Wardale Engineering · Lincolnshire
A bespoke exhaust built around your vehicle, rather than a catalogue part made to fit. Talk directly to Tom about fit, sound and use, with full custom systems from £800 and a free quote before booking.
14 years’ welding experience · Speak directly to Tom
14 Years
Professional welding
NVQ Level 3
Welding & fabrication
Coded Welder
Thin-wall stainless tube
£2m Insured
Public liability
Lifetime Warranty Available
On custom stainless exhaust builds only • ask for terms
The service
A custom stainless steel exhaust is a system designed for a particular vehicle and its requirements, rather than selected solely from an application list. It is useful when original parts are difficult to find, previous modifications have changed the available space, or you want to replace an unsuitable system with something planned around the car. Wardale Engineering builds bespoke exhausts for Land Rovers, classic cars, American imports and specialist vehicles at its Lincolnshire workshop.
Your brief matters as much as the vehicle model. A car used for relaxed touring needs a different conversation from a working Land Rover or a modified import. Explain whether the priority is a quiet cabin, replacement of a corroded system, ground clearance or a particular appearance. Describing the result you want helps separate essential requirements from optional changes, without assuming that a louder exhaust is automatically a better exhaust.
Professional fabrication matters because an exhaust must fit around moving and heat-sensitive components, not merely connect the engine to the rear of the vehicle. Pipe routing, joints, supports and access all influence whether the finished arrangement is practical. Tom brings 14 years of welding experience, an NVQ Level 3 in Welding and Fabrication and certified thin-wall stainless tube codings to custom workshop work.
Get the brief right
A leaking, loose or poorly supported exhaust can become more than an irritating noise. Exhaust gas needs to leave the vehicle safely, while the system must remain secure. If you notice fumes in the cabin, a hanging section or contact with surrounding components, do not treat it as a cosmetic issue. Arrange an assessment and avoid driving a vehicle you suspect is unsafe. A replacement should address the reason for the problem, not only the visible damaged section.
A common mistake is ordering by vehicle name alone, especially when the engine, gearbox, chassis or existing exhaust has been changed. Another is specifying the largest pipe or the loudest possible sound without considering road use and cruising comfort. A bespoke build offers a chance to discuss those trade-offs before committing to parts. It does not remove the need to comply with applicable noise, emissions and MOT requirements.
From enquiry to completion
Start with the vehicle or project details and the result you want. For vehicle work, include make, model, year, engine and known modifications. Photographs can help explain the initial enquiry, but flag uncertainty about existing parts or condition rather than guessing. All custom quotes are free.
Discuss which work or product you need and what information is required to confirm it. Ask what is included, what remains outside the scope and which terms apply. Published starting prices are guides to the named services, not fixed prices for every vehicle or an assurance that additional work is included.
Workshop visits are strictly by appointment; there are no walk-ins. For workshop work, agree the arrangements with Tom before travelling or leaving a vehicle. For manufactured parts, confirm price, availability and fulfilment directly. No deposit, payment schedule or delivery promise has been supplied for publication.
The work follows the scope agreed for your vehicle or project. Ask Tom about any inspection, fitment checks or verification relevant to that scope rather than assuming every service includes the same test. If unexpected condition issues affect the job, the next work should be discussed rather than treated as automatically included.
Confirm collection, any care instructions and applicable terms before handover. Lifetime warranty availability concerns custom stainless exhaust builds only, not every service or manufactured component. Workshop work takes place Monday to Friday; weekend drop-off and collection can be arranged in advance, but weekend work is not offered.
What matters to you
A bespoke brief lets you account for modifications and restricted space instead of relying on a catalogue description. Give Tom details of existing changes before the quotation so compatibility questions can be raised early.
Explain the sound you want at idle, under load and at cruising speed. Everyday comfort matters as well as the sound outside the car; louder is not a substitute for a clearly defined requirement.
Stainless construction and correct fitment are relevant to owners keeping a vehicle for the long term. A lifetime warranty is available on custom stainless exhaust builds; ask Tom for the scope and terms for your quotation.
