On a whim, I bought a '94 Integra LS from a friend of a friend for $350. It's rusty, but it runs nice and doesn't seem to have too many vices...but the (stock) muffler does have a hole in it, and that's an instant MVI fail. So off to ebay I go...and holy crap, you can buy a cheap chinese exhaust from header to exhaust tip for $175.00 (with a "test pipe" instead of a cat).
eBay cheapness
Anyone ever bought one of these kind of setups? Will it fit without major surgery? Are they utter crap? I don't really care about tone, power, or looks. I just want it to pass MVI. I might also do one of the $100 catbacks...whichever strikes my fancy.
They're probably not stainless, but I'd still go for it. Apparently the cheap chinese SBC headers are the same ones Summit sells, but for about half price.
Yeah, the eBay stuff isn't always a bad deal. BMW eBay headers, for example, are usually replicas of a $2300 Eisenmann setup but at 1/10th of the price. Just bear in mind that quality control is virtually nonexistant...two guys can order the same headers from the same seller, one set can fit perfectly while the other needs fabrication tweaks to fit. Easier dealt with on an exhaust system than a header, but still a potential issue.
I know some people who have them. They not stainless (in case the price didn't make it obvious), they probably won't bolt straight in without some mods and/or "persuasion," and they sound ricey as all hell, but they'll get the job done.
I've bought some. The stainless is low grade, so it stains and lightly rusts. Requires some grinder time to modify the bolt holes and such so they will fit. Junk gaskets. Flanges are soft and easily bent. Perfectly suitable for a beater in my opinion and experience.
I picked up a stainless header for my 240. It was surprisingly good and fit like a glove. No complaints.
regarding intakes, they're usually fine, except they come with cheap filters that fall apart. Replace it with a K&N or AEM after a few thousand miles and you're fine.
I've often wondered how it would be to do an eBay special challenge car. Intake, exhaust , and suspension.
I've used a lot of those exhaust systems. If you can find one with a seperate muffler and tip, they are much more quiet.
neon4891 wrote:
I've often wondered how it would be to do an eBay special challenge car. Intake, exhaust , and suspension.
working on that, kinda. ebay stainless headers, aluminum radiator, and aluminum fuel cell. all new, all look great and fit nice, and so far so good, although i've not started the engine or put any liquids in the radiator or cell yet.
Test pipe should be fine. Cut it out and I'm sure I know of a place you can come across a "working" catalyst.
...or just save the old one if its not too rusty.
They work find and usually fit okay but you may have to bend some hangers. Usually they actually are stainless, just very thin pipe. Usually the best bet for new exhaust, even the headers arent bad as long as they dont crack
One more data point: I bought an eBay downpipe and midpipe for the FD like 8 years ago for like $150. They fit perfectly with better than stock O2 sensor location. They've held up to years and years of track and autox. Rotary exhaust temps tend to be much hotter than pistons but I've had no issues with cracking, welds, or rust.
Welp, looks like I'm in. FWIW, this may very well become an eBay special challenge car. I gotta learn to do bodywork sometime.
