Custom 2.5" cat back exhaust made today...

[LeeT5]

Just thought i would pass on my gratitude to anyone thinking of going custom and not buying an aftermarket.

I have to say a big thanks to the guys down at Fast road conversions in Ashford for doing a blinding job on my R today. The drive back was an absolute pleasure and the difference is day and night.

Here's the job....

Car on ramps ready to go...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0670.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0659.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0658.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0660.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0665.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0664.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0663.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0671.jpg

I will try and do a cold start video tomorrow morning, weather pending.

I wanted OE look at the rear. Parts of the rear section were Tig welded for asethetics the rest Mig. All fully SS and comes complete with a lifetime warranty!! :banana:

:hail: Well done Fast road conversions of Ashford, Kent.

The drive home was a delight. The noise is awesome without being obtrusive into the cabin. It's slightly quieter than my BSR system but then i did have the resonator section removed.
The noise on WOT is truly amazing. It sings. brilliant.
Total cost was £440 inc vat.

[Wobbly Dave]

Looks awesome.

[Harvey]

Nice job look great

[ROZER]

i had a custom 2.5" catback fitted after i got my ferrita dp but the job you got there looks so much better than mine.

[merc85]

Mate that is the nuts

[The Flying Moose]

Looks like a really good job to me...

Did I mention too that thats one nice looking V70R!!!

[theflyingbrick]

its a shame its tucked under the car,stuff like that should be out on show coz that looks the dogs danglys :)

[uqj83l]

Top quality custom exhaust. I can't believe it's quieter than your BSR exhaust, I would have expected it to be louder. You could have opted not to have the rear muffler, but then it would have been a bit too loud.... like mine ;-)

Good value for money too.

[Kingsford G]

Quality thing that is mate,well worth the money.

[V70 Graham]

VERY nice.....bet your well pleased.

[kfc]

Looks lovely that, want one!!!!

[AcidicDavey]

Looks great mate, custom exhausts are the way to go!
I had a shop build a catback for my 480, will get a full system built for the V70 when I can afford it!

[LeeT5]

Top quality custom exhaust. I can't believe it's quieter than your BSR exhaust, I would have expected it to be louder. You could have opted not to have the rear muffler, but then it would have been a bit too loud.... like mine ;-)

Good value for money too.

Cheers Bill! When i had the BSR on i had removed the resonator section. I could have put it back on, but i thought it was too quiet. Without rear muffler it would have droned because the estate boots act like amplifiers. On a saloon it may have been ok? Who knows. I am very pleased with the oe look . I'll post more daylight photos tomorrow. We must meet up so you can have a butchers.

[graemewelch]

its nice to see the rear silencer hidden away. i hate it when can see box hanging down

[graemewelch]

any cold start vids yet

[I want a T5]

Saving up to get mine done! Peanut1 had a full system with 200 cell race CAT and it sounds very good on full beans!

[mitchyboy01]

Great job, how much did they charge mate? I'm in Dover and might use these from now on.

[volvokid]

That is nice, I like that standard look about it too actually

[I want a T5]

Out of interest, how long did it take for them to complete the work?

[LeeT5]

Out of interest, how long did it take for them to complete the work?

The car went on the ramps at about 9am and drove off about 3:15pm. That includes a 30 minute stop for lunch.

[Kingsford G]

From what u saying it sounds like my cup of tea wiv nice sound when u floor it and not loud on normal.Could u tell us how long did it take and and the location plz as I am sure there will b ppl intrested.That'll b on my list anyway.

[charlesboya]

Beautiful set up and looks great. What does it sound like ?

[LeeT5]

Beautiful set up and looks great. What does it sound like ?

I have done a video, buts it's not brilliant. Didn't really give it the beans cos she was still cold, but you can hear the note from a cold start. I will do another video when warmed up soon. For now, here's some more photos of the new exhaust....

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0677.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0675.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0674.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0673.jpg

Video is on it's way tonight....

[LeeT5]

From what u saying it sounds like my cup of tea wiv nice sound when u floor it and not loud on normal.Could u tell us how long did it take and and the location plz as I am sure there will b ppl intrested.That'll b on my list anyway.

It was at: Fast Road Conversions, Unit 10 Grove business park, Henwood business estate, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8DR.
Took just over 5 hours to make.
Call them on 01233 662225.

