Cheap, bootleg, eBay exhaust, I'm fine with that.
 

Well guys I had a little left over in my Christmas budget. I decided to take a risk and buy a flange back HKS style exhaust from a eBay store. Less than $500 so I didn't really expect to much. I was surprised with the product. The quality of the product is outstanding for the money. The welds are acceptable. The transitions are good. I had a small clearance issue at the rear tunnel cross member. I dimpled the exhaust tubing just a touch to avoid any vibrations and it's good. The demon bolts I've read so much about are no match for professional mechanics tools. I'd recommend dropping it off at a shop and have them broken loose then install the rest yourself. I haven't been able to get any installed photos or sound clips due to poor weather. However I'm pleased with the results. Sounds nasty at WOT and is not terribly intrusive in normal driving. There is a little drone in the 1300-2200 range but it's not as bad as I feared it would be. Happy new year all!! http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...2197f4c3e2.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...2c8c6a1eda.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...db1722b254.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...1ea8690453.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...3dd38e4e30.jpg

https://youtu.be/O0Ju82j_YvU

https://youtu.be/GEVZFhD_dno

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Looks awesome! how does it feel power wise? I'm guessing it's probably almost the same gains as the HKS which is just around 10whp?

Maybe a gain in the 15 hp range. Nothing dramatic other then the big grin when it roars to life above 4000!


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Time will tell all.

I have a ebay axleback muffler that is 3 years old and still shiny as ever. looks almost new when cleaned up. IMO they're worth it if you don't plan to keep the car for longer than 5 years. Who does anyways?

These are becoming more common and I've yet to hear any complaints.

Which kit is this?


Might get one fer myself.

Looks good to me as well. As long as you like it, that is all that matters. Enjoy, can't wait to hear a sound clip!!!:tup:

Is it the top speed? I bought the same exhaust and fitted a z1 test pipe, no complaints for under 650$ both sound and power is great

I found it at the charismatic racing concepts store on eBay. I bought the kit that included test pipes. It was under $500 including shipping. I will say the packaging left a little to be desired. It arrived short for some hardware due to a hole in the box. Luckily I have plenty of new fasteners in the bins at the shop. I'll post a link.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/272488460461?_mwBanner=1


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Thank you!

Once you get it installed I'm super curious to see if those test pipe trigger a CEL let us know! That's a nice system for the money!


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My car is a '14 and has strong feelings. So yes it through a SES for catalyst efficiency. From my understanding up to '13 model year is more forgiving. I'm not concerned as I plan on breather side mods, long tubes, and a tune in the spring. It'll just be a minor annoyance until then.


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I've added a cold and warm start short sound clips. Still haven't been able to get a window in the weather for a driving clip.


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Looks and sound good. Not bad for the $$$$.

Very nice sound indeed. Report back in a few months for a folllow up review

Just installed the same system on my 2011 Nismo last night. Quality - 8 out of 10. Very nice finish, 2 missing bolts, 1bracket welded on backwards (hidden). Fit - 9.5 out of 10. Had to remove a heat shield for the exhaust emmisions canister. Sound - 10 out of 10. Zero rasp. Zero drone. Mellow bass at idle and around town. NASTY at WOT. Perfect. For the money, it can not be beat. We will see how it holds up, but initially, very satisfyed with the purchase.

How's the ground clearance vs. stock?

It is a bit lower underneath the differential. I quickly discovered I can't go to a specific service station in my town due to their asinine 5 inch tall speed bumps. Didn't do any damage to the exhaust other then a scuff that wiped right off. The bumps were made of some composite material luckily. I have a steep incline into my driveway and haven't had any issues with that.


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ebay exhausts get the job done just fine

but they will rust very quickly

Thanks. Will keep an eye on the rust and report.

If it's a decent stainless steel grade with proper welding techniques, it won't rust more quickly than anything else.

its not its an ebay exhaust

Do you have any first-hand knowledge with the exhaust the OP purchased?

yes tons

fitment issues also go hand in hand with ebay exhausts but even the high dollar name brand ones also hav these time to time so....

the ebay exhausts from beluga, topspeed, j2, dna get the job done just great for the dollar

but will rust more and hav more fitment issues than lets say aam, gthaus, akrapovic

do your research and hav a budget and buy wat u want

I guess I'm asking if you've used or examined the J2 exhaust first hand. I've owned some pretty high end stuff in my time and it's not my first rodeo. I'm just curious (honestly) if you've put your hands on one of these exhausts or owned one for a period of time to make that determination or if it's just hyperbole.

yes ive already stated that

many makes of cars many types of exhausts

been in the game for 15+

Honestly, anyone who's been in the manufacturing game and has seen the strides made by overseas countries, especially China, knows there's very little difference if there are strict quality control protocols in place. The same thing was said about Japanese products, then later products from Taiwan and Korea, far more complex products.

