Carter - thanks for the definitive direction on this. I appreciate the "we are going this way" direction. I know that I would be a bit torqued (pun intended) if I had to re-do my exhaust (of course, I do, as it is stock right now), but this is only 200 bucks max. I’m glad to know the direction, and I appreciate the leadership. We’ll look forward to the final specs on bends so we can toss the heavy, rusty POS in the garbage. Only person here who is upset will be the trash man.
So where are we with the spec exhaust issue?
155MPH
#42
For those of us that built our cars to the previous rules its more like $400 dollars. . .
Its more than $120 and an hour no matter how I have it done. Its going to be one day of work missed and alot of traveling to get to a shop that can do it.
JP
Whining like a child
grydemon
#43
As I am still building my car, motor and exhaust to swap I will run whatever the conclusion to the rule is. I am wondering about what noise restrictions there are on the east coast, because Laguna Seca has a very low sound limit, and is tested as the cars are about to go up the hill. The limit is either 89db or 92dbs depending on the day…So my question is what can we do to limit sound on this "spec system"?
Age
#44
Just point the tip away from the sound shed - it’s usually on the right 
It’s a good question, and I would be curious to know if the sound of the proposed spec exhaust has been measured. But the fact is that there was not a race there in 2007 and according to the preliminary schedule Jerry just sent out there is not one there in 2008 either. There are occasional HPDEs at Laguna, and you may want to have your exhaust built to swap on a different muffler if its an issue.
ddavidv
#45
JP Coates wrote:
[quote]For those of us that built our cars to the previous rules its more like $400 dollars. . .
Its more than $120 and an hour no matter how I have it done. Its going to be one day of work missed and alot of traveling to get to a shop that can do it.
JP
Whining like a child[/quote]
You must live in an area with extremely high cost of living. Most shops I’ve worked with are half that amount per hour. You do understand that a pre-made kit is going to be available? It’s a simple matter to hang it yourself in that case. The only cost will be the new system. You should easily be able to sell your ‘old’ system via the internet to a non-race E30 person for what the ‘new’ system will cost you.
andrew240z
#46
I found the best way to deal with sound limits is to weld a supertrap flange on the exhaust tip and when you need it just add the plates and your good. You can easily swap it back and forth and the cost is reasonable…
Patton
#47
Dwight, hang around the Spec E30 group for about four years and you’ll understand that it is not about the money for a dinky exhaust system.
In the pursuit of basketweaves, it is more about the lack of representation that the peanut gallery is allowed. Sometimes this is good,sometimes it is not.You be the judge.
Regards, Robert Patton
leggwork
#48
AFAIK, the new system will not go all the way to the exhaust manifold, so the old downpipes will have to be cut somewhere ahead of the CAT and a connector welded on. And, you’ll have to do that mod with your old exhaust also if you are in the drive-to-track camp and need to put the old exhaust on for the annual checks…
And some shops will not do the work to delete the CAT.
bruce
Dwight Varnes wrote:
[quote]JP Coates wrote:
[quote]For those of us that built our cars to the previous rules its more like $400 dollars. . .
Its more than $120 and an hour no matter how I have it done. Its going to be one day of work missed and alot of traveling to get to a shop that can do it.
JP
Whining like a child[/quote]
You must live in an area with extremely high cost of living. Most shops I’ve worked with are half that amount per hour. You do understand that a pre-made kit is going to be available? It’s a simple matter to hang it yourself in that case. The only cost will be the new system. You should easily be able to sell your ‘old’ system via the internet to a non-race E30 person for what the ‘new’ system will cost you.[/quote]
TheRedBaron
#49
Carter Hunt wrote:
[quote]
6. We are building the final version this week at a local exhaust shop and he (I’ll have absolutely nothing to do with the money part) will offer the system to the general public. We will also have the details on the final bends, lengths, and diameters so anyone can go to his/her local shop for the same simple system.
Carter[/quote]
I presume that the final details for bends, lengths and diameters will be calculated for both early and late cars? I am under the impression that they are slightly different due to the differences in the rear exit points.
Could you ask the local shop how much he wants to sell each system for including shipping to ATL?
155MPH
#50
My point was I built an exhaust to the existing rules once for $200 and now have to do it again + my time, again.
22rules
#51
i’m in the "built to the most recent specs" camp, and for what it’s worth i just had this done in the spring, my issue is also with the cost. this attitude of "well if a couple of hundred bucks is gonna wreck your budget you shouldn’t race" just rubs me the wrong way, i can’t help that i don’t make 100k a year (any of you hiring?)and have a large 401k (i was out of work from 6-06 to 7-07). i do the best i can with what i have. a hundred bucks will make a difference as to whether i race on a particular weekend, i thought this series was the most cost effective for guys like me so that’s why i chose it. how about a weight penalty or some kind of grandfather clause?? sorry if this seems overly emotional (it’s not), i just needed to vent, carter i know you are doing your best with this series and i hope this doesn’t cause any hard feelings.
don
#22 (on track this coming season).
scottmc
#52
What’s the point of weight penalty if your running a 2 pipe set up?
From what everyone is saying, the one pipe will be a superior system.
mskeen
#53
If you can’t pay for it, don’t. You race, you get DQ’d. Does it matter if you’re just learning?
Gasman
#54
Please tell me who said this was going to ge a cheap hobby? I don’t recall seeing that anywhere. Inexpensive racing? You bet, but I have no recollection of anyone saying this would be an inexpensive thing to do. Rules change in most racing series from year to year and if you don’t want to race with the new rules, maybe you should go home. If someone doesn’t have $200 bucks (less than the entry fee for one race) to change their exhaust system to conform to the soon to be rule standard; frankly I’m not comfortable racing with them. Most of these cars are approximately 20 years old, they need to be throughly inspected before every race. If you don’t have the money to do that, should you really put it on the track?
trentmw
#55
Wow, talk about highly contested topic. I think that someone should post the spec e30 exhaust topic in the next youtube presidential debate:silly:
Luckily I am in the "still has stock exhaust" camp so I am just waiting to see what the outcome is.
Gasman
#57
Bruce, I don’t disagree with your comment, in fact I very much agree, but I would ask you to find something productive in any of the three threads discussing exhaust systems. This isn’t a democracy. The rules will change from year to year and those that want to participate will do so, those that don’t like the rules don’t have to participate.
87isMan
#59
Bruce Leggett wrote:
[quote]this isn’t productive.
Stephen Foushee wrote:
I agree with Bruce this post was the most obnoxious of all regarding this issue. My car is just in the final stages of completion and I waited and waited to do my exhaust when this topic was being discussed earlier this year. When the new rules finally posted it was clear that the change would not be this drastic. I did a two into one setup using 2.5 inch pipe as the rules stated this would be acceptable. Now I will have to change to a 2.25 setup that is exactly the same as what I currently have that’s crap. The cost is not the issue as it isn’t with everyone else protesting this rule change. Please no more if you can’t afford to change then you shouldn’t be racing posts that is just ridiculous!!!
Gasman
#60
Ridiculous Greg? Add up the cost of building your car to date. Are you going to tell me $200 bucks is going to break the bank after what you’ve already spent to date? Really now, who is being ridiculous? :lol: