I would always go for a stainless steel exhaust on a classic car.
A mild steel exhaust will only last for a relatively short time as CO,
CO2, SO2, NOx and water vapour from the fuel burning process form acids
(sulphuric, nitric and carbonic), condense and are trapped in the
exhaust and corrode away the mild steel. More so as in general the car
will not be used daily.
One part of the exhaust system, the exhaust manifold (if not from cast
iron) may not always be suitable to be made in stainless steel because
of fatigue cracking, however experiences differ in that area. It is
unlikely that acid/water is trapped in this part anyway.
A bonus is that stainless steel exhausts are generally designed to
produce a pleasing exhaust note.
As they are usually glass fiber wool packed they will grow louder in
time as the glass fiber will be filled in by soot from the engine and
will also disintegrate and be blown away. Stainless steel wool is also
used and lasts longer but is not as effective as glass fiber.
A stainless steel exhaust will not cost very much more (if at all) than
a mild steel one and is probably easier to source.
Kees Oudesluijs
NL
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