hey guys. i just came across this. doesn't seem to be to bad of a deal. only thing i can see is they are clamping on the new exhaust and not welding it. what do you think.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F150-05...17ddf3&vxp=mtr

 

It's aluminized and non-mandrel bent. You truly get what you pay for. I wouldn't hit it.

 

Is it really that bad? I want to get a "Cat Back" but the guy by me wants $400 bucks. I was thinking maybe a good coat of High Heat Paint to help it last longer. Tempting....He does offer a mandrel bent set also.

 

Definitely get something that is mandrel bent. The one you posted will acquire moisture in the ripples of the piping and just rot out. The mandrel bends allow the piping to maintain the same diameter unlike other types of pipe bending where the piping loses diameter in order to make way for the bends or crimping pipe.

 

What about the fact of clamping vs welding. Wouldnt it be a better system by welding.

 

Honestly, I dont know if it would matter if it was done correctly. I am a fan of welding that way I know it will never come loose. With welding it may rust out, but atleast I wont hear rattling. Again, clamping might be fine if you tighten them correctly and just recheck them every now and then but I am 100% for welded exhausts.

 

If you are just going for sound then its a good deal. Mandrel bent is overrated and most factory exhausts and clamps anyways. If you are that worried about clamps then take it to a local exhaust shop and they could weld it together for next to nothing.

I think its a good deal.

 

Clamp vs. weld isn't a big deal as long as it is assembled correctly. But like I said, you get what you pay for. Yes, stainless and mandrel bent may be 2x more, but stainless in itserlf isn't cheap. It will also not corrode/rust as fast as the aluminized.

Your call. I did an MBRP stainless system then took it to work and coated it so it should last basically forever.

 

The bends with the wrinkles are called crush bends. Bends that shrink the diameter of the pipe without the crinkles are called press bends. Bends that are the same diameter throughout are called mandrel bends...
On a NA (naturally aspirated) motor you probably can't even notice the difference between all 3 of the bends... If your motors built up, and trying to eek out every bit of HP, you will see a bit of a difference, but it wont be noticeable on the butt dyno...
Those eBay pipes will rot out much quicker then stainless so coating them annually will be a smart move..
I would not be surprised if that eBay kit fit like crap. The the bends just don't look right to me. Especially the straight pipe feeding the muffler, where is the offset??

Here's 2 pics of my system to help reference some bends. These are also press bends... The mufflers clamped so I can swap it out when it rots out or if want a change in sound...