Exhaust Tips

An exhaust tip finishes the tailpipe where it leaves the car, setting the look of the rear and steering hot gas clear of the bumper. Universal tips and tailpipe pieces are listed in round, oval and angular shapes, singly or in sets.

A tip has little effect on flow or power, but it matters for heat and soot. Gas released well inside the bumper opening stains the paint and can soften plastic. The outlet should end close to the bumper line with a clear gap all round. An outlet larger than the inlet lets the gas slow and spread as it leaves.

Choose a tip by fit, shape and finish:

• Inlet size: match the inlet to your tailpipe. Listed inlets include 44.5, 50.8, 54, 60, 63.5 and 76 mm.
• Outlet and shape: round outlets such as 76, 89, 101 and 114 mm, oval tailpipes, twin angular outlets of 70 × 90 mm, and double tips.
• Cut and length: straight or slant cut, some with an offset outlet. Check the listed length against the distance from the pipe end to the bumper.
• Y-pieces: these split one 63.5 mm pipe in two, to feed a pair of 90 or 100 mm tailpipes.
• Finish and material: black, silver or brushed (matt) finishes, in mild or stainless steel. Stainless keeps its surface where a coated mild steel tip can chip and rust.

Fit the tip with the exhaust resting at its normal position on the hangers. Then check that it cannot touch the bumper as the engine rocks under load, and that it sits level and square in the opening. A clamp-on tip needs its screw tightened evenly, while a weld-on tip should be tacked and checked before final welding.

Treat black finishes gently: a degreaser and a soft cloth remove soot without cutting the coating. Where the finish on a mild steel tip is chipped, touch it up with heat-resistant paint before rust spreads.