Custom exhaust for a custom build

[rcx132]

I'm starting to do some Googling and thinking about the exhaust on my buggy build. The photos show the exhaust headers. Do I just use a flared exhaust tube to connect to them? I've also seen "exhaust ball joints" mentioned online, but I'm not sure if that's the same thing.

I've also heard that a stock ECU won't handle an exhaust with different back pressure. Is this true? The donor car had a cat and silencer, for the buggy I was thinking of excluding the cat and using a straight through silencer.

The header is very close to the chassis as the original engine was a 1.3 and this is a 1.6. I'm going to try making a fancy joint to clear the chassis and avoid having to modify the headers or notch the chassis.

Engine is a 1998 Vitara 1.6 injected.

 

[pedrobedro]

Use the original joint and weld a flexible connector into the front pipe so you can aim it where you want.

 

[Haz87]

I've also heard that a stock ECU won't handle an exhaust with different back pressure. Is this true?

No. The ECU doesn't care about back pressure at all. It cares about mixture and that's what the lambda sensor is monitoring.
Back pressure can of course give different performance, usually in the way of torque curves. For a N/A, general consensus is you want a bit of pressure, but removal of the cat isn't going to be detrimental in my experience.

 

[bricol]

No. The ECU doesn't care about back pressure at all. It cares about mixture and that's what the lambda sensor is monitoring.
Back pressure can of course give different performance, usually in the way of torque curves. For a N/A, general consensus is you want a bit of pressure, but removal of the cat isn't going to be detrimental in my experience.

Unless it uses two sensors, one after the cat - probably unlikely on an older Suzuki, but certainly throws errors if I replace the manifolds on my Dodge with long tube versions.

 

[Haz87]

Unless it uses two sensors, one after the cat - probably unlikely on an older Suzuki, but certainly throws errors if I replace the manifolds on my Dodge with long tube versions.

Valid shout. Thankfully they are (usually) easily "tricked" if you do have a post cat lambda to deal with

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The engine will be designed for a certain amount of back pressure to get the best. For instance on the Cummins I’m limited to about 4 or 5 90s as it affects flow too badly otherwise