I recently had a custom exhaust system made and installed in my HZJ105 Landcruiser. Beaudesert exhausts got the job from their general good reputation, and as they could mandrel bend onsite, meaning less welds.
My cruiser needed some customisation done to clear the large aftermarket fuel tank and join to the AXT Turbo on the motor.
The installation didn’t go exactly to plan however.
- 4hr estimated (took 8hrs)
- Charged $1100 then came back for anther $100 (accounting error)
- Wrong Muffler installed (louvered instead of perforated) – I only asked 3 times
- Resonator fitted to vehicle – not wanted (asked not to) – then removed.
- Wrong tailpipe exit – too low and chrome, not high and no tip – only asked twice
- Touched in 3 places – chassis / transfer / fuel tank
- Too close (10mm) to floor for no reason, just past the point where the OEM body heatshield stopped.
- Muffler now lowest point on car (heaps of room above it)
- Squashed pipe to clear transfer case, unnecessary if pipe 20mm lower.
After approaching them with the issues, and wasting another full day, they have resolved the clearance problems. The clearance issues are all to do with the template they used, not the customisations for turbo & fuel tank. I was not happy with the routing and clearances of the template system as per the pics below.
Comments:
- Cost $1200
- 3″ system all the way
- Sounds good (quieter than the 1/2 worn MTZ’s)
- Sounds good on the road (louder than factory, can hear turbo)
I probably should have put the resonator in – Idle’s like a truck – too loud. - Faster turbo response (previous system was 2.5″ mandrel)
- Lower EGT’s by 30-40C
- Good quality bending / welding / prep / attention to most detail
- Fully flanged, 5 sections – easy to take pieces in / out
- Flanges mean lots of welds / joins despite the in house mandrel bending.
- Of the 5 sections, 4 had to be customised for several reasons.
For std cars – they may do well. For custom systems – I wouldn’t buy one again.
| Customised High Clearance Outlet (made to my spec) |
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| Muffler Height when installed | Muffler height when customised |
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| 10mm clearance to floor | Much better after customised |
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| 5mm clearance to transfer case | Much better after customised |
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Update (05/10)
The system is quieter now than when installed. Looks like the muffler has sooted up a bit making the idle a lot more acceptable. I remember this with my last glass packed straight through muffler. Might still be too loud for some, but I think it’s fine now.
