Techtonics 16V exhaust (long worth it)

[flaatr@yahoo.com (Euroroc II)]

I've been running a full stainless TT exhaust with a Borla muffler and 
resonator with a TT down pipe for about 1 year now and have had a few 
problems and one HUGE complaint... The problem I have is that the pipe that 
attaches to the downpipe/cat always comes loose, nice fat leak! I had this 
problem with my Autotech exhaust and stock exhaust with the stock downpipe 
so I don't blame TT... I do blame them for the lame-ass tail pipe they ship 
with the 16V kit. First the pipe is soooooo long it is a liability since 
people 3 feet away from your bumper can trip over it, yes even with US 
bumpers it sticks out past the bumper and second it''s only a single pipe! 
I always like the traditional 16V double staggered pipes.

Problem 1 the slipping pipe
I always liked my 8V setup where the cat bolt in on these cool 3 bolt 
flanges and I found my self thinking hey! I should have one of those added 
to my exhaust so it won't come apart any more. Then I thought Hey! I should 
have the cat cut out completely and have a flange added to the other side 
too so I can use a test pipe.... then I thought well I might as well get 
the test pipe made up too! What a great idea.

Problem 2 where is the other tail pipe
So I bought a stainless tip from TT (retail price $100) and it would not 
work since the hanger is welded just in front of the bend and the tip is 
tooooo long... that's when the artistry of Tony came in... he looked at 
pictures of a stock 16V tail pipe and set to work using 2.25" tubing. He 
measured and bent then measured and bent then welded and measured and 
then... you get the picture... Wow this came out perfect! the hardest part 
was getting the old single pipe out of the Borla. This took him and another 
guy 20+ minutes to do. This is the way TT shoulda sold this system... The 
rear hanger is now incorporated into the clamp and not the tip, I wanted it 
this way.  Hmmm I wonder how this would look using 2.5" tubing?

Before
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/vwp?.dir=/exhaust&.src=ph&.dnm=P1010030.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/lst%3f%26.dir=/exhaust%26.src=ph%26.view=t

After
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/vwp?.dir=/exhaust&.src=ph&.dnm=P1010084.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/lst%3f%26.dir=/exhaust%26.src=ph%26.view=t


Tony works for a Midas shop here in Northern California, 215 W El Camino 
Real in Mountain View (650) 968-9977 to be exact (For all he did I have to 
give him and the shop a plug) and is totally cool and talented with a 
welder. He spent almost 3.5 hours doing these two mods and didn't mind me 
standing around taking pictures and making comments or suggestions... If 
you need work and your in this area he is your man!

Quote was for 2 hours labor and about $30 for parts... not including the 
test pipe all the work above was a little over $200 and worth every penny! 
He even got all the pipes into perfect alignment.

Full photo history with cat and test pipe shots...
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/lst?.dir=/exhaust&.src=ph&.view=

-RGK-