SS exhausts

[RichL]

Out shopping the other day and I spied a new LED windscreen washer jet and 19" wheel dealers, who also claimed to do custom made stainless steel exhausts, so I dropped in.
Wending my way past the Vauxhall Novas I asked the pair of baseball capped yoofs for a guesstimate for a 2 box system on a BX.
"Wot, on that one is it?" yoof 1 asks, pointing at my Seat Leon TD sitting outside.
"No, on my Citroen."
"An you want it loud, right?" yoof 2 chimes in.
"Not particularly, I just want a small front box, cut out the centre cross box and hoop over the axle, then as big a rear box as will fit. I'm not worried about drainpipes at the back."
This appeared to confuse them, and they said I'd best bring the car in so their expert could take a look.

The breif exchange did not fill me with confidence, but if I want a stainless exhaust my local options are Hayward & Scott (bloody expensive is an understatement), Dagenham Pipecraft (now in Basildon, well rated by the Mustang Owners club but when I called, getting a custom 'zorst for a non-Yank confused them too), or the aformentioned Barry & Garry outfit. A few regulars on the old 16v forum have had ss exhausts made for their BXs, I forget the name of the franchise they used

[Timmo]

a few have used powerflow as they can make custom stainless systems for around the £400 mark iirc although not renowned for there power boosting abilities! but you can tailor the noise from the system!

[Adrian E]

Rich

I'm at the point of sticking my hand in my pocket for some hard-earned as well.....

I had a Powerflow system on my Xsara, and their attention to detail - well actually, their complete lack of it - has put me off ever using them again. I do know that Dan's happy with his though. I wanted a similar system to you for the Xsara, but they basically went for the path of least resistance in terms of hassle and fitted the back box that would fit without them having to put a couple of small bends in so a larger one could be accomodated. Their boxes are also off the shelf, so limited to what they've got in stock, and they don't actually do 'one offs' of anything box-wise.

Hayward & Scott did the system that Paul D had on his, which I think is the car that Luke scrapped fairly recently? The only original Hayward & Scott bit was the back box, as the rest had either disintegrated or made the system too boomy for regular use.

If you could find one, the Scorpion system (having junked the downpipe as it's rubbish) seems a good option. They're almost certainly 2nd hand only now.

I'm toying with going to another franchise operation - Longlife Exhausts. They've got a few places dotted here and there, and the one in Carshalton used to be 'Mike the Pipe' who had a pretty good rep with the classic scene. They can do a replacement middle box with the 2 pipes on the same side so you can basically have it as standard - whether you'd want to or not is another matter.

Adrian

[Toddman]

A tricky one by all accounts
Powerflow are not very good full stop.T he system Paul D had was also not too good from what he told me and the only part left on his car was the tailbox which is very good quality and now lives on in Jezs motor.

Speak to Gary C he had one made for the racer and it seems to be one of the better ones around.

Cheers
Luke

[robin hughes]

We have a scorpian back box on our green 16v. It was suppost to go on my red one but i got a powerflow instead. The scorpian is an off the shelf box but the tail pipe does NOT come out straight it comes out at a weird angle. And in our case and off the shelf box (scorpian) would NOT fit! the tail pipe came out at a completely wrong angle. so the tail pipe had to be cut off and re welded the right way round. Also they are quiet

[Tim2cv]

did some research for when I get one done!

Hi Tim,

Thanks for your enquiry.

A custom build stainless exhaust system for your Citroen BX 16v would usually run from the existing downpipe section through to the rear of the car. However we can fabricate a back box section alone, this is also priced up below. Included in the base system price would be a standard style 2.5" rolled lip style tailpipe. You can of course choose an alternative or upgrade from our extensive range of about 55 tailpipes if you wish.

Because all of our systems are custom built, you are able to tell us how you would like the car to sound, anywhere from quiet to full sport. The most popular choice is Mild Sport, which gives a slight note when you open the accelerator, yet without being intrusive.

The system is guaranteed for as long as you own the car, and this is a fully transferrable warranty. It's also a "No Hassle" warranty - we believe it is the very the best warranty in the industry.

If you are interested in technical specifications, the system is built in 304 grade stainless steel throughout, and assembled using high frequency TIG welding. All of our systems are built using freeflow technology, so your engine will breathe better than with conventional systems. This usually gives a noticeable improvement in the torque from your engine - particularly at lower revs. We have numerous testimonials from customers who have experienced both improved engine performance and fuel economy.

Fitting is by appointment - we usually require a vehicle like yours for around 3.5 hours while we custom build and fit the system. If you chose to wait with your car, we have waiting facilities with coffee and internet access. If it makes life easier, we may be able to make a courtesy car available while yours is with us. There is no charge for a courtesy car, but there is an age restriction. Alternatively, we are a few minutes walk from Carshalton Beeches station, from where a train will take you to London Victoria in about 40 minutes.

