Just looking for a bit of advice on the MK1 exhaust.
Got called out by the missus today - heard a strange noise under the car.
Arrived at scene to find back box having separated from exhaust. Has corroded straight through at the join.
Luckily, was able to drive home fine except for a the obvious noise.
The car is still on the same exhaust from when it was bought, and I'm weighing up which option would be best:

1) Garage, new rear end exhaust
2) Garage, whole new exhaust
3) Botch job, universal back box

Main consideration is cost, just wondered if anybody has done any of the above recently and what to expect (Derbyshire prices)? Car is due MOT next month and as an N-reg, she's not going to last forever
Also, if I go with number 3, how easy is it, and am I likely to kill anybody if I do it wrong?

Is the centre piping okay? If it isn't then I'd go for a new exhaust. If it's in alright condition, I'd just get a new backbox (looking at about £50ish for a standard one new) and fit it yourself. Obviously, this will be the cheapest option.

I recently had an exhaust failure near the exhaust manifold and had to replace the entire manifold and catalytic converter with a new unit. It wasn't too difficult to do actually. It did take a lot of time though (good whole day pretty much) but I was taking things slow and reading my Haynes manual before doing each step to ensure I knew what I was doing. I'd probably say this was harder than fitting a backbox.

If you decide to get it done at a garage, you'll be looking at about £50 for the part and perhaps an hours worth of labour? Lets say at the most expensive this is £70, so you'll be on a total of about £120.

You won't kill anyone if you don't get it right, it just won't pass its MOT.

Dont faff about replace the whole system from catalyst back. Any good exhaust outfit should be fine. One box systems are fine for the 8V engine.

The Stafford HiQ is really good, so you could try these folks:
http://www.hiqonline.co.uk/hiqCentres/DerbyAbbeyStreet/

Just do it your self as its onley from cat back and one clamp and 2 rubber brackets. a new exhaust is onley cheep but it dont want to spend mutch on it then got to scrappers as i got one for onley £10 since my middle box was blowing and i was cutting the back box off for my big bore box to go back on

Thanks for the replies.
I've had a quote from Formula One for £85, supplied and fitted. At that price, I'm not going to faff.
TBH, I was expecting more, so have asked to price up rocker cover gasket and new air filter - keep meaning to get around but never do. £46 for the pair?

fivegoldstars said:

Thanks for the replies.
I've had a quote from Formula One for £85, supplied and fitted. At that price, I'm not going to faff.

Click to expand...

that for full cat back system or just back box

back boxes are £25 and full cat back systems £40

You could do all that on your drive way for less then £60 and it should onley take an hour if you have a basic tool kit

dave said:

that for full cat back system or just back box

back boxes are £25 and full cat back systems £40

Click to expand...

Full cat back. ID priced the part at 50 delivered, so for the bit extra I think Ill have it fitted.
I've dithered over the rocker cover gasket for too long. I think I'm just worried ill crack the engine block. Thanks for the advice though, much appreciated.

Make sure its sat high up over the rear axle or it will rub and bang on the car floor. Also keep it central in the tunnel or the clamp at back end of the catalyst will hit the floor.

Well, got all three bits done - engine lovely and clean now, looks a million times better under the bonnet.
All in all happy with the work, but a question on the exhaust...I've noticed a drip at the rear of the new backbox. Should excess water be able to exit at that point to save it sitting in the backbox? I had a cat-back one piece fitted, so I wouldn't have thought it's a faulty join - I'm hoping that it's something intentional rather than a fault, but I'd always assumed the exhaust should be airtight apart from the actual tail?

you have bought a proper quality exhaust there if it has the little hole as youve seen to let the water out
not many makers fit these anymore,certainly not when i order them anyway

Always a certain amount of moisture in an exhaust.