Exhaust Crazyness... advise
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 46
From: Tucson, AZ
Exhaust Crazyness... advise
Ok... i have a stock 98. last night the drivers side intermediate pipe separated completely from the catback. The flange and gasket are still attached. i don't want to spend much money so i figure i have 3 options:
1. remove the catbacks completely and run with no mufflers. i like this, but i'm a little concerned about the heat build up on the rear components: brake lines, differential, etc.
2. have a shop weld the pieces back together, but that's a lot of welding and heat near the gas tank and other components as well.
3. install an aftermarket intermediate pipe. can this be done with no welding? will it bolt dirrectly to the manifolds, like the stock system?
also, i had my car emission inspected the other day (houston, tx), and i don't think they pipe tested, so i believe i could get away with no cats???
ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
1. remove the catbacks completely and run with no mufflers. i like this, but i'm a little concerned about the heat build up on the rear components: brake lines, differential, etc.
2. have a shop weld the pieces back together, but that's a lot of welding and heat near the gas tank and other components as well.
3. install an aftermarket intermediate pipe. can this be done with no welding? will it bolt dirrectly to the manifolds, like the stock system?
also, i had my car emission inspected the other day (houston, tx), and i don't think they pipe tested, so i believe i could get away with no cats???
ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
If you run with no mufflers the intermediate pipe dumps out right at the gas tank! The exhaust may be hot enough to melt od weaken the plastic if it os exposed for a long time. Be Careful. I would remove the pide and muffler and have it welded. How mant miles on the car? Youe emissions system has a 50K unlimited miliage warrenty! See if it is covered!
BC
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Originally Posted by Joshboody
1. remove the catbacks completely and run with no mufflers. i like this, but i'm a little concerned about the heat build up on the rear components: brake lines, differential, etc.
Originally Posted by Joshboody
2. have a shop weld the pieces back together, but that's a lot of welding and heat near the gas tank and other components as well.
Originally Posted by Joshboody
3. install an aftermarket intermediate pipe. can this be done with no welding? will it bolt dirrectly to the manifolds, like the stock system?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by Joshboody
1. remove the catbacks completely and run with no mufflers. i like this, but i'm a little concerned about the heat build up on the rear components: brake lines, differential, etc.
No problem with heat, but it sounds terrible and the interior noise levels will be FAR beyond what is tolerable, even for those that like loud exhausts.
2. have a shop weld the pieces back together, but that's a lot of welding and heat near the gas tank and other components as well.
This is a simple fix. Have the shop tack weld the flange before taking out the intermediate pipes so that your muffler tips will line up correctly when reinstalled. No welding is done with the pipes on the car at all.
3. install an aftermarket intermediate pipe. can this be done with no welding? will it bolt dirrectly to the manifolds, like the stock system?
An aftermarket x-pipe is a bolt-on replacement for the section AFTER the cats, not a full pipe replacement. If you run without cats, you will choke on the smell.
also, i had my car emission inspected the other day (houston, tx), and i don't think they pipe tested, so i believe i could get away with no cats???
ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
No problem with heat, but it sounds terrible and the interior noise levels will be FAR beyond what is tolerable, even for those that like loud exhausts.
2. have a shop weld the pieces back together, but that's a lot of welding and heat near the gas tank and other components as well.
This is a simple fix. Have the shop tack weld the flange before taking out the intermediate pipes so that your muffler tips will line up correctly when reinstalled. No welding is done with the pipes on the car at all.
3. install an aftermarket intermediate pipe. can this be done with no welding? will it bolt dirrectly to the manifolds, like the stock system?
An aftermarket x-pipe is a bolt-on replacement for the section AFTER the cats, not a full pipe replacement. If you run without cats, you will choke on the smell.
also, i had my car emission inspected the other day (houston, tx), and i don't think they pipe tested, so i believe i could get away with no cats???
ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED
Seriously, it's so cheap to fix the flange, don't feel that you have to replace the whole exhaust system right now. There are very few nuts and bolts holding in the center pipe section - even in your own garage you can have the whole section out in less than ten minutes. Have an exhaust shop fix your fange weld by tacking and then removing the center section before fully welding the flange back on. if they charge more than $70-80 for this, it's robbery... Good luck!
Last edited by BSiegPaint; Dec 4, 2004 at 02:16 PM.
No use fixing that one and a little while later having the other one break!
