Okay, not really. I'm going from my custom exhaust back to the stock system, but I tossed my original exhaust when I had the custom system built. Fortunately, another NAM-er had a nice stock system that he gave me for free. It was a 500-mile round trip to pick it up, but the weather was beautiful.

Unfortunately, I forgot that the stock system is all one piece with no joints, so after I got to his place, I had to figure out how to get it home. This is what I ended up doing:



The main pipe extends forward between the front seats and ends up *right* behind the shift ****. I'm glad the 250-mile trip home was almost all on the interstate because shifting was a little bit tricky.

I stopped for gas on the way home, and a woman at the gas station (who also owns a MINI) asked "what does THAT do!?!?" I think she thought it was actually hooked up or something, because she seemed a little bit embarrassed when I explained that I was just carrying it home.

 

lol. looks very interesting. at least you made it home! you should have told her it was a flux capacitor or something.

 

I bet you got some crazy looks from other motorists.

 

Scott, your timing is perfect. I'm going to have a Milltek put on my car tomorrow and was trying to figure out how to get my stock exhaust home. I was picturing putting it in the back seat with the center pipe in the air. I like your way much better. How did you keep it from sliding to the side?

 

Hey Scott, just wondering why you're reverting back to the stock system?

 

"what does THAT do!?!? It does look pretty mean there. Little do the tin-top owners know, but there already is a (new) Mini pick-up. I carried 12' boards like that, with no problems.

 

When I stopped for gas, I bought two bungee cords to connect the mounting posts on the muffler and resonator to the loops for the boot hatch latches. But even prior to putting in the cords, the exhaust didn't shift around. I just got them for an added measure of safety.

Bring along some towels, both to protect the plastic surface of the boot hatch and to protect your front seats. The two front mounting posts on the exhaust end up wedged between the front seat bolsters, so you'll want some padding to distribute the force.

 

It's just a little to loud and "droney" at high speeds on the interstate, and I've been doing a lot of cross-country trips lately. Plus, the class that I autocross in doesn't allow the types of engine modifications that really make an aftermarket exhaust necessary, so the custom exhaust never made a huge difference in performance in the first place.

 

Not unless you were taking it easy, did you wear earplugs while you were driving with open rear door? Are you going to do a 1-ball if you want the stock back?

 

Works for me

 

Awesome! The new Miltek looks great, too.

 

Thanks, and thanks again for the great idea and timing. I was a little nervous a cop would pull me over, but I made it fine.