To custom build and fit a Longlife system onto your vehicle, the price (inclusive of VAT) with the 2.5" tailpipe option works out at £299. A rear box alone would come to £149.

I trust that this is of interest to you. If you want to book in, or require any further information, then please call either myself or Lisa French on 0870 600 3133.

We are based at 128 Stanley Park Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3JG. We also have a centre on Queenstown Road in Battersea SW8 3NP.

Thanks for contacting us,
Regards,

Alex Hollo-Tas.
Longlife Exhausts


and also

P.D. GOUGH & COMPANY LTD. [info@pdgough.com]
Hello Tim
Yes we do make a back box for your Citroen BX16v
Price £200
Best Regards
John

These were just two companies I picked. I think the first was advertised on the web and the second in the CCC mag and 2CVGB.

Cheers
TIM

[Daniel B]

Powerflow are not very good full stop.
Speak to Gary C he had one made for the racer and it seems to be one of the better ones around.

I'm very happy with my powerflow, and despite no attention/checks, it still seems do be doing reasonably well after 6 years or so.

I'm confused Luke, I thought Gary's car had a Powerflow system fitted - I know John asked me for the details of where I had had mine fitted, and I can only assume it was because he thought it was of a reasonable quality, and worthy of fitment to the racer.

Cheers

Dan

[Timmo]

the earlier powerflows were built well from what i know" its the ones that come from when they were becoming popular and when any monkey in the garage would build them that the issues started!! i know thats the case for the power flow place down here!! i guess its the same for the others!!!

[Toddman]

The trouble with Powerflow is exactly as Timmo says - tests have been done by various car groups and usually the powerfl;ow systems reduce power over std fitment so not really a good investment.
In the current climate they simply do not have a good reputation.

As for Garys it may well be a powerflow but I thought he told me the name and IIRC it was not powerflow.

I beleive they are a franchise now so much depends on the establishment as long as oyu are happy Dan that is what counts but I certainly wouldn't use them too many people I know have not been overly happy with the product.

Cheers
Luke

[MoRtYMer]

Hi,
i was reading this post about a custom build stainless steel exhausts, and i asked here in my city in some places where they work with exhausts about doing a custom s.s. for the BX and they said it couldn't be done, because it would need to be done with thicker plates than the ones that are build from big companies so it would be too hot, and could melt something, and would be a risk of fire...

So now i'm reading this about custom built exhausts, and thought why would they told me that it could not be done? Do the companies talked here have proper machines to do the exhaust?

[Daniel B]

I beleive they are a franchise now so much depends on the establishment

Ah well that may well explain it then, when I had mine fitted, it took the guy about 5 hours, longer than they suggested, and it was fitted by RSR in Croydon, I thought he did a really good job, but then this was a long time ago, it was either 6 or 7 years ago, or even longer, my memory fails me! It cost £360 IIRC, and was the best money I have ever spent on the car IMHO.

Times may well have changed and perhaps the quality has been diluted somewhat.

Dan

[ollie]

He He I'm quite happy with the leak at the front of mine as it makes a wicked noise for nothing!
However having seen Dans it is quite well fitted and doesn't feel to sap power.
Jon has a scorpion on his k reg, and the down pipe is indeed rubish! and the front box has been cracking due to lack of strength/ age hardening in the stainless, but nothing a small brace didn't fix.
Fits well too, but I find it intrusively boomy when in the zone, wicked in first but tiresome at motorway speeds. Overall tho the quality of the boxes and shapes is good.

Overall knicking the baffles out of a standard back box is far better for noise compromise!
Anyone who makes exhaust could easily make you a centre box by pass, and every one would be happy for a great deal less money!

[Toddman]

I use a scorpion cente box and I also have found it to be of very good qualitya nd fit, I also tried the scorpion tailbox but decided to keep my Devil item.
I tried removing the centre box and IMHO it is not agood move noise wise it just makes the rear seats a terible place to sit if any distance is to be traveled at cruising speed.

Best mod I have found is to remove the resonator and go for a twin box system.

Sounds like you have done well wit yours Dan - most people seem to struggle after the stainless becomes old and hard but as you say times change and as with most tings you can get good and bad as it boils down to the men at hand really.

Cheers
Luke

[robin hughes]

mines an old powerflow too! but its yet to be fitted to the car. Ill let you know the results once fitted

[Daniel B]

However having seen Dans it is quite well fitted and doesn't feel to sap power.

I thought it made it a bit more lively as well, and not too boomy, for me anyway

Mine is sounding a little more raspy that she used to, but from what John told me, seems the issue is more likely to be at the opposite end from the tailpipe.

Dan