Time to replace entire exhaust

[paranoidjack]

OK, so at 185k the time has come. The exhaust blew a few holes, the o2 sensors went bad, ruined my cats, the whole shebang needs to be redone.

There is no way in hell I'll pay Joe (although I always buy OEM from Joe) the thousands, and thousands, and thousands to get another 185k. I need 50k worth.

I've been looking for aftermarket solutions, I found a local shop that will custom bend full system for $1750. This includes mufflers but I don't think cats. Regardless, I'd like to go to a 2 pipe exit instead of going into one muffler. I've always hated the one muffler and if I can fit another one I will.

Anyway, although I know I'm one of the higher mileage y33's on here, I'm curious to see what anyone else has done in a similar situation. I imagine the g50's don't have much aftermarket support either, so you've probably dealt with it also.

1) Replace all OEM - no way in hell
2) Replace all custom and stainless locally - quite possible, ~$2,000
3) Replace SOME locally, and order some existing performance stuff (mufflers, etc).
4) Find a junked Q with 100k on it and call it a day under $500, and visit this again in a year or two (not a bad idea if I can find one).

Anyone have any valuable input here? About to spend 2k on a 10 year old car that requires much more than that and a bit nervous. I'm also entertaining the idea of an fx45. With about 4k in only parts this car needs (conservatively), I could afford two years' worth of payments on a new vehicle with 60k. A vehicle with 100+k makes no sense as you're in heavy maintenance territory. I'd consider a $15k fx35/45 with under 100k, but then I'll have payments AND a car "about" to enter the red zone (over 100k). I'd really like to keep my baby a few more years.

Just the o2 sensors are $400 - MAN DOWN!

[Infinitiguy19]

N/A

[paranoidjack]

I have seen two FGY33's (1997-2001) Q45's in a junk yard in bilricca, MA but the owner was a d!ck to me. He accused me of stealing because I brought my service manual with me and though I took it. They check tool boxes ONLY when leaving not when you enter the yard so a work of caution to you Jack.

thanks Paul. Checking my box only when I leave is a great way to get me to tell them to f&*% themselves.

However, I just turned 30 and am too old to go remove the exhaust from a wrecked Q. They do it for me and ship it or nogo.

I would never even CONSIDER a junkyard exhaust if my business wasn't doing so poorly in the last 18 months, but government budgets have dried up and computer stuff is always the first to go....

[Infinitiguy19]

N/A

[qship96]

I would hope you can have a exhaust shop build a entire system for 5-600 using steel, which should last at least 5 years, unlike a stainless steel version which would last 12-15 years and cost 3x as much?

[dana0330]

I had a whole exhaust system made from a friend I brought him 2 new cats 2 glass pack mufflers and used the rear muffler. He bnt me up a system for $200.00 the cats were about $50.00 each and the glass packs were I think $25.00 each. The system looks good and sounds good (when the car is running ok).

[elwesso]

yeah you should be getting a lot for 1800... I had an exhaust shop do an essential "cat back" on my BMW for $80.. Granted that was one pipe back, but still it should not be that much more...

How strict is your state on emissions?

[Q45tech]

My current exhaust came from a pristine 1995 Q whose young owner quite foolishly gave it to muffler shop while installing a pile of junk aftermarket system that rusted out on him in 2 years.........that was in 2002.
My expensive quality aftermarket system lasted 7.5 years.
I sold my " saved " used oem to a customer in 2000 foolishly think my aftermarket would last.

Multiple junkyard pieces is the way to go if you understand and can view what you are buying.

[mrpeeb240]

Car-Part.com has been pretty good to me with finding junkyards that ship quality used parts

[paranoidjack]

I have to say - I love car-part.com

I think the answer is going to be to call a ton of wreck yards until I find someone with a low mileage y33 that will ship parts. I won't be able to view them, but anything 100kish is going to buy me a ton of time, and perhaps even get me decent o2 sensors.

[Griffin9000]

I have a complete exhaust including cats, o2 sensors, and mufflers from a parted 99 Q45T that had 102k. PM me if you are interested.

[paranoidjack]

I have a complete exhaust including cats, o2 sensors, and mufflers from a parted 99 Q45T that had 102k. PM me if you are interested.

PM'd very interested.

[paranoidjack]

I have a complete exhaust including cats, o2 sensors, and mufflers from a parted 99 Q45T that had 102k. PM me if you are interested.

Whoever got to Griff before me, DAMN you !!!

[QFourFive]

I wanted to do the twin mufflers at the exit on my Q as well, but the exhaust shop said it couldn't be done. There is an Evap Canister over there or something that is in the way. I had Magnaflow 14816's ready to go on too. They seemed really lazy though. They said that it would be possible to run straight pipes to the bumper with tips though.

[Infinitiguy19]

I have a complete exhaust including cats, o2 sensors, and mufflers from a parted 99 Q45T that had 102k. PM me if you are interested.

Whoever got to Griff before me, DAMN you !!!

Don't feel bad the guy just joined to sell some stuff. Who know's what he was selling, Did you see what happened to Cinnalocks?

[paranoidjack]

Don't feel bad the guy just joined to sell some stuff. Who know's what he was selling, Did you see what happened to Cinnalocks?

No. I don't care why he joined lol! I just care that my thread sold me out! No biggie, whatever, something else will come along.

[paranoidjack]

Today I found a whole exhaust off of a 72k mile 98 in the south in great shape.

Bought it for $400 shipped.

WITHOUT CATS.

What's the consensus on cats for y33's? No way I'm going OEM, exhaust seems to be the one place I'm clearly skimping.

What's a good source that you've TRIED for our cars?

[bullittandy]

I have no good info for Q45's but I was on several mustang forums for a long time and one thing that is well sorted out on Mustangs are aftermarket exhausts. I can't see why a set of aftermarket cats from someone like Magnaflow wouldn't work. Maybe even try the Summit brand. Ask a shop to cut out the stock four cats and install two aftermarket cats and add some pipe to meet the factory connection under the car near the transmission.

Mustangs have four cats too and I replaced my stock mid pipe with a 2 cat Magnaflow and sniffer test revealed no change in emissions.

[Infinitiguy19]

How long have you had your after market catalytic converters on?

[bullittandy]

Sold both cars, Magnaflow midpipe was on 2001 Bullitt for 2 years.