 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Do all decat downpipes (TD5) sound the same? |
 
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17373   
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Unless the bore is radically different they will sound the same. The two-piece Alive pipe is a great design and is much easier to deal with than a single piece pipe.
Although not on a TD5, I have an Alive two-piece downpipe coupled to a Demand Engineering exhaust from the downpipe back, and my only issue was that there is incredibly little clearance between the pipe and the crossmember just in front of the fuel tank (it's a 110) - the clearance is perhaps 1/8" (or 3mm if you're a youngster). I am not sure if this is because the Alive pipe ands a little further back that then original downpipe, or the Demand pipe is a slightly different shape to the original LR system, but given that the original LR pipe wasn't this close with the Alive downpipe I suspect that it is the Demand system which is a very close fit, not the Alive pipe. |
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18th Apr 2023 12:16pm |
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| fumiyasu Member Since: 19 Jun 2015 Location: Oxon Posts: 99  
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Thanks, I will give the Alive pipe a go then.
Mine's a 110 as well and I don't remember the Demand system (2.5inch center/3inch exit mated to LR downpipe) being too close to anything, so it could be the Alive downpipe or it might be a Puma thing? Although I did think it was a tight fit to wiggle everything in-place when I did it and that was with the shocks and springs out. Or I might just not have noticed! Will take a peek later on now that you've said that. Gary |
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18th Apr 2023 12:29pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 808 
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Why do you think your Td5 shouldn't have a CAT? As far as I'm aware they became standard fitment towards the end of 300tdi production so I'm sure the Td5 era would have started with the CAT being the default UK spec, regardless of how optimistic the current would be tuners and noisy exhaust brigade may wish otherwise.
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18th Apr 2023 8:04pm |
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| Bows Member Since: 07 May 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 513  
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Early td5’s didn’t have a cat. The vehicle in question is an early td5. 2006 TD5110 station wagon
1995 300Tdi 90 truck cab 1989 90 hard top with 200 tdi 1983 110 hard top 1983 110 Hi cap 1954 107 pick up |
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18th Apr 2023 8:09pm |
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| fumiyasu Member Since: 19 Jun 2015 Location: Oxon Posts: 99
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I believe the TD5 only had a cat added when it switched from 10p to 15p in order to pass EU4 standards. This is also why you can buy a Genuine downpipe with no cat if you use an early VIN for parts lookup.
Mines an odd case as it started life with a 10p but then had a swap to 15p at some point. That was probably when it had a CAT downpipe fitted. Happy to be corrected though. |
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18th Apr 2023 8:10pm |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5698 
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All decat down pipes are not the same. I’ve had a few and there are differences. Especially between cheap versions and higher quality options. I think mainly due to the thickness of materials, thightness of bend, quality/type of flex section.
Personally I’d recommend just waiting for the Demand one. I know the Alive will be quality, but I would like it all to be the same, and one less joint than what Alive appear to now offer. My Alive system didn’t have a two part down pipe, so I’m surprised to read they have changed. Waiting won’t cause any problem. It’s just time, and you know you have the best and it will work. |
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18th Apr 2023 8:16pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 808
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Ok, I'm very much a TDI guy and haven't played with td5s yet but I'm quite surprised to hear the cat was dropped from late 300tdi to early Td5. Also surprised someone has retrofitted a CAT! As it happens, I have a Demand SS exhaust in my TDI and I second the suggestion to wait for the demand section. I'm more than happy with my manifold back exhaust. |
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18th Apr 2023 8:27pm |
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| fumiyasu Member Since: 19 Jun 2015 Location: Oxon Posts: 99
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Well it's too late now as I've ordered the alive one today. I was very impressed with the demand bits I have gotten, so was definitely very split on the decision.
Agree that they aren't all the same, especially on the cheaper ones that aren't 304 ss but looking at the specs the alive one seems to be very similar to demand. I did have a listen on YouTube on the alive setup as well which seems to sound decent. So hopefully it works out. Will probably report back once I have it fitted. Also just found out demand started offering switchable on their 3" system, I probably would have gone for that if I haven't already gotten the other bits! Anyway side note, I went for the side exit option but my shiny tip now keep on getting caked by the spray from the rear wheel even though there is a mud flap in between. Is this just how it is or is there a trick to this? |
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18th Apr 2023 8:38pm |
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| I Like Old Skool Member Since: 23 Feb 2015 Location: Manchester Posts: 808
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Well, at least you didn't get the non-stainless steel SS version that I started out with. Shocking quality and design right from the get go! https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic80149.html
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18th Apr 2023 9:01pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17373
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If it's any comfort, my Alive downpipe has impressed me just as much as the parts from Demand. The quality is very similar, so unless Alive has gone to the dogs in the ten years or so since I bought it you should have little to fear.
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18th Apr 2023 9:37pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17373
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Also it must be said that (on the Puma at least) the convenience of a two-part downpipe is worth its weight, it is so much easier than removing the cross-member and jacking the engine to fit.
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18th Apr 2023 9:38pm |
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| andy2111 Member Since: 17 Oct 2021 Location: Kent Posts: 365 
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I think you'll find that Demand make the downpipes for Alive these days. That's what Alive told me recently when I enquired.. TD5 hardtop to Puma inspired Poptop - my build thread
2002 110 TD5 Hardtop ¦ Full Puma interior ¦ Carpathian grey / Santorini black ¦ X-Vision-X poptop |
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19th Apr 2023 6:14am |
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| fumiyasu Member Since: 19 Jun 2015 Location: Oxon Posts: 99
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Yeah, the old buy cheap buy twice. I've fallen into that trap enough to really suspect a part if it seems too cheap these days...
That's good to hear. I did speak to Alive on turbos and have been quite happy with the quick responses and knowledge, so I generally have confidence in their products but exhaust notes are a bit of a dark art to me and just didn't know if it was one of those 1+1 doesn't equals 2 things. Hopefully it should work out... Will know in a few days.
Oh really? Is that a recent conversation? I did read something about that on one of the forums but there were conflicted information around it in terms of whether they've switched away or not since Demand Eng have gone direct sales to users. |
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19th Apr 2023 7:39am |
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| mwestcrew Member Since: 09 Dec 2019 Location: South Warwickshire Posts: 251 
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Just fitted a Demand full system to my 130. Sport Cat can in the down pipe and it went on without removing anything. Just jacked the body up for some extra clearance, a bit of waggling around trial and error and it was done. Less than half an hour to fit the whole thing.
Outstanding quality. Sounds awesome. 2011 130 Utility Body 2005 110 Van |
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19th Apr 2023 7:44am |
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