Planning My Exhaust, Longtubes and Mid-pipe.
 

I'm trying to work out some plans for my exhaust and welcome some advice and opinions. With some limited research I've mostly decided on a set of MAC lontubes and an off-road X-pipe from LethalPerformance.com.

A few things I need help deciding is if it is worth it to spend an extra $100 on the ceramic coating for the longtubes. I don't care what they look like, I just don't want to worry about them rusting through. I don't even know if rust is something I need to worry about, living in the South where they don't put salt on the road and such.

The X-pipe: I decided on an O/R X-pipe becuase I don't have to get the car smoged or anything, and they are cheaper. I am crossing my fingers that it will fit with the torque arm but I doubt it will. I expect to need to take it to a shop to have it cut up and rewelded. Should I decide against an off-road pipe due to exhaust fume or anything?

I'm keeping my stock Cat-back. It flows well (especially since I don't have mufflers), and it's free. I also assume I need some O2 extensions. I might buy a cross bar to hold the engine up while I lower the K-member. Anything else? I might try to get the car dyno tunes afterwards.

I would go ahead and get them ceramic coated. It's a cheap fix IMO. Cheaper than a new set of longtubes. I don't really think its the salt, but more of the constant extreme heating and cooling that will cause the metal to change over time. Ceramic coating can withstand it for sure, so you'd be much better off there.

O/R X is what I prefer as well. And as far as fumes go, the only time I ever smell anything is if I'm going like 60 and slow down while downshifting, and once I finally stop I can smell it catch up to me. Otherwise if I'm just sitting in traffic or anything of the sort I don't smell it.

If it is sealed properly you shouldn't smell anything IMO.

Cat-back comes down to personal preference. I'd definitely say after longtubes that you'll want SOME kind of muffler. My buddy's 2V sounded like shit after his longtubes with straight pipes. He has Borla's XR1 muffler now and it sounds mean as fuck. He does autocrosses/PDX as well, and I can always hear his car way across the track lol. As long as it isn't flowmaster we won't disown you. :D

I think that once you add the headers and the X pipe, the car is going to be so loud that you may have to put some type of muffler on it just to tame it down a bit.

The coating on the headers has a couple of advantages, one, it is supposed to help hold the heat in the pipes to be carried out the exhaust, thus lowering underhood temps and as 08 said help prolong the life of the headers. I would get the coating.

I'll get the coating, and I will consider adding some SLP LM2 mufflers. I really don't think I need the whole car back. Those mufflers can be found for about $120 for a pair used I think.

just wanted to throw out an opinion on the ceramic coated headers. My bbk longtubes have a chrome finish...and while they do have surface rust I think it would take a long time for them to actually rust through. They've been on my car for 4.5 years and for about 2 of those years the car was not garaged.

The ceramic coating will definitely help keep underhood temps down but I've seen my buddies with the ceramic ones rust as well. I only bought my chrome ones because I got a deal locally...brand new with matching xpipe for $400 or $425 I can't remember but it was cheap! If I had to buy them new retail I would get ceramic.

good luck!