Big props to the guys at Induktion. I couldn't be happier. I was waiting for 5 hours but it was well worth it for a job well done!

Definate improvement in power. I think the crush bend before the muffler was really choking things up.

New Mandrel bend into muffler:
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel1.jpg">
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel2.jpg">

New Mandrel bends before resonator:
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel3.jpg">
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel4.jpg">

New 3" to 2.5" transition from Burn's Stainless. The installer suggested installing a band clamp so the cat back can be seperated. Great idea as I wanted to do this anyway.
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel5.jpg">

Complete system from 'Y' back:
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel6.jpg">

Resonator and muffler:
<img src="http://mtdiblasi.home.comcast.net/mandrel/mandrel7.jpg">

I'm sure Boris and Gracie are purring happily. ;-)

They only charged me for 3 hours, though, at $75 an hour.

for awhile if I decide to.

Thanks!

I bought two mandrel u-bends from a guy on eBay and had them welded in. No custom exhaust shops around here has a mandrel bender and, in fact, I only know of one in the U.S. that has a mandrel bender.

and the closest one to me is 800 miles away... not a drive I'm willing to make each time I need some exhaust work. Over 99.99% of ALL local muffler shops use a simple hydraulic "crush" bender than can be purchased new for less than $4k with a good selection of "bend &amp; bump" dies.

Look in your local phone book and find me even one single metro yellow pages that advertises more than one exhaust shop with mandrel equipment, let alone several shops with a mandrel machine. And just cuz they say they feature "mandrel bent tubing" does NOT mean they have the machine but far more likely just a good supply of mandrel bent tubing lying around or nearby access to some.

Now read this little snippet from Bob's Muffler at the link YOU provided and posted at their site under "mandrel bending":

&lt;&lt;BOB'S MUFFLER
Bob's Muffler is one of the few muffler shops in The United States, and the only muffler shop in Kern County with a mandrel bender.&gt;&gt;

And you think everyone has access to this??

I might have to check it. :-)

For that matter so will United, FedEx and most other airlines. But their sum might be a little less paultry.

XEL commented that most mandrel bent systems don't have butt welds in them. Mance said that they always do. I said that wasn't true. I didn't comment on your exhaust other than that it looks like they took pieces of mandrel bent section and pieced it together. I never said there was anything wrong with that, I was just stating that systems created BY a mandrel bender don't need to be butt welded together. There is nothing wrong with the way they did yours - in fact, they did a very good job - I just assumed that they had a mandrel bender there. I've been in and out of the exhaust parts, installation and wholesale for awhile, so I felt I could comment on the subject. So quit being an ass.

Didn't you say all mandrel bent systems are butt-welded together? Of course, if you buy the pre-bent pieces and put it together. I've done that on the floor in my garage. I was simply correcting you.

exhaust systems. I know it, you know it, MrD knows it and most everyone else here knows it. And no one felt the need to correct me on that nor likely saw my statement as any semblence of "cannot be done" but rather as what we as 12V owners have to contend with unless we're fortunate enough to live next to Bob's or LaBree.

Of course you can have a complete mandrel system made for your car. But unless you're in 3 or 4 metro areas in the US and Canada or someone decides to offer one for our cars as a kit you better be prepared to drive awhile to get to one or have one custom made.

Not everyone is fortunate to live in CA and have an exhaust shop with a mandrel bender.

If you had read my response to UrS4's post you would have read that "I bought two mandrel u-bends from a guy on eBay and had them welded in. No custom exhaust shops around here has a mandrel bender..." In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't find an exhaust shop on the East Coast with a mandrel bender.

Now stop unnecessarily correcting people and go back to modding. You read too much into UrS4's response.

"ALL mandrel-bent builds &amp; installations require small sections to be cut/welded to maintain tubing symmetry and consistant ID diameter in the exhaust thru-out, from beginning to end."

