I don't think there is enough room to push it closer to the tank...
Exhaust alignment secrets
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
Exhaust alignment secrets
Just installed xs power catted headers to my 04 coupe. All is well up in the engine bay but down stream I'm having an issue with the extension pipe after the xpipe. The drivers side unit is touching the metal heat shields and causing quite the annoying clatter around 1300 rpms. Any ideas how to readjust this to avoid the rubbing?
Second question is related. I also have a GHL Bullet exhaust and can't seem to keep the rear muffler/tip section from moving cockeyed. I've tightened the band clamps as much as a I could. Thoughts for next steps? These used to be fine, but I had removed the rear section last fall to get a vinyl wrap done on the lower fascia and ever since they've moved. New band clamps maybe?
Second question is related. I also have a GHL Bullet exhaust and can't seem to keep the rear muffler/tip section from moving cockeyed. I've tightened the band clamps as much as a I could. Thoughts for next steps? These used to be fine, but I had removed the rear section last fall to get a vinyl wrap done on the lower fascia and ever since they've moved. New band clamps maybe?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 239
From: Missi'ppi... no mo' MO for me!!
The drivers side unit is touching the metal heat shields...
Re-aligning the tips is a real pain with this kit, I dunno why. A lot of guys take the car to a muffler shop and get them welded in place. Some (very few) guys have drilled a hole in each pipe and set the alignment "permanently" with a screw. The one I like that seems to be working (I've only put on ~30 miles) is to take the wedges out of the clamps and then tighten them back up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 887
Likes: 15
From: Central CT
St. Jude Donor '16
The alignment is really in the midpipe-to-xpipe connection. Bolt the exhaust pipes to the midpipe and have them hook into the rubber mounts. Then tighten the midpipe-to-xpipe clamps, while checking the alignment of the tips. I had to crawl out from underneath the car a few times and readjust as I was tightening those clamps. It wasn't difficult at all, really. But that's where your alignment is, front to back and twist.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 166
Likes: 6
From: Columbia MD
unfortunately I was in the same boat as you. XS power headers and the drivers side pipe hit the metal shield where the gas tank is. No amount of adjusting would stop it from rubbing. Had to just heat the pipe and give it a slight bend. No problems since.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
The alignment is really in the midpipe-to-xpipe connection. Bolt the exhaust pipes to the midpipe and have them hook into the rubber mounts. Then tighten the midpipe-to-xpipe clamps, while checking the alignment of the tips. I had to crawl out from underneath the car a few times and readjust as I was tightening those clamps. It wasn't difficult at all, really. But that's where your alignment is, front to back and twist.
I think I just need to get back under there this weekend and see what exactly is moving when the muffler goes cockeyed. That's honestly less of an issue than the mid pipe hitting the tank shield at this time but hopefully I can fix both.
Last edited by imgn tht; Apr 21, 2016 at 02:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
no mine still covers the tank just fine, all I'm talking is bending the one lip up and away from the exhaust pipe ????? it seems like I remember moving the back pipe out a bit more ????
Last edited by Pounder; Apr 21, 2016 at 06:54 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
Spent some time under the car this afternoon to work on this. Got the mod pipe to pull away from the gas tank. Ended up taking the entire muffler section off to get it in a better position. The entire pipe just needed to rotate a bit and slide backwards more. Seems like the over the axle part of the catback was also up against the frame and preventing the assembly from going where it should have been. Last thing I need to come back to is the tips. While they are sticking out the same distance the PO of this system had tack welded the tip section to prevent them from turning. While a benefit at tge onset it looks like it may be keeping the passenger side down lower than the other. They both point the right way just one hanging lower. Hmmm...now that I wrote that I don't think the tip section would help me here. A project for another day. 