OK, so I got the 280Z back on the road today! Yeah! However...

Apparently there was a lot of condensation in the exhaust system over the winter. As the car warmed up, it was blowing some nice moisture clouds out of the system, which allowed me to see...2 rust holes in the muffler. Rats.

So, I figure on replacing from the premuffler back, or possibly everything from the manifold back. Depends on what I find. There are quite a few threads on exhaust, and I've read quite a few of them. Seems that there are lots of scattered opinions and deisgns. It is highly unlikely that I will modify the engine anytime soon to put out much more than stock power. Probably in the next few years I'll pull the engine for a "refresh" (there are some oil leaks, and 130K right now), but even then it is likely that I'll go stock, or mild stuff. And I don't need loud. Nice and "strong" sounding is fine, but I don't need to go roaring around. I have my foot in the intake enough without advertising the fact .

So, is there any real reason to go to a 2.5" system NOW, in case I need better flow in the future, or will 2.5" be a good thing even with a stock system? Since I have to spend $$ to replace things now anyway, I'd like to go with something that is a little future-proof. I can't spend mega-$, but I don't have to go ultra-cheap either. So would y'all out there suggest buying a "system" such as places like MSA or VB type places sell, or would having a shop fab something be better? Stainless looks expensive, but is there any good reason for it other than longevity? I have no idea if any of the muffler shops here in Champaign, IL are any good, but I guess I'll be finding out...

Just found this problem a few hours ago, so I'm just getting the thinking process started.

Thanks.

I had a shop fab me an exhaust almost all the way back. All welded and muffler installed for $85. Its a 2.25" pipe and it seems to work fine for me. The muffler is a Flowmaster Delta 40 series and it costed about $85 too. Factor in $20 for the chrome dual tip and it all comes to $190. Not too bad I think. Big improvement over what I had before.

I had a shop fab me an exhaust almost all the way back. All welded and muffler installed for $85. Its a 2.25" pipe and it seems to work fine for me. The muffler is a Flowmaster Delta 40 series and it costed about $85 too. Factor in $20 for the chrome dual tip and it all comes to $190. Not too bad I think. Big improvement over what I had before.

Did you keep a pre-muffler of any kind, or just the flowmaster at the back? How's it sound? Quiet enough?

Well, initially I planned on keeping the pre-muffler, but when I picked up the car, It had been removed. I was afraid it was going to be too loud, but its just fine really. I think it sounds great. Deep and crisp. I can really tell the car breathes better now and I'm glad I had the pre-muffler pulled. The nice thing about the Delta type mufflers is they make less interior noise. You can still hear it, but it isn't too loud at all. Even with the windows down it isn't bad at all.

Here are a few pics of how it turned out.

That looks good. How is it working out, having the muffler flat? Are you oncerned about heating the gas tank? Probably no concern as long as you keep moving- fast!

Do you know the # for that tip?

thx

That looks good. How is it working out, having the muffler flat? Are you oncerned about heating the gas tank? Probably no concern as long as you keep moving- fast!

Do you know the # for that tip?

thx

Well, I had it put on last July, and since then there have been no problems at all. I had heard some things about possible heat issues, but so far there has been nothing and I drove it out in the 102 degree Kansas heat with no problems. As far as the tip goes, I really don't remember the #. I think earlier I said it was $20, but I think it was actually $25. It's just a chrome dual angle cut weld on. More pics can be found in my gallery here on in the link down in my sig.

I asked around local muffler shops and nobody around my area has dual tip weld-ons. The closest thing is a muffler from a Gran Prix- $200! I should've bought those tips from J.C. Whitney in the 90's.