Stainless Steel Exhaust System

[Chris da Silva]

Hello.

Would anyone know where I can get a stainless-steel exhaust system to replace the existing one for an EA21R? (The one on the car as I'm writing this is the original factory fitted item.)

[Ian Linden]

I very much doubt anyone can supply from stock, but you should be able to get one made by custom aftermarket fabricators/fitters. If memory serves, you live in Perth, and Bing lists five in that area. My search term was "stainless steel exhausts perth australia".

[Chris da Silva]

Thanks for the tip, Ian.

I'll look into it and see what I can find.

Who knows? Maybe I can get the stainless steel replacements for the Honda Beat and the Autozam AZ-1 as well .....

[Martin Williams]

I went down the route of a custom built stainless steel exhaust a few years ago, 12,000 miles a year in all weathers did not agree with the original equipment exhaust or a nearly new second hand genuine Suzuki one.

I considered using one of the "popular" custom fit franchises having seen a number of posts that suggested the quality of the fitment was more down to who actually (designed and) fitted it rather than the particular garage it was fitted at and I felt that their target market was more the boy racer crowd wanting over large and noisy exhausts.

In the end I went to a specialist fabricator (who I believe fabricated the exhausts for Ford's Group B rally car the RS200!) who was more expensive but I felt happier leaving it with them. It is slightly louder (intentionally) and probably slightly less restrictive. They fabricated it from scratch and happily fitted the original chrome tip so it still looks stock.

[Chris da Silva]

Hi Martin

Yes, that's interesting to know! I suspected that changing the bog-standard exhaust system to a customized stainless steel one gave a (slightly) louder sound; so that confirms it for me.

But at the end of the day, all I want is just an exhaust sounding like the original factory-fitted one and not one which makes me sound like a boy racer! The idea of using a stainless-steel exhaust system is only because it has a longer life; and basically, that's it!

So, looks like I'll be sticking to the factory-original system.

[Martin Williams]

Chris, a good fabricator should be able to pretty well match the original. I think it is worth seeing what could be done.
Mine certainly is not sounding "boy racer". I suspect the original one was slightly more restrictive than ideal to keep the power within the kei threshold.
With the mileage mine does, and the limited life I was getting from originals, going for stainless seemed the only sensible route.

[Chris da Silva]

That's what I was thinking, Martin! The Cappo, BTW, is not my everyday car and I only use it over the weekend if the weather is good.

I do try looking through eBay occasionally [for a stainless-steel replacement]; but I couldn't find anything there to date, unfortunately! And I think you're right in saying that the factory-fitted one is slightly more restrictive. I'm just wondering whether the original exhaust system can be dissected by a specialist company and a precise carbon-copy of it re-created from stainless steel. (Hmmm!) That would be marvelous, won't it?

But like with any exhaust systems made from mild steel, they don't have the equivalent lifespan of stainless-steel ones. That's the crux of my intention to seek out the stainless-steel equivalent.

Guess I have to keep looking for now ....

[Ian Linden]

I had a stainless steel system fitted to a Suzuki Grand Vitara V6. It was half the price of the Suzuki system, and there were no aftermarket mild steel systems available, so it was a no-brainer. It stated out sounding a bit more "raspy" than the original, but this soon passed as the interior became coated with soot. New cars with mild steel exhausts also experience this, but to a smaller extent, due to the thicker steel (more mass, less flex). The fabricator asked me what I wanted, and I specified "as close to the original sound as possible and definitely not a boy-racer" and he obliged by selecting suitable mufflers from his armoury.

I wouldn't hesitate to go that route if I needed to replace my Cappo's system.

[Chris da Silva]

Hi Ian

Interesting! I can put up with the initial "raspiness" until the interior becomes coated with soot [from your description].

The problem now is to locate who manufactures this stainless-steel version [commercially]. From your description, it looks like yours was made to order!

I'm considering not only getting one for the Cappo, but for the AZ-1 and Beat PP1 as well should their exhaust systems require changing in the near future!

Food for thought here.

[Ian Linden]

I can't talk about Oz, but in UK the fabricators just make them up from stock mufflers and tubing bent to shape while you wait. You get stainless steel, expertly fitted to the car, and for less money than the sky high price of Suzuki mild steel parts. Pay them a visit and see what they say.

[Chris da Silva]

OK - I'll look into it next week if I have some free time.

I hope here in Oz, there are exhaust fabricators around like those in the UK.

As an aside, there is a large British ex-Pat population who emigrated to Perth over the years. Maybe there is a chance of finding someone with the necessary skills ..... fingers crossed!