Kit Order Question #2 - Exhaust and Side Pipes

[rvanstory]

Looks like the headers are determined by which engine I choose to use. Are Cat Converters required in TX? The side pipes come unfinished or polished SS. I want the side pipes to be black (like the example car pictured here)
186742

I assume I should choose the "uncoated option". What finish is needed to achieve the black look? Hight temp paint? Powder coat? Other???

Randy

[cv2065]

You'll want to get your pipes ceramic coated, not powder. And that's not the ceramic coating that you put on your car. :) Powder won't be able to withstand the heat and will flake/discolor. High Heat ceramic and local jobbers will usually limit you to a matte black or silver. Go to a place like Jet Hot and you can get a Satin Black with a whole host of colors. I've always purchased the stainless even though I was going to get them ceramic coated. Cuts down, although not completely, the corrosion inside the pipe.

Can't help you on the TX question as I don't live there, but I don't think I've seen anyone put cats on their build.

[rvanstory]

You'll want to get your pipes ceramic coated, not powder. And that's not the ceramic coating that you put on your car. :) Powder won't be able to withstand the heat and will flake/discolor. High Heat ceramic and local jobbers will usually limit you to a matte black or silver. Go to a place like Jet Hot and you can get a Satin Black with a whole host of colors. I've always purchased the stainless even though I was going to get them ceramic coated. Cuts down, although not completely, the corrosion inside the pipe.

Can't help you on the TX question as I don't live there, but I don't think I've seen anyone put cats on their build.

Perfect advice! That's exactly the type of insight I was hoping for. SS pipes with Ceramic coating goes on "the list". Thank you.

[JohnK]

I agree with the advice given. I bought the Gas-N stainless steel side pipes in a bare finish and had Jet Hot coat them in satin black (along with the heat shields so they match). I'm very happy with the look.

[Alan_C]

The best side pipes out there are from Georgie at GasN. Sell the FF sides pipes included with the kit and then buy yourself a set of the GasN. Like said, get the bare finish and get them ceramic coated. Jet Hot is good, but awfully expensive. There may be local solutions that do not require you to ship and at a better price.
The FF side pipes have had issues with getting louder over time and having the internal baffles coming lose and rattling. Maybe better today, but everyone who has the GasN side pipes recognizes a high quality product that is not as noisy and with a better tonal quality.

[JohnK]

Sell the FF sides pipes included with the kit ...

JFYI - if you haven't yet ordered the kit and you decide to go with Gas-N, you can delete the FF side pipes from the order and receive a modest credit for them, rather than buying them and then having to re-sell them.

[rich grsc]

I would NOT get the FFR SS side pipes. I had a set, and in short order they where blown out and soooo loud it was not possible to drive without GOOD hearing protection.

[cv2065]

I would NOT get the FFR SS side pipes. I had a set, and in short order they where blown out and soooo loud it was not possible to drive without GOOD hearing protection.

LOL. Is that why I couldn't hear by stereo Rich? :)

[eljessup65]

JFYI - if you haven't yet ordered the kit and you decide to go with Gas-N, you can delete the FF side pipes from the order and receive a modest credit for them, rather than buying them and then having to re-sell them.

Great Tip JohnK. Can you still use the FF headers with the Gas-N side pipes? My kit is on order but not finalized yet and was looking into the Gas-N option.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Can you still use the FF headers with the Gas-N side pipes?

Yes.

Jeff

[Papa]

Great Tip JohnK. Can you still use the FF headers with the Gas-N side pipes? My kit is on order but not finalized yet and was looking into the Gas-N option.

Absolutely! Just be aware that the GasN pipes are notoriously inconsistent fitting and you may need a wedge an/or a spacer (or both) to get the best fit. Other than that, the GasN pipes are far superior to FFR's. If you want to avoid the spacers/wedge issue, Gorgie has a custom solution for his headers to dial in the fit by providing car-specific ball-to-flange lengths that he can provide to you based on your measurements.

[JohnK]

Georgie's ability to customize collector lengths and offsets to achieve the perfect fit really bailed me out of a tight spot. I can't say enough positive things about the quality of Gas-N products and more importantly Georgie's customer service. I've stopped short of recommending that you also ditch the FFR headers in favor of Gas-N headers as I've never seen the new FFR headers in person and they seem to work OK for a lot of folks, but I would recommend you at least consider going with Gas-N for both the headers and side pipes if only for the amazing customer service.

Edit- if you check out my build thread you'll see a lot more detail on the lengths that Georgie went to to help me out.

[nashuanuke]

Glad I found this thread, I just ordered my kit and was going to go with FFR pipes, I may not now. Are there any other FFR parts that would be better substituted?

[JeffP]

Get the Gas'n pipes - I had the FF Stainless and switch to Gasn touring and the sound is night and day difference. You can also get the Gasn pipes ceramic coated black now, so no need to send them off to another place like mentioned above.

[Alan_C]

Originally I did the side pipe delete from the order, however I felt the credit was minimal rather than modest, at least back in 2011.

[Joel Hauser]

regarding registration and title, did you see this thread?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?36208-Anyone-from-Texas-dealt-with-emissions

These guys seem to know what they're talking about. They say you should be able to register as a custom vehicle, and refer to a DMV form VTR-852. Maybe you can reach out to ram_g, ptstew, Foxflier, or RRussellTx
Good Luck

[Morrisett]

Cats are not required to pass your inspection and I live in houston (Harris county) which likely has more stringent inspections requirements than New Braunfels. Just went through the registration process last fall and it was fairly easy. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.