We're talking stainless tubing that's robotically TIG welded in many instances. Pretty simple stuff these days that any qualified manufacturer, no matter of country origin, can pull off.

You'll get zero argument from me concerning more complex items like dampers. True JDM, European or US market high end dampers are going to be superior in both materials, engineering, experience and overall damping.

Now springs are a gray area. You see all of the Taiwan/Korean-based dampers using Swifts to "upgrade" the shocks. I can see where metallurgy technology might not have caught up in terms of long-term changes in spring rate/sag and rate consistency over the spring's length.

Obviously there are different grades of stainless and one can question the purity of the stainless being used. But I highly doubt you'll see any major corrosion in a truly stainless exhaust in say three years, even in the rust belt or along the coast, at least not any more than a factory system. So if I had to buy TWO systems in six years, I'd still be ahead by hundreds of dollars (minus the elbow grease to install the system).

These exhausts are mandrel bent, stainless (unclear what grade), thick flanges, decent welds and seem to fit well for the most part minus a bracket or two. I just think making a blanket statement they'll rust out is ill informed and not based on any actual facts. Sorry. But unless you've had the exhaust for three years (like one of the earlier contributors to this thread) there's no knowledge base to make an educated comment on something like that.

We know what it looks like externally. What I don't know is what does it look like internally? Are the perforated cores for the resonators as quality as what comes on the best from Japan? How bout the exhaust packing? Ceramic? Stainless wool not retained well that'll blow out over time? That crossover pipe...are the cuts flush or is the pipe sticking into the exhaust flow? We know these are copies of the HKS design, just how close are they in terms of critical measurements like piping diameter, muffler and resonator chamber length, etc...

The last thing anyone should worry about is it rusting out. Misplaced concern.

so we agree then a china exhaust is different than a japan exhaust which is also different than an american exhaust

all steel is different

all welds are different

so...

youre sayin everyone should only be buying ebay exhausts then bc it doesnt matter?

Ah no. Not saying that at all. I'm saying there are several grades of stainless and any manufacturer could use any of them. I'm saying mandrel bent tubing and tig welding is not rocket science. I'm saying worrying about rust is a waste of time as is making blanket claims about products you've never actually owned.

:confused::icon14:

Holy rants guys. My intention for this post was to let people know that there are options on the lower end of the spectrum. I've been building cars since 1994 and have seen my share. I have done everything from basic everyday maintenance and repairs to full on restorations of vintage Ferraris that have gone on the block in the millions. I took a chance on this exhaust, and was pleased with the result. It's not something I hope to last a lifetime. It's something to make my car less boring until I come to a decision on my ultimate build goals. As for an everyday bolt on car, it's a viable option. A built FI car it will never work. As originally posted the transitions are good. I inspected it all with a borescope. The resonators were unremarkable standard perforated what I've always referred to as magnaflow style turbo mufflers.


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That's good to know. I was looking at a 3 meter video scope on Amazon to use for just this purpose. You just saved me a hundred bucks I'm more than likely going to purchase a J2 for my car as well. And sorry for the off tangent, just a fan of making educated decisions based on facts.

Update. I've covered around 15k since installing this exhaust. Over time as carbon gathered in the resonators the sound got a bit deeper as anticipated. No problems of any kind have been encountered so far. Did a nut and bolt after five thousand and all was well. Did a full inspection wile I had it on the lift this week and nothing remarkable was found. Still shiny and beautiful. Thumbs up on the bootleg exhaust experience thus far.


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A little curious about power loss with true duals. It seems most exhausts for this car have at least an X pipe for scavenging reasons.

There is an x pipe forward the first pair of resonators. There was no power loss. I base this off friendly rivalry with other local z owners. It'll go to the dyno in the fall.


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While changing the oil this past weekend found to still be in good condition. Roughly 35k since install, rain or shine daily. I'm still satisfied, so there it is. Sometimes you luck up with cheap junk. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b5ccf1ad14.jpg

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