So I've been meaning to open up my engine a little bit via a new exhaust system but i don't have the mula. i thought about making my own hand made custom exhaust out of 3'' piping and buying 3'' cat and 3'' down-pipes+headers.

Any tips? Advice? Suggestions? Thanks!

 

Update:
a friend (that raced NASCAR and is a mechanic) told me that 3" was a bad idea because i need back pressure, he said 2.5 or even 2 " would be even better for my small 1.8L

 

Ive also been thinking the same on my protege. Currently I have a HKS cat-back on it and it sounds beautiful except for a dang exhaust leak. Its 2.5 all the way to the muffler where it becomes 3.5. You could do something like that but id go the aftermarket route. Sometimes you can find some used sets online for not that much $$.