Very helpful and can tune ANY exhaust to how you want it to sound. They were very patient and listened to what i wanted and they even remade the rear section hanger to go over the top of the exhaust rather than underneath. I thought it looked neater anyway.

[LeeT5]

here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WAIeKPPqRM&feature=youtu.be

[AcidicDavey]

You'll have to take her out for a drive with a cameraman so we can hear her when your going for it ;)

[M-R-P]

Looks and sounds the mutz! What's it like at 70 for long periods? any drone?

[Kingsford G]

You'll have to take her out for a drive with a cameraman so we can hear her when your going for it ;)

Deffo,i think it sounds just the way I want it but u only throttled a bit so couldn`t hear it properly.

[LeeT5]

You'll have to take her out for a drive with a cameraman so we can hear her when your going for it ;)

I think i will do just that today. Not sure how i'm gonna drive and hold the camera thou? Need one of those spider monkey holder things.


Looks and sounds the mutz! What's it like at 70 for long periods? any drone?

Absolutely no drone what so ever. Once your at a cruising speed its nice and quite. Only noisey when you accelerate slightly and if you floor it it's just awesome!

[gsxrboy]

sounds the dogs :D

[zip929]

Very tempting. :)

[volvokid]

I wonder if they would make me one and ship it up to me hmmmm.

[M-R-P]

I think i will do just that today. Not sure how i'm gonna drive and hold the camera thou? Need one of those spider monkey holder things.


Wedge a full sized tripod in the front passenger footwell :)

[LeeT5]

I wonder if they would make me one and ship it up to me hmmmm.

Impossible as there is no blue print. They literally build the exhaust on the car.

[LeeT5]

Wedge a full sized tripod in the front passenger footwell :)

Don't own one.

[M-R-P]

windscreen mount for your mobile - £6.99 at Sainsburys :)

[volvokid]

Impossible as there is no blue print. They literally build the exhaust on the car.

I'm sure if they are proper engineers they can measure yours and copy it :) If I ever get one it will probably be powerflow again but I would take pictures of yours, I just like the tips on yours but I don't think powerflow would do that.

[Kingsford G]

I'm sure if they are proper engineers they can measure yours and copy it :) If I ever get one it will probably be powerflow again but I would take pictures of yours, I just like the tips on yours but I don't think powerflow would do that.

Tbh custom one is the way to go.

[volvokid]

Tbh custom one is the way to go.

I've had 3 custom's now I've never had an off the shelf one. I don't know the first thing about welding but I know my powerflows have always been good, never had a problem with them. I just really like the look of the tips on lee's car, but I dont think I can get that from powerflow.

[graemewelch]

to duplicate that system the guy would have to jig it up. if i was paying for a custom syste it would have to be mandrel bent and fully tig welded. lucky for me though i dont need to.

[960kg]

I've had 3 custom's now I've never had an off the shelf one. I don't know the first thing about welding but I know my powerflows have always been good, never had a problem with them. I just really like the look of the tips on lee's car, but I dont think I can get that from powerflow.

I have been to Powerflow at the Dover branch and they were really experienced and helpful for the V70 T5
Custom Cat.back in 2.5" s/s was £419 fitted in 4hrs
Turbo back including new cat. was £550
When i went to Fast Road Conversions in Ashford they wanted £1200 for custom turbo back including cat. 2.5" in s/s he said if it helps we can do in easy stages, only my opinion but i wouldn`t give him the time of day!

[gsxrboy]

I have been to Powerflow at the Dover branch and they were really experienced and helpful for the V70 T5
Custom Cat.back in 2.5" s/s was £419 fitted in 4hrs
Turbo back including new cat. was £550
When i went to Fast Road Conversions in Ashford they wanted £1200 for custom turbo back including cat. 2.5" in s/s he said if it helps we can do in easy stages, only my opinion but i wouldn`t give him the time of day!

£550 for turbo back seems a very good price

[Kingsford G]

£550 for turbo back seems a very good price

It is indeed.

[AcidicDavey]

To get a rolling video you could take someone with you? A cameraman? Friend, missus, whatever.

As I said in an earlier post, I had a system built for my 480. A44 Exhausts, the Powerflow dealer in Worcester. Price was £330 including VAT and any tip I wanted at all. Took about 7 hrs and was 2.25" mind, way too loud though, but a lifetime warranty means I can take her back when I've got her back on the road.

