KratosBear

I will be installing my borla x-pipe this weekend. Doesn't appear to be too hard to install but does anyone Have any tips that could assist in the install? I purchased a low profile jack and installed jacking pucks purchased from ZL1 Addons today.

sTz

Not Borla, but the same installation process:


Good luck.

JoeHat

My Borla fit like crap, the rt side fwd pipe would not line up with the exhaust manifold. Off about a 1/4 " . I had to use a pry bar and remove the studs from the stock mid pipe and draw it in. I did it on four ramps. Maybe I got a bad one, l haven't heard of others with fit net issues, good luck.

Jet Vet

Two things I found that you'll need to watch out for:

On mine, where the oem x-pipe connects to the rear axle-back pipes, even after completely loosening the large pipe clamps, I couldn't get the pipe sections to come apart. Turns out the factory had put a small tack weld right there on top of the pipe fitting, so the clamp was welded to the pipe! I had to destroy the clamp to break that welding bead free. After that the pipes slid apart easily.

When re-tightening all the nuts and bolts at the front end, leave the rear clamps loose until you make sure that the donut gasket rings up front are positioned correctly and the front sets of bolts have been tightened and the donut rings have stayed in position. You have to do those front bolts a little at a time on each pipe, or things can get out of whack. Its very easy to have the donuts slide out of position while you are tightening. Secure the rear clamps last.

JV

halt00

When it looks like the pipes won't line up with the front cats/header, put a little muscle into it - not on the cats/headers but on the x-pipe and the muffler. Mine appeared to be off my over an inch on one side while fitting on the other, wiggle, push and pull and you'll get it. Otherwise, a breeze.

sycraft

I took mine to a muffler shop, that way if any pipes need massaged or opened up, they have the tools to do so. Cheap to take there and was one right, make sure pipes are seated all the way

joemessman

Look for this: When I installed mine I was having a difficult time at first. I determined the Xpipe was a little out of "round" on one of the ends and had to shape it back to a perfect round. I don't know if it happened in shipping or what, but check for "roundness" first before you start. Other than that for a guy who has issues screwing in light bulbs it is a piece of cake.

KratosBear

Thanks for the tips everyone... However, mission failed. I was able to remove the original x pipe but could not install the borla pipe. I made an appointment for Thursday to have the borla pipe installed at the muffler shop down the street. It will be a LOUD ride there with no x pipe!

joemessman

Be sure they don't try to weld anything. This is a weldless install. The first question should be. "You aren't going to have to weld anything are you?" If they say they are, make u turn and go someplace else that knows what they are doing.

KratosBear

10-4. They said they will tack weld the clamp to the x pipe. That should be fine as the oem was tack welded. You agree?

sTz

Sorry to hear of your install problem Kratosbear. My installation was relatively easy using race ramps. Did you loosen the clamps on the rear tail pipes and mufflers? Spraying a little WD40 at the clamp joints will help in rotating/twisting the pipes to give you enough to room to slide on the Borla X.

KratosBear

Thanks... I was not able to get the x pipe onto the tail pipe. I tried to widen the flanges and used soap but still no go. I used my jack stands so I didn't want to go crazy under the car. The muffler shop charges 90.00 an hour and considering I have everything apart, it should take them less than an hour. Disappointing I didn't complete but oh well....

joemessman

I'm afraid I don't agree. I have talked to a number of experts that gave me the advise of no welds period. I'm not an expert by any means. I was researching this and at first was considering a muffler shop to install it. I decided I could do it myself, which I did, and I did not have to weld anything. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

KratosBear

Interesting that no tack weldswelds on the clamp? I will research more. I suppose I can be adamant about them not doing any tack welds. I really wish I was able to install.

sycraft

no welds needed, my exhaust shop used a pipe spreader to open the pipe a little, slipped right on

BJ67

If you spread the rear pipe openings on the borla, (Very easy if you have a 2 1/2 to 3 inch reducer pipe). Just hammer in the reducer pipe with a block of wood and it spreads the rear pipes and the unit just slides on with a little WD 40 to make it even easier.. piece of cake, 1 hr job on jack stands. And absolutely no welding required.

KratosBear

Excellent....maybe I will look into a pipe spreader....

falconhulk

Why exactly do these experts say no welds? That's normally the preferred method over clamps...it just costs more.

joemessman

If I remember correctly, it is because it is not designed to be welded to your existing car setup. And if you read the directions that come with the pipe it says nothing about welding. And if you want to replace the pipe back to original or change setup you may have some torch cutting, etc. to do. Not good to weld if unnecessary.
Here is a link to one of the most respected experts.
http://www.wongsperformance.com/index.html
Here is the text of an email he sent me:
On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 9:03 AM, T Wong <tjwong007@gmail.com> wrote:
Joe its about a 2 hour job, I wouldn't be able to get to it until late September at this point. Your best bet is a local exhaust shop. Its a fairly easy bolt in job. Do not let them weld it! A lot of exhaust shops love welding systems in. Do not let them do it, make them follow Borlas instructions!

KratosBear

Went to a muffler shop this morning to finish the install. Took them 20 to 30 miminutes to complete. But I had the oem already removed. The right side facing the car needed to be widened at the tail pipe and then slipped right on. There was some tugging and prying to have everything lined up properly but all went well.

Definite could not have finished myself while on jacket stands as I was already nervous being under the car!

End result with the borla x pipe sound... a little increase in sound.. what I do it again.... no. But, another project down!