I was under the assumption that he WAS at a shop that had a mandrel bender, which was why I didn't understand why they where piecing it together. Every state has mandrel shops, hell I was a signature away on the lease of one for the shop I was going to open, and I know there where 3 other shops in Indiana alone that had them. When you use the word "ALL" I tend to think you're pretty serious in your statement - I simply thought to correct you since I knew alot about the subject having almost had one of those big bastards. I felt the link to Bob's was pertinent given what I knew and what you said in the thread. Then I get Mr.D being an ass because he thinks I'm ripping on his exhaust or something. Whatever.

I guess XEL is too. Maybe. I'll never comment about your exhaust again, nor shall I ever think anyone might be misinformed based off of what I read. Carry on.

and if I'm not mistaken you just made the same mistake you accused me of, ie; making a general or blanket statement. There's two mandrel machines here in colorado. Both are dedicated architectural railing benders and hundreds of feet long. They dont take contract work for thin wall exhaust tubing as they cost millions of dollars. There is absolutely no other mandrel machines for exhaust work locally. Further, the closest one I know of is Dallas/FW area and Los Angeles beyond that.

And anyone who hangs at the AW forums for more than 10 minutes knows of mandrel-bent exhaust systems made for other cars from people like Milltek, MTM, Borla, Neuspeed et al. But no one makes a pre-made/packaged mandrel system for the lowly 12V.

I seriously thought that when you said ALL mandrel bent systems had to be welded together, that's what you meant. I know just like everyone else that buying from an exhaust company you get the whole unit, but I seriously thought you ddn't think a regular muffler shop with a mandrel bender could do it. Read your first post again and you'll see where I might have thought that. And yes, I know not EVERY state has a mandrel bender. I'm sure you won't find one in Wyoming, Maine, and I guess Colorado, but Indiana is no grand state and I was shocked when I found out how many more people had one there then I initially thought. I thought I was going to be the only one in the state. In all actuality, they are not bad for the money and the amount of work you can do. At 500.00 a system, you can nearly turn over the cost of the machine on 100 exhaust jobs, minus parts and material. Not bad when you think about it. More places should have them. That's why I wanted one - plus, they bend hard stainless like butter.

check their site. They dont advertise "mandrel bent tubing" and they dont sell it. They wont volunteer it over the phone either. I talked with them years ago and asked and they told me they get better results with their crush bends than any mandrel bent tube. That was all I needed to hear.

But check the pics on their site. Not a mandrel bend in sight

I have realized that UrS4 has forgotten more then I will ever know about automotive applications and theory.

I figured I may have somehow been wrong on the 1 pc. mandrel system I had on my race car years ago. Anyhow, the way the post is written you do make it seem as if there is no way to get a mandrel system without the multiple butt-welds. I don't see any sort of attack from repeater until he says "Quit being an ass" but that was after he was attacked.

Either way...all the info that can be extracted from this has been...kiss and make up?

And no, I don't care. I'm not on here to start arguments, and it wouldn't have even been one until comments about putting A4's into overhead compartments started. I wasn't even knocking his exhaust nor suggesting that he needed to go to a place witha mandrel bender. I thought he already WAS at one, and seriously thought Mance thought you couldn't produce a mandrel system from a muffler shop with a mandrel bender. Water under the bridge now. Let's drink.

I believe what you mean is that not all mandrel bent exhausts are butt welded, and that I realize that Bob's muffler is far away from everyone. Now, we can have a beer.

I'm confused here :-\ Or are you running 2.5" from cat to resonator and 2.25" from resonator to muffler (retaining stock pipe size like I think you told me you were doing before).

Regardless looks sweet man! Good work!

3" in/out cat reduced down to 2.5" into stock resonator than 2.25" into Magnaflow muffler.

or did you not even try to persuade them?

I remember you saying a while ago they didn't think it was possible.

too. I didn't think it would be cost-effective if it was possible.

If I ever switch out the resonator I will opt for 2.5" all the way back.

well when I swapped my resonator back in for the silencer the guy at the shop opened up the 2 ends of the resonator to accept the OD to the 2.25" piping that I'm running currently. I'm basically gonna ask the shop when I bring it in if they feel it's worth while... if not, I'll go with what I got.

Yeah, we got to hook up soon. Haven't seen ya in a while. Maybe at the Ren festival or something.

how come u left the resonator in?