[Peanut1]

It is indeed.

Knowing the guys at Fast Road extremely well, last 20 years! I would say £550 for a turbo back is rubbish! Cat back for that price then yeah, believable but not turbo back and if it is i wouldnt give that person the time of day! Not every person is happy with quotes they get but to then say wouldnt give him the time of day i feel is a bit harsh as you obviously dont know the guy but your entitled to your opinion i guess. Rest my case

[I want a T5]

Knowing the guys at Fast Road extremely well, last 20 years! I would say £550 for a turbo back is rubbish! Cat back for that price then yeah, believable but not turbo back and if it is i wouldnt give that person the time of day! Not every person is happy with quotes they get but to then say wouldnt give him the time of day i feel is a bit harsh as you obviously dont know the guy but your entitled to your opinion i guess. Rest my case

Been over to Fast road a few times to discuss my 'zorst. Always found them helpful and not badly priced considering the quality of their work. I have seen Peanut's system forst hand and it is VERY well made and I would have no qualms about using them for mine.

[Kingsford G]

Knowing the guys at Fast Road extremely well, last 20 years! I would say £550 for a turbo back is rubbish! Cat back for that price then yeah, believable but not turbo back and if it is i wouldnt give that person the time of day! Not every person is happy with quotes they get but to then say wouldnt give him the time of day i feel is a bit harsh as you obviously dont know the guy but your entitled to your opinion i guess. Rest my case

He ment the powerflow Dover quoted £550 for turboback and £1200 at Fast Road .

[Peanut1]

He ment the powerflow Dover quoted £550 for turboback and £1200 at Fast Road .

i know and that was my point! if he expected a turbo back for £550 from FRC then no way, Cat yeah. If someone will do a turbo back for £550 then good luck and see you at FRC in a few months time is my answer

[Kingsford G]

i know and that was my point! if he expected a turbo back for £550 from FRC then no way, Cat yeah. If someone will do a turbo back for £550 then good luck and see you at FRC in a few months time is my answer

I know yr point-u get what u pay most of the time.I think LeeT5`s exhaust is a great quality and the sound is just the ticket.

[LeeT5]

I think a quote of £1200 is fair. Bear in mind it them 6 hours to build my cat back system and the guy only stopped for 30 minutes lunch. To do a Turbo back system it would cost considerably more because you gotta go 3". Thats alot more metal and a hell of a lot of work involved to do the job. Facing off and everything. For FRC to put a lifetime warranty on a 3" from Turbo + CAT + 2.5" to bumper....I'd be well happy with that!

Elevate do a Turbo downpipe inc CAT and they sell for £750 + shipping!

So if you ask me, £1200 is a bargain! Nuf said.

[Peanut1]

i think a quote of £1200 is fair. Bear in mind it them 6 hours to build my cat back system and the guy only stopped for 30 minutes lunch. To do a turbo back system it would cost considerably more because you gotta go 3". Thats alot more metal and a hell of a lot of work involved to do the job. Facing off and everything. For frc to put a lifetime warranty on a 3" from turbo + cat + 2.5" to bumper....i'd be well happy with that!

Elevate do a turbo downpipe inc cat and they sell for £750 + shipping!

So if you ask me, £1200 is a bargain! Nuf said.

+1!

[graemewelch]

from experience in the fabrication trade and having built a fair few systems myself and not buying the materials at trade price id expect it to be 316 with stainless flanges and fully mandrel bent. hes looking at a profit of £800 plus for that system but you have to bear in mind he will have a very expensive mandrel bending machine that wont pay for its self. plus rent electric bla bla bla

[gsxrboy]

i had a cat back system for my bmw 540. took just over three hours from driving in to driving home. a v8 so twice the pipe work. cost me 550. this was about six years ago now. 1200 is too much in my opinion , i can buy separately a sports cat downpipe and a sports cat back to suit off the shelf for about 900. but all this is down to personal opinion. :-)

[deathrider311271]

sounds nice and looks good quality. The total cost for my system was £700 for the Miltek downpipe inc race cat and £320 for the Scorpion system so £1200 for a fully hand built unit sounds reasonable to me.

The titanium system on my bike was £2500 and thats probably 1/8th the size of a Volvo system!!!!!!!

