SG9XT exhaust

[Judd]

Join beside the rear diff was leaking, so today i went to undo said joint to fit new gasket, sure enough impact gun wouldn't shift the bolts and when i tried to undo them the normal way it soon becane apparent that both exhaust pipes have just about had it as the welds at the joint started to break up.

So team, where shall i get a new one fitted or made up, i had a good (and good value) stainless one custom made at MIJ Walsall on the previous Outback but its a good 75 mile run from east Northants and an all day hanging about job, not ideal at the moment.

Any suggestions? not after anything sporty, want normal sound just don't want to be having another typicaL aftermarket mild steel jobbie fitted 24 months from now, the present one looks OE and has lasted well but have an idea a quote from the Subaru dealer for genuine part would see me fainting at the counter.

[Jay762]

Closer than Walsall?

https://www.powerflowexhausts.co.uk/powerflow-northampton

[Judd]

 I recall asking them to quote the Outback, was over twice the price of MIJ.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

My normal indy will probably get the job with a standard aftermarket system which i'll then paint with Zinc to help it last.

[Mr B]

Be careful of after market standard system as most will be NA spec thus smaller bore and more restrictive than turbo spec .

cheapest solution is picking up a decent used system off a turbo impreza and tweaking it to fit the foz xt .

[Judd]

Good point MrB, it's going in to our regular indy thismorning and i shall be checking bore of the new one before leaving the motor with them.

If it's undersized then job cancelled and back to MIJ for a custom stainless system, was hoping to avoid a long wait but not going to ruin this excellent car for the sake of a day reading and lounging about.

[Judd]

That was blinking good timing MrB, had you not posted i might not have thought to check bore, sure enough the one they'd had delivered was only 2" and the OE is 2.5", trust me half an inch means a lot to an old feller like me.

MIJ building and fitting a new stainless system this afternoon, cheaper than the mild steel jobbie too.

Much obliged to you, will update later for anyone interested.

[Mr B]

Yes none of the motorfactor systems match oem diameter as all they done is mark a non turbo system as XT fitment in the model fitment ...
I normally get 1 or 2 XT models a year in that got 1.75 to 2" cat back junk systems on them .
I use to to get systems done at a powerflow shop as fairly good price for good system and guy working there always done good effort on fitment and matching sound to what customers would like .
Trouble with that was handing good paid easy work away and with cars aged a lot people don't want spend more half the price they paid for the whole car on an exhaust .
We now sometimes use good used impreza turbo parts which easy source some stock and mod to fit and do our own exhausts mig welded as less material/labour cost and only tig downpipes and manifold work or tig a whole system if customer wants it  .

[Mr B]

Give us a couple shots of finished system .
I quite like looking at old mens polished pipes and a proper job .
interested in the price too if you happy disclose that ...

 

[Judd]

Well, the day went well, got there about 11.15 and the job was done by 1400, really pleased with the new exhaust, very good of them at MIJ to fit me in at such short notice, the last time we used MIJ it was a really long day, maybe they overbooked who knows, understandable though cos i bet they often get no shows but still got to pay their mechanics, certainly no complaints about today's rapid service.

Sounds slightly louder than OE but nothing to worry about, it now sounds like a proper Scooby which the OE exhaust didn't, kinda like it.

Cor flippen 'eck, me and phone cameras and PC's ain't happy bed fellows, if it wasn't for my endlessly understanding long suffering wifey there'd be no photos at all, my super duper Cat unbreakable phone takes brill pics but i can't seem to send them anywhere else in readable form, be back on box Brownie yet for pictures and pushing 4d in the red phone box and pushing button A to speak...i bet only a handful here knows what the hell i'm on about with button A.

Anyway, many thanks MrB, you couldn't have timed that better, i'd have been gutted to find a 2.0 litre NA mild steel exhaust had been supplied and fitted, and at higher cost than the stainless now in pride of place.

As you requested, price paid was £295 all inc (though i always leave a drink for the lads who actually do the job, old school see), lifetime warranty too.

Hope the pics come out ok, David Bailey i ain't.

[Judd]

Thinking about it, that's the same price i paid MIJ for the single system on the 2002 H6 Outback over 5 years ago.

As a bonus, filled up with LPG half a mile up the road from MIJ @ 45p per litre, yes a very good day all in.

Again thanks MrB for the timely advice, wish you were closer, haven't found any Subaru specialists locally for Northants yet.

[Mr B]

Good job

well worth the trip and well worth 300quid .
their prices seem very good, although as specialise in this work they fast and materials cheaper in bulk and good knowledge of supply chain .

would of been a miserable result if had ended up with of the shelf NA mild steel system .

have fun with your XT and thank the wife for putting up with you and your phone 🙂 ...