The detail behind the decision
Stainless steel is not a single universal specification. The grade, tube dimensions, wall thickness and joint arrangement must suit the application. These specific product details have not been supplied for Wardale builds, so ask what is included in your quotation rather than assuming a particular grade or fabrication method. Thin-wall tube work demands control over fit-up and welding; Tom’s certified codings are a supplied credential, not a reason to guess the exact method used on every job.
Consider how the system will be serviced as well as how it will look. Removable joints can be useful where other components need access, while support positions need to suit the vehicle rather than an arbitrary spacing. Discuss the existing manifolds, any retained catalytic converters, sensors and connections. A quotation is more meaningful when everyone understands where the new work begins and ends.
A full custom system and a replacement rear section are different scopes of work. The published starting price of £800 applies to full custom exhaust systems; it is not a fixed price for every vehicle or a published price for an individual component. Tell Tom which sections are damaged and which you want to retain. If you are unsure, photographs and a description of the symptoms are a useful starting point, with any workshop visit arranged in advance.
On road-going vehicles, alterations must take account of emissions equipment and noise requirements. Do not assume that replacing silencers or removing components will improve performance or remain lawful. There is no published power-gain figure for these builds. The practical objective is a suitable system for your particular vehicle, with the scope, intended use and any limitations understood before work is agreed.
Before enquiring, decide whether your priority is replacing a failed system or changing its character. List the symptoms separately from your preferences: a leak, rattle or clearance issue describes a problem, while a different outlet or sound describes a desired change. This distinction helps avoid quoting the wrong scope. If the existing system contains components you want to retain, identify them as accurately as possible. You do not need to invent measurements you cannot safely take; explain what you know and ask which details Tom needs before an appointment. Never work under an unsupported vehicle to obtain an enquiry photograph.
Further guidance
GOV.UK: MOT exhaust noise and emissions requirementsYour questions answered
Full custom exhaust systems start from £800. The final quote depends on the vehicle and agreed scope; this is not a fixed price for every build. Custom quotes are free. Send the make, model, engine and a description of what you need to Tom.
No service-life figure has been supplied. A lifetime warranty is available on custom stainless steel exhaust builds, but it should not be confused with a promise that every component lasts indefinitely. Ask for the applicable warranty terms, coverage and exclusions before agreeing your build.
No fixed lead time or turnaround has been supplied for this work. Ask Tom about current availability and the expected arrangements for your specific enquiry before planning travel. Workshop visits require an agreed appointment; sending an enquiry is not confirmation of a booking or a completion date.
For vehicle work or parts, send the make, model, year, engine, known modifications and what you need changed. For fabrication, include dimensions or drawings and the intended use. Describe existing damage or uncertainty honestly; photographs are useful context, not a substitute for any assessment needed to confirm suitability.
A lifetime warranty is available on custom stainless exhaust builds. Detailed conditions and exclusions have not been supplied here, so ask Tom for the applicable terms before agreeing the quotation. Do not assume it covers unrelated retained components or every service offered by the workshop.
No fixed service-life figure has been supplied. The application, condition, use and ongoing care affect what is appropriate to expect. Ask about the proposed material or treatment and any relevant maintenance. A starting price or warranty statement should not be read as a promise that the result never needs checking.
There are no walk-ins and no published emergency or same-day service promise. Contact Tom to ask about availability. If a vehicle has fumes, insecure components or another safety concern, do not keep driving on the assumption that an enquiry guarantees an immediate repair slot.
Wardale Engineering is at Unit 4, Burton Cliff Farm, Middle St, Lincoln LN1 2RG. Hours are Monday to Friday, 7am–6pm, strictly by appointment. There is no weekend work; weekend vehicle drop-off and collection may be arranged beforehand. Agree access with Tom before setting out.
All workshop visits take place in Lincoln, by appointment.
Free quotes on all custom work
Send the vehicle or project details and the result you want. Tom can discuss the appropriate scope and next arrangements; there is no need to guess a product specification or arrive without an appointment.
Free custom quotes. Deal directly with Tom. Workshop visits by appointment only.
