MR2 Tech Forum

... bad news, for those of us out there with an AW11 HKS aftermarket exhaust, time's come and gone, having it off. Preferably sooner than later.

Before the thing falls off.

Not the first time I'm left disappointed with the HKS people, this poorly crafted Mk I exhaust of theirs. Seen it for myself, first hand, one of our San Diego MR2 guys, his brand spanking AW11 HKS cat-back, falling off, middle of nowhere, on an IMOC canyon drive (e.g., fyi: weak link in AW11 HKS exhaust architecture, welding bead on your starboard side hanger is certain to be cracked).

Been scratching my head, ever since, worrying myself two decades about mine, doing likewise.

Finally, after all these years, once off the vehicle, getting on with the task in earnest, salvaging this old old HKS exhaust? Replaced with a fresh Fujitsubo, good to go, boxed up bound for Cerakote's 1800 Fahrenheit ceramics? Original plan: sandblasting, ceramics, a professional detailer to buff up the tips?

Spent the morning shooting the breeze with the California Coatings people, who brought my project to a halt, critical cracks 'n flaws revealed upon sandblasting. Media used, Indian garnet, exposed minute cracks, flaws which can't be corrected, by a garden variety welder. After sandblasting, won't be able to move forward to ceramics, not until the unit undergoes a somewhat extensive re-fabrication.

If, it can be? If it can't be salvaged? I'll have them do up a facsimile, from scratch. Cost no objective, told the Unparalleled Fabrication people work wonders.

Anyhow, attachments for your perusal, below, yours is likely similar in condition, if not worse (e.g., mind you, mine's been garage kept since new). Stay tuned for more -


Samuel, '88 Supercharged ~


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... replacement for the old HKS, brand spanking new Fujitsubo! Now, doesn't that look nice?

Konis over Eibachs, cause for concern, alarmed to have chanced upon something someone inked at Reddedit, about the Fujitsubo mounting lower than the HKS, that he'd scraped it all up a few times. Dropped everything, b-lined out to the garage, ran some measurements, worried perhaps I might not be able to roll the hydraulic jack beneath it.

Relieved to have found, it hangs exactly like the HKS, just over 6" ground clearance, just enough to roll my jack beneath.

Somewhat fair comparison, my HKS circa 2013, my new Fujitsubo, as of this writing -


Samuel, '88 Supercharged -


ps - ... old HKS gets sent out tomorrow, for re-fabrication. If, it can be -


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... about a week spent thus far, polishing out those tips -


best,
~ Samuel, '88 Supercharged

... accompanying imagery, sandblasted, fresh out of re-fabrication, sprayed Cerakote's glacier silver ceramics, very expensive paint said to be impervious to immersion, from 1800 degrees, Fahrenheit -

... grave mistake, makes little sense throwing away a spent HKS exhaust. Makes far more sense putting forth effort salvaging, re-fabricating, reinforcing hangers with fresh beads, welding in fresh repacked canisters, polishing out the tips.

Weak link in the HKS exhaust? A surprise, turns out to be, passenger side canister. It would take a keen eye to discern, accompanying imagery, it's herein since been completely replaced. Driver's side canister original, still intact.

As of this writing, unsure whether the old HKS goes into mothballs, or straight back onto the vehicle, for evaluation -


Best,
~ Samuel, '88 Supercharged


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