Simon

[LeeT5]

i had a cat back system for my bmw 540. took just over three hours from driving in to driving home. a v8 so twice the pipe work. cost me 550. this was about six years ago now. 1200 is too much in my opinion , i can buy separately a sports cat downpipe and a sports cat back to suit off the shelf for about 900. but all this is down to personal opinion. :-)

....I'm sure you can but in my opinion having had Ferrita and BSR systems off the shelf before, i would say your getting a bespoke, hand built, better system with stainless flanges (most are not stainless - only the pipes) and Tig welded where nessesary. Having seen what these guys did for my car and watching the whole process start to finish and paying what i paid, i would have been happy to pay £1200 for a FULL turbo back system. Like i said, if i had bought a 3.5" downpipe and CAT from Elevate it would have cost me easily over £1000 after i'd shipped it in and payed import tax. Add that to a 3" cat back custom system and youve gone way over £1500!

[960kg]

I know yr point-u get what u pay most of the time.I think LeeT5`s exhaust is a great quality and the sound is just the ticket.


from experience in the fabrication trade and having built a fair few systems myself and not buying the materials at trade price id expect it to be 316 with stainless flanges and fully mandrel bent. hes looking at a profit of £800 plus for that system but you have to bear in mind he will have a very expensive mandrel bending machine that wont pay for its self. plus rent electric bla bla bla


i had a cat back system for my bmw 540. took just over three hours from driving in to driving home. a v8 so twice the pipe work. cost me 550. this was about six years ago now. 1200 is too much in my opinion , i can buy separately a sports cat downpipe and a sports cat back to suit off the shelf for about 900. but all this is down to personal opinion. :-)

I just wanted to add that depending on where in the country one lives there is always a bargain to be had if you can find it!

Apparently you can get stainless cat. back systems fitted while you wait for £294 in Leeds and even Walsall but bad for me that will cost £90 for fuel

Dover has one unemployment problem the Ferries being there main employment so whose to say i can`t get a good deal with my exhaust?.....whose to say he didn`t have ONE downpipe with cat. on offer?
He spent a lot of his time explaining things to me with no problems or hurrying.

When you come to Ashford where a lot of commuters live working in London then the prices go one way and that is up, the cost of properties tell you that and also up goes the price of my quote for my exhaust. Custom! what is Custom?........i know very well what it is and it does not include an off the shelf Longlife exhausts to which Fast Road are one of there dealers. I may of had a quote for a custom or off the shelf boxes or what and then at that price being told it will probably only give me 4bhp at the very most, so i decided to move on after only five minutes of help and no written quote so where am i, no swop of phone numbers nothing ????

I have emails from Powerflow which in my mind mean they bothered with me.

I am still contemplating driving up country for the exhaust to be included in a few days break, i don`t know what to do?

One thing is clear i bought my `97 V70 T5 because it is a no nonsense pre ME7 motor and basically powerful and functional and not complicated, the money is no problem and is readily there for the one that bothers most and does give me value for money.

Of course at the end of the day this is only my own opinion and everyone does what pleases themselves. I am really pleased with my HLM 304 map from Hamish and with the conversations we had but sadly one can`t mention that anywhere else, each to his own!

[LeeT5]

I'm sure if they are proper engineers they can measure yours and copy it :) If I ever get one it will probably be powerflow again but I would take pictures of yours, I just like the tips on yours but I don't think powerflow would do that.

The tips on mine are not separate ss pieces welded on. They are 2.5" SS tubes cut to a specific shape and then welded to the 2.5" the comes out the rear silencer. Very clever engineering and looks the dogs. I will take a photo of it for you.

[volvokid]

The tips on mine are not separate ss pieces welded on. They are 2" SS tubes cut to a specific shape and then welded to the 2.5" the comes out the rear silencer. Very clever engineering and looks the dogs. I will take a photo of it for you.

Yeah I could see that and I'm not sure if powerflow would do that, but if I go down the exhaust root, I will try them to see if they are able to do it.

[LeeT5]

Yeah I could see that and I'm not sure if powerflow would do that, but if I go down the exhaust root, I will try them to see if they are able to do it.

Mate, if they can make you an exhaust system using a mandrel pipe bending machine then they can make the exhaust tips the same as mine. Just tell them you want the exhaust to look oe and that you don't want any shiny chrome tips welded on. When they finished cutting the tips to the right angle and welded it all up to the final box he ran a polishing machine over the pipes just to clean them up a bit.

