Everyone talks about flow master, gibson, borla, but have any of you tried to make your own exhaust. I have a neighbor who bent his own pipes, and it looks and sounds great. What do you guys think about this...

 

If looks and sound are your only concern, then anyone can bend pipes. But, I'd at least buy the pre-bent tail pipes or kits and not actually bend the pipes myself.

 

Most kits use mandrel bent pipes to keep diameters consistent. Most muffler shops don't even have the ability to create mandrel bends and it's highly unlikely that a backyard mechanic would either. So, if he's competent at customizing exhausts, then he can make one as good as an exhaust shop or as good as a kit if he gets the pre-bent mandrel bent pipe as APT mentioned. He may be better than the Goober that's in training at the exhaust shop, but not likely that he makes a better setup than a pre-engineered mandrel bent cat back.

 

I've just built my own exhaust. From the manifolds all the darn way back, including the y-pipe. It's actually kinda easy. All you need to do is buy some pre bent pipes at your local car store.

After you get it all figured out your bound to find some things just dont fit right so get yourself a good blade on your saw-zall and rent an arc welder from home depot.