i plan to do this when i redo the before cat exhaust sections, but when i had my exhaust shop do my cat converter, muffler and custom mandrel bent tail pipe (all 2.5") it was only about $40 for piping/welding/labor(included making a new bung for the O2 sensor). I had to buy my own muffler($25- glasspack) and my own cat ($40- Highflow Magnaflow cat). So to have my entire exhaust custom redone how i wanted, it it was still cheaper than you just having the down tube replace. whats done is done, but i hope mine wont be that much.

And there is a delicate balance that headers and stuff play on an engine. You do not just throw some bigger pipe on there and call it good.

Just like a hose, the water runs thru the hose just fine, but when you put your thumb over the end the water comes out faster right? well after market headers and nascar drivers have found the exact sized piping that they need to balance torque and top end power for their specific application. They may not run crushed pipe, no but they do run a specific size, just like all aftermarket applications, thats why on more popular V8 and V6 engines you can get headers that give more power in the high or lower rpm range. THe crushed pipe was designed from the factory to clear the drive shaft-yes, can it be replaced with a non bent pipe- yes, but as long as you do not exceed the pipe size for your headers it will be fine to let all of the air escape a little bit faster. non of it is back pressure its just physics.

Thanks---good points. Yea $130 does seem high--glad you are getting it for less. There is only so much room for the right sized pipe and for the correct sizing for the flange to fit to the header. We did it with 2 1/4".

Winner..