The end result speaks for itself:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0672.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0671.jpg

I just measured the rear tips and they are actually 2.5" each!

[volvokid]

It does look good and I really really like the standard look on this car, they dont suit much different, I dont like where Volvo put the exit on the P2 its to far to the edge

[LeeT5]

It does look good and I really really like the standard look on this car, they dont suit much different, I dont like where Volvo put the exit on the P2 its to far to the edge

(Previous post amended.) Exits are 2.5" each.

[SexyBoy]

looks great actually, can u do a launch in a private car park lee, cheers.

[y2blade]

Just thought i would pass on my gratitude to anyone thinking of going custom and not buying an aftermarket.

I have to say a big thanks to the guys down at Fast road conversions in Ashford for doing a blinding job on my R today. The drive back was an absolute pleasure and the difference is day and night.

Here's the job....

Car on ramps ready to go...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0670.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0659.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0658.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0660.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0665.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0664.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0663.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0672.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/IMG_0671.jpg

I will try and do a cold start video tomorrow morning, weather pending.

I wanted OE look at the rear. Parts of the rear section were Tig welded for asethetics the rest Mig. All fully SS and comes complete with a lifetime warranty!! :banana:

:hail: Well done Fast road conversions of Ashford, Kent.

The drive home was a delight. The noise is awesome without being obtrusive into the cabin. It's slightly quieter than my BSR system but then i did have the resonator section removed.
The noise on WOT is truly amazing. It sings. brilliant.
Total cost was £440 inc vat.


That looks fantastic, I had no idea custom made stuff was so cheap tbh.

very nice :)
fancy popping a video of it running up? I'd love to hear it

[LeeT5]

looks great actually, can u do a launch in a private car park lee, cheers.

I will try my best. Watch this space......

[LeeT5]

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?p=498927&posted=1#post498927

Launch vid coming soon......

[Sharkey R]

Lee, I just want to say thanks for this thread you made about your exhaust. I purchased a Ferrita Cat-Back for my S60 R and found the sound was perfect but I don't like the look of the pipes now its on the car. I've emailed FRC after your great review of the work they did on your car and they are going to modify the tails on my Ferrita for me so I have the perfect sound and stock look.

[LeeT5]

Lee, I just want to say thanks for this thread you made about your exhaust. I purchased a Ferrita Cat-Back for my S60 R and found the sound was perfect but I don't like the look of the pipes now its on the car. I've emailed FRC after your great review of the work they did on your car and they are going to modify the tails on my Ferrita for me so I have the perfect sound and stock look.

Well pop round and say hello on yer way home! I live in East Malling off junc 4 M20. I can show you mine and you can have a listen. Would be great to see what they've done to yours too. Free Coffee!!!

[Sharkey R]

Well pop round and say hello on yer way home! I live in East Malling off junc 4 M20. I can show you mine and you can have a listen. Would be great to see what they've done to yours too. Free Coffee!!!

Well now ya mention free coffee you've got a deal ;-p

[LeeT5]

Well now ya mention free coffee you've got a deal ;-p

PM'd

[LeeT5]

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/LeeT5/Phase%202%20V70R%20AWD/?action=view&current=IMG_0731.mp4

Sorry about the 6 yr old in the background!!!

[Sharkey R]

9am tomorrow my Ferrita exhaust will become customised :-) shall try and take some piccies as it happens.

[LeeT5]

any cold start vids yet

....still yet to do one mate....coming very soon.

[stephenevans99]

Sounds VERY nice....

btw.....do you work for the AA? noticed a few pics with an AA van in the background during my cyberstalk ;) lol

[LeeT5]

Yes

[Wobbly Dave]

I dare not say how much my V-band 3 inch dp cost at Chris Tullett LOL. Loving your work there.

CT does the best TIG welding I've ever seen. Part of me wants to move from 2.75 to 3 inch on the cat back - and ditch my older Miltec (just because I am paranoid about the extra 1/4 inch increasing the back pressure at WOT).

Lee your system looks mint & well put together. Funny how the ME7/ME9 engines always sound a bit more rattly on the tappits than the older cars.

[LeeT5]

Lee your system looks mint & well put together. Funny how the ME7/ME9 engines always sound a bit more rattly on the tappits than the older cars.

not sure about rattling tappets but i know sometimes when i start mine up when hot, it sometimes rattles briefly. This is something to do with the VVT but really no concern.