Who has stainless or aluminum exhaust?

[lowrider284]

Just getting opinions on whether to buy a stainless or aluminum exhaust system from MBRP. Im pretty set on their 409 grade, but figuring a stock exhaust is made from aluminum so it should hold up pretty well through the weather etc. Just seeing what you guys prefer to use on your trucks.

[HeavyAssault]

T304 is best and costly.
T409 decent material and will last. Used already on the OEM exhaust tubing.
AL will not last in NJ over time.

[lowrider284]

Originally Posted by HeavyAssault

T304 is best and costly.
T409 decent material and will last. Used already on the OEM exhaust tubing.
AL will not last in NJ over time.

basically my thoughts lol

[TooMuch03]

I live in WI, and our local municipalities has a fetish for dumping salt on the roads, even when its -10F and the salt won't do anything. I still opted for the alumanized exhaust. The T409 looks like crap after just a couple of months and T304 is way too expensive and no one makes it in 5 inch. My truck had alumanized on it before and it lasted for 4 years, based on the info the PO gave me, and when i replaced it, it was all in great shape besides the down pipe. I coated the alumanized with a high heat clear coat, and the inside is coated with a black soot, so I think it will last for quite a while, but time will tell.

[lowrider284]

Yea salt up here gets pretty bad too sometimes to the point where the road turns white and stays white till the end of march

[windrunner408]

First things first. To my knowledge there is no such thing as an Aluminum exhaust. I know of Aluminized Steel, which is what I believe is being referred to here but I have never heard of a completely all aluminum exhaust before.

With that being said, my exhaust is made of both aluminized steel components and 409 stainless steel components and while I live in the South, I have made several road trips to the North to Michigan in the winter and my 409 stainless exhaust looks like A$$. I'm with Adam on this, I would clear coat or paint black your exhaust with high temp paint once a year and call it good regardless of what material you end up going with. As long as nothing would rust, I would say save the money and just get the Aluminized Steel but just make sure you paint it. I have painted my parts (5in 90* elbow and 5in to 8in Stack) with just regular Rustoleum and they look just like the day I put them in almost two years ago. I just touch it up about once a year and I'm good to go. Hope this helps.

[HOTWHEELS34]

I would say get the stainless. Lasts longer.

[drunk on diesel]

if they salt the roads in your area, go 304. I'd rather replace aluminized twice as often as 409 because 409 looks like crap IMO

[diamondplate]

I went with aluminized steel. I intend to paint it with high-temp paint and get 5+ years out of it. It is cheaper than stainless and gets the job done for now. I have put aluminized on several vehicles over the years and it was never a problem.
Do you plan on keeping your truck for a very long time? if so, maybe the investment will be worth the cost that stainless brings.

[lowrider284]

No way im doing 304 prices are just too outrageous