im running a frankenstein custom catback.. sti midpipe to a custom axleback to a greddy evo2 muffler i got from my brothers honda fit

 

custom, here.

(Sent from my Android using Tapatalk)

 

Don't do it. It won't be as good as an OEM exhaust. Here is why:

1. OEM exhaust (at least for a WRX, not sure about a NA Forester) is mandrel bent. You local muffler shop will crush bend the pipe, reducing flow.
2. OEM exhaust is stainless steel. If you are lucky, your local shop will use alluminized steel, which is better than plain steel, but nowhere near as good as stainless.
3. OEM exhaust is designed to fit your car perfectly and won't rattle, bang around, or hit the ground that much. Your local muffler shop may do a good job but I'd won't be a perfect fit like the OEM.

If you want your Forester to be louder, have the muffler shop just weld in the Magnaflow muffler in place of your stock muffler. It will be cheaper than replacing the whole exhaust and will flow just as good (I'm betting the 2" OEM exhaust flows better than a 2.25" muffler shop exhaust). Have them remove the resonator in the midpipe if you want more noise.

Or get a WRX catback if you want something that will flow well, and not be that loud. They are stainless steel, mandrel bent, high flowing, and fit perfectly on your Forester. Mine is off a 04 WRX and was almost a bolt on, I had to take it to the muffler shop for one welded connection. I got the catback for $50 and paid $53 more for the welding. The sound is pleasing (not loud, but better than stock) and it seems to have a bit more high-end power.

I had a crappy custom catback and hated it. No extra power, it rattled, looked like crap, started to rust, etc. The WRX is way nicer. Even a good muffler guy can't build an exhaust as good as an OEM one in a few hours with your car on the lift. Subaru put a lot of R&D time in their exhaust to make it perfect, and even had it made of stainless steel.

 

some shops do have mandrel bending machines or they can send it out or even order mandrel-bent corners.

but for the angles of the exhaust (catback) for our foresters, it's a very slight one or two bends.

(Sent from my Android using Tapatalk)

 

Mandrel bending it will cost more. And you'd be replacing mandrel-bent stainless steel tubing with mandrel-bent steel tubing. There really isn't a lot to be gained for the money spent. A stock WRX exhaust will fit better, flow better, last longer, and cost less. Add on a Magnaflow muffler if you want more sound. Only a custom stainless, mandrel bent, large diameter exhaust would flow more but would cost a lot of money. A WRX exhaust flows plenty for a N/A Forester.

 

Factory catbacks on Subarus are NOT stainless. They are mild/aluminized steel.

...and my mandrel bent, stainless, custom setup for my Outback cost $220, is tucked up and in to the trans tunnel, and has a lifetime warranty.

There are some good custom shops out there.


Sent from my (insert latest and greatest phone here) using Tapatalk while in class, flying an airplane, and driving in rush hour traffic at the same time.

 

Factory catbacks on Subarus are NOT stainless. They are mild/aluminized steel.

...and my mandrel bent, stainless, custom setup for my Outback cost $220, is tucked up and in to the trans tunnel, and has a lifetime warranty.

There are some good custom shops out there.

You sure about that? The factory one on my 2000 Forester was, and the $50 2004 WRX exhaust I installed is too. Your exhaust sound pretty nice, and reasonably priced. There are good shops out there, but there are also a lot of bad ones (like the one that did my first custom catback, which was horrible).

 

I'm running one that I got custom done from the guys at Rallispec years ago. Custom mandrel bent 2.25" stainless with a Magnaflow resonator in the mid-pipe and single tip can at the rear and it's still going strong. If you can find a reputable shop that can do mandrel bends that's the way to go for sure!

 

I have a local reputable muffler shop that can make me a 2.25" cat back with Magna Flow muffler for half the price of an aftermarket cat back. Anyone running a custom cat back?

That's what I am running. Love it. A little louder at highway speeds than I like, but not bad.