Thread: (FAO Rick) Exhaust Finally Done

Looks like a good mod (adding it to my wish-list now...) how does it drive?
Good post with quality photos too.

Very nice job that 3" will make heaps of difference to the way it perfoms especially down low out in the bush Have Fun

Very nice. IF you don't mind me asking...how much did it cost in the end? Has it made a difference that's worth the cost?

Yeah looks good, good to see another project done that didn't happen without pics.

And do tell us how it runs?? and what type of muffler was used.

Best regards
DarrenR

great pics but still waiting for seat of the pants dyno run.????
am considering this my self before i check boost and mod pump.
david.

Well, after giving it all a flogging over the weekend, here are my thoughts:

1) Definitely makes boost more quickly off the mark and the engine does have a bit more acceleration. Noticeably more responsive to the throttle, although using responsive in describing a Tdi is probably not quite the right term, but you get my meaning.

2) The muffler is a straight through (3" bore) jobbie that is slightly larger overall than the original. However, I've done without the factory resonator at the back. The result is that I can now hear and exhaust sound that wasn't there originally. It's not loud, but it's there, and it's not something I particularly wanted. 4 cylinder diesels do not make a pleasant sound IMO, so I reckon they're better off not heard. I'll probably live with it, but I can always add on a small resonator later if it really craps me off.

3) There is definitely more noise from under the bonnet. I think this is because the old cast iron dump pipe, apart from being very restrictive, probably muffled a lot more of the noise out of the turbo than the 3" mild steel pipe does. It's not bad, just there, and it wasn't before. Also, the turbo has considerably more whistle than before, and 200tdi Defenders have much more whistle than 300tdis or Discos, simply from the location of the turbo. Once again, not particularly unpleasant, just more noticeable.

4) Cost all up was $950. Of this, $150 went on the stainless flexible coupling that was optional. Probably another $250 was taken up by the dump pipe replacement that could have been saved if I took the simple route of attaching the new 3" pipe to the existing cast iron dump pipe. Having looked inside the standard unit though, this would have been false economy IMO.

5) One of the things I was hoping might be affected, was the EGT. My engine is set on the fairly erm "aggressive" side with fueling, so I can see rather high EGTs if I'm heavy with the right foot for too long. I was wondering (hoping) that the new exhaust would have a beneficial effect in this area. Sadly, if there has been any effect, it's not of the magnitude that's got me excited. Howver, I'll be playing in the sand at Robe on the weekend, so that might give me a better indication.

There you have it. Was it worth the money? Hmmm... to be honest, I didn't drive it away thinking OMG this is fantastic! I've spent less money for much more significant results, and I'd rank this exercise behind upping the boost and fueling, both of which cost me nothing more than 20 minutes of my own time with a screwdriver (plus the cost of the boost & egt gauges I suppose). For me it came down to a dwindling list of mods I'd originally planned to do, and it was the next one to pop up. If I could be bothered with buying a pile of 3" bends and some straight pipe to knock up my own system for ½ the cost (which I certainly wouldn't), then yeah, it's worth it. To chuck a grand at it for the performance gain it produced, is probably only something I'd do if I couldn't find anything better to blow the cash on. Which I couldn't, so I did.

So, what shall I do next...

Paul

Next ? You should tell me what I can do to my 200Tdi re boost and fuelling (or did I miss another thread somewhere) ?

Paul,
Well done...
You have convinced me to do it myself and make it from normal pipe and not Stainless......

Steve