Stainless Steel Exhaust Replacement

[Holdfast]

I've got a stainless steel system but the guts in the muffler behind the Catalytic converter rattles. Can this be fixed or am I up for a new one?

Got quoted $165 fitted for non stainless replacement.

Any comments appreciated

[mag]

I've got a stainless steel system but the guts in the muffler behind the Catalytic converter rattles. Can this be fixed or am I up for a new one?

Got quoted $165 fitted for non stainless replacement.

Any comments appreciated

I'd say the baffles have came loose so u need a new 1, get a new quote from another place too!!!

[Holdfast]

Cheers mag, I thought that was a bit rich

[bangers]

i think lukey do stainless ones......

[Holdfast]

i think lukey do stainless ones......

Thanks bangers

[snake_VL]

$60-$100 max for non stainless i would say. got a stainless lukey one in for a customer and i think it was only $90 or so

[Holdfast]

snake_VL

Thanks for the info! Appreciated

[Holdfast]

An Opinion Anyone

Just had another Muffler expert salesman say that the noise in the centre muffler that sounds like a rattle could be the insides of the Catalytic converter blown down into the middle muffler.

To me that souned a bit odd

Having said that, I'm no exhaust system expert but there's many of you blokes who have replaced systems so I need a bit of help from you blokes.

The bloke who inspected the car also said that he wouldn't know for sure what the problem was unless he unbolted the pipe from back of the Catalytic converter to have a look.

I'm pretty sure that I could do this, but what should I look? for to ensure that the cat-c is ok? This may sound dumb but I've never had a look at a Catalytic converter, never seen the insides or how they actually work?

Also, my system is stainless; is it necessary to buy the whole pipe and muffler or is it better to just cut and weld in a new muffler?

I'd like to just buy the whole lot new and replace it my self but I don't want to replace that cat-c if it's ok as they seem to cost a fair bit.

Any suggestions?

[VL Berlina 5speed]

well the way i was taught to see if a cat is stuffed is by taking it off and shaking it, if and things inside its rolling around its stuffed,
or
look though it to the sun or a torch and you should not be able to straght though, as it is made of many layers of mesh. one after the other in rows

[snake_VL]

a guy i work with reckons the middle of the cat can blow out resulting in a big puff of smoke out the back with all the guts and everything flying out of it. i guess if the cat is really bad it could have blew out and got stuck in the muffler. just undo the bolts and have a look in the cat to see if its all still in one piece. should be mesh in there but i've always been able to see through them so i don't know if that means they are stuffed or not. i should look through a new one at work tommorrow to see

make sure you get some stag or maniseal or something and some new gaskets if you undo it to stop leaks when you put it back together. only costs a few bucks (unless its stuffed then don't bother till you get the new one)

[VL Berlina 5speed]

well not totally block the view but enought to only be able to see a blurry light or glow of light

[Holdfast]

Ok, I'll check it tomorrow

Thanks for the info.

Cheers

[ryan_VL]

This is a little off topic...but whats involved with installing extractors on my vl? If i get a cheap set can i bolt them onto the cat and heads by myself? is there anything i should know or look out for?
Any help appreciated, thanx

[bangers]

This is a little off topic...but whats involved with installing extractors on my vl? If i get a cheap set can i bolt them onto the cat and heads by myself? is there anything i should know or look out for?
Any help appreciated, thanx

good luck with that. you'll have a few broken studs you'll have to deal with. might as well pay a professional $50 to fit them.

[sk00bs]

better to get it done right raz, dont let griffo talk you into doing it by yourself...remember you are hopeless! hahaha

[ucwepn]

This is a little off topic...but whats involved with installing extractors on my vl? If i get a cheap set can i bolt them onto the cat and heads by myself? is there anything i should know or look out for?
Any help appreciated, thanx

Yeah I got mine professionally fitted was $100 from memory, the bloke was amazed he didn't break any studs while doing it. Its the heat sheild which causes the studs to become brittle and snap, also you don't want to tighten it up too tight and dethread the stud holes coz the alloy head is rather soft. Best left to the exhaust shop.

[Flak]

Hi guys,

My bro works at super cheap auto and was able to order in some HM extractors for me. Just wondering what would give me the best 'bang for my buck' in terms of exhaust systems. I rang my local exhaust shop but am not 100% sure what i should ask for? What would be the key ingrediants necessary to optimise my performance/ power gain? I've read other posts recommending 2.5" systems but was wondering if any one could expand on this.

Would really appreciate some help. I have a great appreciation for commodores in general and am very attached to my calais but am not overly mechanically minded.

Many thanks,
Joel

[Holdfast]

I'd say the baffles have came loose so u need a new 1, get a new quote from another place too!!!

mag

You were correct; there was nothing wrong with the Cat converter.

As you said the baffles were stuffed in the muffler. I got a new one installed and it was quite cheap too.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

It took you a year and 8 months to do this?

[Holdfast]

It took you a year and 8 months to do this?

Crikey was it that long ago

As they say; "better late than

[maxpower QLD]

Hi guys ,

I curently have a few things to do to my VL before i can aford to do this " like gearbox rebuild n stuff " but i would like to buy another cat back system for my VL but i'm thinkin about going stainles steel . I've been told that they sound way better then systems made out of mild steel and that they last something like ten years or more. So what do u guys think of stainles steel systems and what do u guys think a stainles steel cat back system would be worth ?

I curently have a 2 1/2 inch steel cat back system and it sounds good but it has just a very slight drone to it and it will need to be replaced soon so i thought i might go stainles .

[Holdfast]

Hi guys ,

I curently have a few things to do to my VL before i can aford to do this " like gearbox rebuild n stuff " but i would like to buy another cat back system for my VL but i'm thinkin about going stainles steel . I've been told that they sound way better then systems made out of mild steel and that they last something like ten years or more. So what do u guys think of stainles steel systems and what do u guys think a stainles steel cat back system would be worth ?

I curently have a 2 1/2 inch steel cat back system and it sounds good but it has just a very slight drone to it and it will need to be replaced soon so i thought i might go stainles .

Maybe have a look at this site:

Lukey/Walker Australia - Products - Stainless Steel Tips

Pickout what you want and then go to several exhaust centres for a quote.

A thing to remember is that stainless steel is becoming very expensive with the commodities boom in metals.

I reckon systems are going to get a lot more expensive so buying soon maybe a wise decision.

Platinum which is used in catalytic converters is already twice the price of gold per ounce and will be expensive for many years to come. (You mentioned back from the cat so please disregard the info on the Cat)

I have no affiliation with Lukey / Walker, but I have used their products for many years.

The sound of the system may be due to the type of muffler you purchase; sports or standard and not that relavent to the metal used either stainless or standard steel. Having said that, I've only used the standard muffler on my VL.

Also, you'll need know when your VL was made; the year and month because there was a change in the way the exhaust was set-up on VL sedans after about (Don't quote me) April 1988.

Best of luck and hopefully someone else can give you more info and the exact info you are after