MITA NSX Exhaust

1. Material Used: 304L Grade

All Steel has the same basic iron and carbon composition. However, stainless steel also contains chromium, the alloy that gives stainless steel its famous corrosion resistance. Remember that stainless steel does not mean it is stain proof. It means it will “stain less.”

Stainless steel must contain at least 10.5% chromium. The most commonly used Stainless steel grades are 200 series and the 300 series. The 200 series is less resistant to corrosion due to lower nickel and chromium content, making it less than ideal for a new exhaust system.

304 “food grade” stainless steel, comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel (nicknamed 18/8), proves to be resistant to oxidation, corrosion, and durability. We use 304 food grade for our exhaust system.

Why 304L Grade?

The 304L grade has a lower carbon level (0.03 max) compared to standard 304. This is crucial during welding as it helps overcome the risk of intercrystallite corrosion, also known as weld decay, which can occur when steel is held in high temperatures. By keeping the carbon level below 0.03, this type of corrosion does not take place, resulting in a stronger, longer-lasting weld.

MITA NSX Exhaust uses 304L grade stainless steel.

Checking Your Exhaust’s Grade

The best test is to see how your exhaust is handling corrosion as the years pass by. If the steel is of extremely high grade, it can easily be buffed by using steel wool and a polish compound, while also remaining extremely shiny as years pass by. MITA NSX Exhaust will be able to be buffed out by using steel wool and a polish compound to keep that new look even throughout the years.

2. Welding Methods

MIG or TIG?

TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding is a more complex, fine, and delicate method commonly used for thinner gauge materials, providing a clean finish.

Our Welding Process

We use TIG welding and take an extra step: we introduce 100% Argon to be flowed throughout our exhaust to act as a shielding gas. This means we feed gas into our exhaust system and weld it both on the exterior and interior of the 304L grade stainless steel. This allows for stronger welds than the traditional TIG welding.

Good Weld vs Bad Weld

The rule of thumb is to check consistency. The welds need to be consistent and not all over the place and be extremely messy. Welds that show inconsistencies are considered bad welds. Our exhaust adds character by adding color to our welds to give a “flare” look but still structurally strong.

4. Fitment

With our prototype product, we found an issue with installing the upper flange where it was difficult to install and bolt onto the catalytic converters with the exhaust mounted first. After alternating it, the installation process then became easier in which you mount the exhaust first then bolt onto the catalytic converters.