down pipe part II

[MarkSanne]

After two days of searching, e-mailing and several phonescalls I'm no where near a new down pipe yet.

Both japanese shops that advertise their downpipes are unable to speak english so trading directly with them is not an option (that was basically their reply to my emails).

http://66.249.91.104/translate_c?hl=...parts/p026.htm
http://66.249.91.104/translate_c?hl=...nt/galant.html

(the forum doesn't seem to understand these google-translated links and instead shows the orginal Japanese page)

The option of using RHDjapan.com for getting those down pipes via them was possible, but they double the price so one shipped downpipe would set me back 600 euro / 106000 yen... nothing to get exited about. My friend 'dutch driver' (who bought a VR4 saloon just yesterday btw which he will tell himself all about probably soon enough) has many connections in the Japanese performance scene but even he couldn't find any...

Then I contacted E.P.S. (a well known company that builds custom exhausts here in holland) and they can build me one for 700 euro... Thanks but no thanks. Maybe I'll pick up a bunch of stainless pipes and start welding myself. Done some stainless TIG welding before, I'm not that good, but I'm patient enough to get a proper end-result.

Don't know if I want to / can put in the time such a project needs.

Does anyone here have any tips for buying a downpipe? For that matter... does anyone actually has got a non-mitsu downpipe?! (and if so, where did you get it?).

[Paul C]

i have seen 6meters of 3"(75mm) stainless tube grade 304 for sale at £96 and 4meters of 21/2"(64mm) stainless tube grade 304 for sale at £56

I think this should be enough to knock up a full system including downpipes.

[MarkSanne]

thanks Paul, hopefully those prices can be found here too should I have no other option! I still would have to get a few bends as stainless tube won't bend using cheap/simple bending techniques used for normal steel. but even still then I'd be way less money spending...

[Paul C]

to be honest the supplier of the steel is on ebay,just contact him direct he will sort a bundle price.He also does 90 degree bends aswell.

[Goku]

I have a friend here who deals with ordering from japan all the time, I'll ask him if he is able to source anything ( he speaks japanese and lived there for a few years ). I'll get him to get in touch with you if he is able to come up with anything.

[MarkSanne]

@Goku: that is very kind! Thanks a lot!

[White Lightning]

I replaced mine with a brand new downpipe from Mitsi recently. It needed replacing badly as it was blowing so much. Not cheap but I needed something sorted quickly.

[MarkSanne]

@white lightning: I want to avoid doing the same thing, and now that I've got several months before MOT I'd like to do it proper (better than stock).

[MarkSanne]

WHOOOO after 4 days of silence, I got a reply from ps-iida.co.jp (one of the japanese shops that advertise with a VR4 downpipe, to be exact the nicer y-shaped one). Had given up hope on this shop, but it seems I'm in business!

They charge 2700 yen tax, and now he wanted my full adress so now I'm waiting for a reply on how much the transport would cost (I think?). His english was so bad that I can only assume things

[Beastlee]

I priced up the first one and it initially comes out at £256 which is a good start for me!

[Axeboy]

My custom downpipes were just over £300 new, but they were very well made.

[Kieran]

I priced up the first one and it initially comes out at £256 which is a good start for me!

That for the YR-Advance ones, Beastlee? Is that shipped?

[Kieran]

Here's another thought.... How far off are the 3000GT pipes? Maybe BenH/Gowf could advise?

I know they're not a direct fit, but if they're not a million miles out, maybe ordering some from the US via Ebay, and then modifying them so they fit our cars is a posibility? I mean, if they're pretty close, then I would consider buying them and doing a quick chop/weld where needed to make them offer up correctly - obviously if they're miles out then it's perhaps not such a good idea.

[Paul C]

how about 2 seperate pipes straight out arse end

[Axeboy]

Guys, its not hard to have them done.

£300 for custom made is reasonable.

[Paul C]

if not cheaper, but will be more fun to make my own and more satisfying aswell

[Nutter_John]

Here's another thought.... How far off are the 3000GT pipes? Maybe BenH/Gowf could advise?

I know they're not a direct fit, but if they're not a million miles out, maybe ordering some from the US via Ebay, and then modifying them so they fit our cars is a posibility? I mean, if they're pretty close, then I would consider buying them and doing a quick chop/weld where needed to make them offer up correctly - obviously if they're miles out then it's perhaps not such a good idea.

No chance K they are very different

[Nutter_John]

Do not under estimate the amount of work to make a set of downpipes , even worse do not under estimate how hard it is to make with the car on stands

This is not a simple task at all it may just look like a bit of metal pipe bent here and there with a few welds - but the amount of effort to make them is huge .

Don't let me put you off please but do think long and hard about making your own , but if you need any advise then ask away as between me and richy we have made about 3 sets of which only one is good enough

[Goku]

True, I got a custom fabricator here who does awsome work. He quoted NZ$300 for my downpipes, which is quite reasonable.

[Nutter_John]

thats very cheap