Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems - what’s peoples thoughts?

[Robmacca]

Guys,
Looking for info, ideas and experiences from people who are or have run Stainless exhaust systems in their Defender Puma 110 wagons...
The puma I purchased last year came with a almost complete “spare” stainless exhaust system . The previous owner removed it as his missus didn’t like the droning sound that came with it, so the owner removed it and reinstalled the steel system, including the Cat.
What I would like or thinking about doing is running a sort of a split system to start with. That is, removing the Cat and replace with the stainless system all the way to about level where the transfer case is. This is where there is a normal flange joint. From this point, just keep the steel system all the way to the back.
Currently I’m not running a muffler, just the rear resonator only and I’ve been happy with that.
I’ve read a bit where the Cat can or could limit the performance a bit and or fuel economy a bit as well.
I cannot go a full stainless system as I’m missing the rear tail pipe section, so I was thinking of seeing how a 50/50 split would go and whether I would see any improvement in doing this??

Thoughts?

[Pub247]

though i don't have a defender puma removing the center muffler made biggest difference in mine. If you don't have that already i wouldn't expect it to change much.

I removed the cat in my daily (straight lpg) as it had collasped and broken into chucks causing this annoying rattle and vibration made no difference to the sound of exhaust

[Robmacca]

Yeah, I was also wondering getting rid of the Cat would also possibly reduce engine bay heat ??

[Albert]

I cant see the point of a SS system on a diesel.
I can understand on a petrol so it would last longer, but on a diesel, the steel one should last the life of the car.

[Robmacca]

I cant see the point of a SS system on a diesel.
I can understand on a petrol so it would last longer, but on a diesel, the steel one should last the life of the car.

True, but it's got nothing to do with longevity... it's a spare and its sitting in my shed doing nothing, so "if" there is some chance of gaining some improvements in having the CAT removed and replaced with an S/S system that is currently lying in the shed, then isn't that worth considering?

[carpdvl]

True, but it's got nothing to do with longevity... it's a spare and its sitting in my shed doing nothing, so "if" there is some chance of gaining some improvements in having the CAT removed and replaced with an S/S system that is currently lying in the shed, then isn't that worth considering?

Decat should reduce engine bay temps (and pedalbox consequently), and is by all accords an improvement that compliments a remap. Anecdotally I have seen people on here and elsewhere say the decat alone was a major improvement to performance.

If you have it lying around and don't mind risking the big $$ fine if you do get sprung, go for it. Can't imagine it'd be more than a day of lazy weekend work.

Alternatively if you want someone to take it off your hands I'd be interested (assuming 2.4 and near Syd...)

[mick88]

I put a SS system on my six cylinder petrol S3 shorty twenty years ago and it's still good as new.
The cost was around the three hundred dollar mark back then.

Cheers, Mick.

[DazzaTD5]

Yeah, I was also wondering getting rid of the Cat would also possibly reduce engine bay heat ??

There is a good thread here somewhere about Defender TDCi decat, big difference with regards to heat