Possibility for new 240Z Stebro stainless exhaust?

[Arne]

I've copied these posts into a separate thread, as they diverge from "what-was-in-the-past" into "what-we-hope-for-in-the-future".

[peterc]

This thread jogged my memory. Back in the 70's I bought a Stebro muffler for my '72. Loved the sound and the look of the twin pipes. Not as keen on having to hang it below the valance due to those twin pipes, .

At that time Stebro mixed mild and stainless in their systems. One of the problems I had hoped to avoid, rust, eventually became an issue and I had to replace it.

I had totally forgotten that Stebro was located in Ottawa until I ran accross their shop while on other business. So I stopped in and talked to the owner Dan Petschenig. I jokingly mentioned how my stainless muffler had rusted out and he indicated that they now use stainless exclusively in all their systems. According to Dan the price differential between mild and stainless is insignificant compared to the increased labour costs and production headaches of mating mild and stainless, not to mention warranty issues. In addition, unless specifically specified by the customer (for period pieces), all pipes are mandrel-bent.

Currently they make replacement systems for high end cars such as Ferraris, Lambos and Porches. Haven't done anything for Datsuns for years.

However.....Dan did say that they had recently been discussing doing limited production runs targeted to older niche markets. He estimates that sales of 20 units per year would justify the investment and set-up costs. Based on his memory of the 240's exhaust layout, he ball-parked a retail price of $CDN 800-900.

So, would there be any interest in having a completely stainless, mandrel-bent exhaust system built to our specifications and costing less than a thousand bucks?

[ConchZ]

So, would there be any interest in having a completely stainless, mandrel-bent exhaust system built to our specifications and costing less than a thousand bucks?

Yes, but I would want the vertical twin tip slashed cut look. Is that what they did?

[Arne]

Stebro's original systems apparently had horizontal tips. But if they'd be willing to do vertical tips instead, I'd be interested, even if the tips weren't slashed. It'd need to look period though, not modern-style tips.

And frankly, even though a few of us may be willing to pop for something like this, 20 systems per year will probably be a good stretch.

[peterc]

As I understood Dan we would choose the style i.e. horizontal or vertical (my preference) tips, pipe size, finish (stainless or black crackle) etc. I don't think he's looking for a 20 order commitment, just a reasonable expectation that the style we choose would generate those kind of numbers.

I haven't been in the market for an exhaust system lately, so I'm not up on the pricing. Is $900 for a complete stainless system a steal, reasonable or pricey? Are they even available?

[Arne]

As far as I know, there are no pre-fab stainless systems currently available for a 240Z. The price seems OK for stainless, depending on how much of the system that includes. One obvious problem is the front connection—would such a system connect to a stock down pipe? Or a header? If a header, what header do we tool up to work with?

To maximize the number of cars this might work with, I'd probably recommend 2" or 2.25" pipe, and design the center pipe to connect in the general area of where the factory down pipe ends. Then I'd leave it up to the buyer to fab the actual front connection locally as needed. That way the same system could fit the maximum number of manifold/header choices.

Here's another thought—the bad part of the Premium MSA flanged system is the ugly oval Dynomax muffler. How about Stebro leverage that system and offer a nice looking twin tip rear muffler to replace the Dynomax? It would need to be 2.5" inlet with dual vertical tips of say 2" ID. Maybe have the hanger brackets pre-fabbed. The rest of the system wouldn't be stainless, but I think there'd be a better chance of making the 20 per year goal. And that might be simple enough to tool up for that it could be profitable in slightly lower volume.

Either way, I'd vote for black wrinkle finish.

[Arne]

Anyway, CAN$900 is currently about US$800. That's more than I was planning to spend on exhaust, but for a truly vintage looking full stainless system, I'd probably do that, as long as we don't have to wait years to see it. Or I'd consider a rear muffler to fit the MSA system, assuming the price was proportional.

Anything else I/we can do to help make this happen?

[ConchZ]

I'd mainly want the muffler, too. However, if it's mandrel bent stainless, I'd buy the whole system. I'd want to hook it up to the stock downpipes, as I don't use a header, but that could be done locally, like you say.

If they made just the muffler for the right price, I'd consider buying 20 myself and reselling them. Given the prices for an Ansa twin tip, and the fact that Monza is gone, what would people pay for a Stebro twin tip?

[cbudvet]

I would REALLY be interested in a twin tip muffler to go along with the MSA pipes/header. I would echo the love of the vertical tips not the horizontal. As to what price I would pay? I haven't priced mufflers so I don't know what would be reasonable. If there was an order being placed I would be willing to go along with it and pay whatever people think.

carl

[Inf]

Has anyone ever had a comparable system fabbed up by a local shop? I'm wondering if it would really be worth it.

[fixitman]

Has anyone ever had a comparable system fabbed up by a local shop? I'm wondering if it would really be worth it.

I had a 2.25" dia. S.S. system with a resonator, muffler and flanged connections fabricated from Borla components. In comparison, US$800.00 seems reasonable.

I agree with Arne's suggestion on a user fabricated head pipe/header connection. Other suggestions include a resonator option for those tat want a little quieter system and wire/rubber isolator hangers as used in current exhaust systems.

Fixitman

[240zdave]

I would definitely be interested in the full exhaust system. I'm still trying to decide whether to change over to headers, so a system that allows for local fabrication from the downpipe or header of choice to a front connection would make sense. If there is not enough interest in the full exhaust system, just the muffler with vertical twin tips that would work with MSA's systems would be a good fallback.