I've called a few places to get ideas of quotes for a "custom" jeep exhaust. Places ive called that are local want me to drive over. I figure its 50/50. Might say cool a turbo jeep no problem. Or might hear turbo and say thats really custom, will be expensive.

Input

[VA_YJ]

Put some cardboard on the floor for insulation and git'er done.  I use it all the time.

[h20pumper]

so no other places to purchase piping?

[sharpxmen]

so no other places to purchase piping?

ebay mandrel bent stainless piping and weld it together ( to go to the cat a J pipe my guess and maybe another 90 or 45 or both), I would go with 2.5'' but if you want same as your stock exhaust 2.25 is the size you need. If you want plain steel mandrel bent they're cheap at most auto-parts stores, aluminized is better but then if you weld on it will rust around the weld anyway unless you use clamps.
do a high level mockup with a piece of electrical wire or something similar and try to figure out the angles and bends you need, keep in mind that a u-bend can be used for anything from 30 degrees to 180 degrees and as long as you cut it perpendicular to the tube at that point won't hurt your flow. You can also go with some cheap fold bent piping from any parts store and once you have it done in that order what you need - you can buy extras and return what you don't use, less expensive than ordering off ebay and be stuck with it and less frustrating than not having it on hand and waiting another week to arrive.

[h20pumper]

might end up buying a master kit from columbia tubing.

[jagular7]

Vs. knowing exhaust guys....I can get cat back for $125 done in under an hour with the small turbo muffler. I had the TJ drop pipe (curls around the front of the oil pan rather than under the trans bellhousing) configured on my 94 for $70!

If you are capable, doing this stuff is a DIY!

[dwtaylorpdx]

LOL I'm the exact opposite, yea I can bend tube I build all kinds of
metal projects but for 150 bucks no way I'm doing that work...

I did many back in my younger days and without a real bender never got one I liked for the work it took.

:D Cheers!

[sharpxmen]

he needs to build the exhaust from the turbo to the cat, I doubt that he'll find anything close to fit

[dwtaylorpdx]

Hey I'm just trying to justify the cost in my cheapskate mind! LOL 
I was talking for $150 my local exhaust shop bent all the tube and installed for $150 and I supplied the muffler. 2.25 header to the tailpipe..
They hit me about the same to do a pipe from the turbo to the tail on a Nissan race car I work on once in a while..  That one didnt need a muffler.. 

[Jeffy]

he needs to build the exhaust from the turbo to the cat, I doubt that he'll find anything close to fit

Wouldn't he just have to route the part from the turbo to the stock cat?

[sharpxmen]

Wouldn't he just have to route the part from the turbo to the stock cat?

yes, that's what I thought he needs

[h20pumper]

kit from columbia tubing showed up today, probably start on friday