SLP Loudmouth pipe material not Stainless?
10-01-2010, 07:51 PM
#1
SLP Loudmouth pipe material not Stainless? Long story short...I bought the original design SLP loudmouth (now called the loudmouth 1) 8 years ago and all of the piping is clearly visible that it is stainless steel. I was rear-ended a few weeks ago and the body shop ordered a new loudmouth from SLP to replace the old one even though only the tips were damaged (I know the design has been "updated" somewhat since I bought the original system).
Upon arrival of the new exhaust, the piping to and from the resonator has a very dull finish (definately doesn't look like stinless steel) and has stickers on the pipes saying "SLP Performance 310301303AL". Another pipe has the number 310301304AL. The website states that the system is entirely stainless steel, but it seems that what they are shipping is aluminized steel based on the color of the pipes and the "AL" on the pipe's stickers.
The resonator and tips are still clearly stainless (polished), but it seems the quality of the system has gone way down from when it was first introduced.
Does anyone know for sure if SLP is now using crummy aluminized steel instead of stainless? Is there such a thing as "aluminized stainless steel"?
Update: See post #9...
Upon arrival of the new exhaust, the piping to and from the resonator has a very dull finish (definately doesn't look like stinless steel) and has stickers on the pipes saying "SLP Performance 310301303AL". Another pipe has the number 310301304AL. The website states that the system is entirely stainless steel, but it seems that what they are shipping is aluminized steel based on the color of the pipes and the "AL" on the pipe's stickers.
The resonator and tips are still clearly stainless (polished), but it seems the quality of the system has gone way down from when it was first introduced.
Does anyone know for sure if SLP is now using crummy aluminized steel instead of stainless? Is there such a thing as "aluminized stainless steel"?
Update: See post #9...
Last edited by zfastss; 10-03-2010 at 12:30 PM. Reason: update see post #9
10-02-2010, 01:43 AM
#4
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I dont know about the systems but this is what the resonator is supposed to look like unless theres deception in their site
http://www.slponline.com/view_produc...66&BIG=31066-1
Some of their part quality has gone down so much, I cant get the slp lid to fit well at all. If I manage to make it fit it looks like its going to break.
If it sounds the same I wouldnt worry about it, can you use the old system with new tips?
http://www.slponline.com/view_produc...66&BIG=31066-1
Some of their part quality has gone down so much, I cant get the slp lid to fit well at all. If I manage to make it fit it looks like its going to break.
If it sounds the same I wouldnt worry about it, can you use the old system with new tips?
10-02-2010, 03:10 AM
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i bought an slp lm2 a few months back and ya the piping is all aluminized steel and not stainless.. but the resonator and tips are stainless... they must have went cheep on us....
10-02-2010, 12:01 PM
#7
yeah I know stainless changes color over time (my 8 year old system is now the typical brown/gold/blue color that stainless turns, except for the rear section where the heat is relatively low it is still nice and shiney/reflective), unfortunately the original exhaust got all hacked up from when the body shop removed it so I can't really re-use it.
I got my surprise when I went to pick up the car the pipes looked like cr@p and the areas where they welded it already have surface rust on it (must have gotten wet when the body shop washed the car before giving it back to me) and the coating on the pipes is all burned around the weld areas (the welds on the stainless system were a nice clean bead with no discoloration/rust, even 8 years later).
I'm sure it'll just be one of those things I'll live with, but it seems shady that SLP still lists/advertises the system as being "entirely stainless" when it really might not be.
I actually found a pic online of the old/"original" system, and the colors of my 8 year old system are still the same (nice and shiny at the rear section like I mentioned):
my new system almost looks like flat grey paint except for the tips and resonator.
Thanks for the input fellas
I got my surprise when I went to pick up the car the pipes looked like cr@p and the areas where they welded it already have surface rust on it (must have gotten wet when the body shop washed the car before giving it back to me) and the coating on the pipes is all burned around the weld areas (the welds on the stainless system were a nice clean bead with no discoloration/rust, even 8 years later).
I'm sure it'll just be one of those things I'll live with, but it seems shady that SLP still lists/advertises the system as being "entirely stainless" when it really might not be.
I actually found a pic online of the old/"original" system, and the colors of my 8 year old system are still the same (nice and shiny at the rear section like I mentioned):
my new system almost looks like flat grey paint except for the tips and resonator.
Thanks for the input fellas
Last edited by zfastss; 10-02-2010 at 12:28 PM.
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10-02-2010, 01:02 PM
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it could be a lower grade of stainless. I know when I had their headers on my old LT1, it was 409 stainless, which is a very crappy stainless steel, and looked like crap.
10-03-2010, 12:18 PM
#9
UPDATE:
Just heard back from SLP and Branden at Maryland Speed.
SLP did switch to 409 stainless AND now coats it with an aluminized coating, so it is "aluminized stainless steel". I guess 409 stainless has a lot of iron in it which is why a magnet will stick to it.
They said the surface could develop surface rust, but it won't rust through.
Just heard back from SLP and Branden at Maryland Speed
.SLP did switch to 409 stainless AND now coats it with an aluminized coating, so it is "aluminized stainless steel". I guess 409 stainless has a lot of iron in it which is why a magnet will stick to it.
They said the surface could develop surface rust, but it won't rust through.
