exhaust removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 198
Likes: 9
From: Loveland Colorado
exhaust removal
i am going to replace the muffler on my 2000 vert with a B and B prt. system, what do i need to know are there any shortcuts i should be aware of? or is ther a site that tells me how or has pics? thanks
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,460
Likes: 24,620
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If you want to keep your stock pipes intact, you will need to get the car about 3' in the air. Other than that, it is a pretty straight forward swap. I didn't have the equipment to get the car that high, so I just had a local muffler shop do it. Cost was $50.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Depends on if you have a MN6 or a A4 (manual or auto)
On both, just normal handtools, nothing special needed.
On the MN6, jacking pucks, jack, rhino ramps and jackstands. It should come off pretty easily.
On the A4, a Sawzall is a lifesaver - to cut out the factory system. I spent a while trying to wriggle out the old one - eventually I just cut it out.
In any case, unless you can get your car up about 36inches, you will probably have to cut out the stock system.
Mounting the PRT will take just a few minutes because they come in 2 parts!! Piece of cake.
On both, just normal handtools, nothing special needed.
On the MN6, jacking pucks, jack, rhino ramps and jackstands. It should come off pretty easily.
On the A4, a Sawzall is a lifesaver - to cut out the factory system. I spent a while trying to wriggle out the old one - eventually I just cut it out.
In any case, unless you can get your car up about 36inches, you will probably have to cut out the stock system.
Mounting the PRT will take just a few minutes because they come in 2 parts!! Piece of cake.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
Likes: 2
Jack the rear of your car onto Rhino Ramps or a stack of 2x12's. (Gives you an extra 8" or so of clearance under the car so you can roll around easily.) Cut your stock exhaust in front of the mufflers. I used a Lisle 31500 Exhaust Cutter, to avoid sparks right under the fuel tanks. From there it's just remove and reinstall. Piece of cake!
Spend the muffler shop money on your next Corvette mod. The job is too easy to pay someone else to do it. If I can do it, anyone can!!
Spend the muffler shop money on your next Corvette mod. The job is too easy to pay someone else to do it. If I can do it, anyone can!!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
Corsa has good instructions for their exhaust. They should be pretty close
to what you need to know;
http://www.corsaperf.com/installC5Sys.pdf
to what you need to know;
http://www.corsaperf.com/installC5Sys.pdf
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Sherrills Ford NC
I just did my Corsa's on Rhino Ramps.....just needed to cut pipe 4 inches from muffler and drop rear sway bar......no problem...spent longest part of project getting tip alignment and elevation perfect and symetrical. 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 45
From: Tullahoma, TN
Take from someone who has done it twice and that will be it: If you don't want to cut the pipes, getting the back of your vette high enough is scary. I was lucky the first time and not the second. I was using wood blocks to stack on the jacks and the car rolled a little, (creeped back) blocks collapsed, and I had jackstand in place so the car hit the jackstand and it was slightly damaged where the jackstand meets the jacking spot on the side. Not noticeable unless you look under there. Chassis area is slightly bent (sheet metal) and some plastic (body) damage. Could have been a lot worse. Just pay someone with a lift!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 28
From: Vancouver Washington
Some aftermarket exhaust suppliers provide instructions that include loosening or removing the rear supports of the system. DON'T DO IT! The old system will slide right out of the supports and the new system will slide right in and you don't have to risk losing one of the bolts up into the dark abyss of the rear facia. That and, as others have said, use caution in the jacking process.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
Originally Posted by Last C5
Some aftermarket exhaust suppliers provide instructions that include loosening or removing the rear supports of the system. DON'T DO IT! The old system will slide right out of the supports and the new system will slide right in and you don't have to risk losing one of the bolts up into the dark abyss of the rear facia. That and, as others have said, use caution in the jacking process.
I have a lift and have been wrenching of cars for years so I'm optimistic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 2
From: ATL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Unless you have a lift, pay for the swap with a knowledgable mechanic. The rear of the car has to be high off the ground and makes for a hazardous situation using jacks/ramps/boards or whatever. The first guys (at a Chevy dealership) could not get the right side out on my A4 coupe. They started to drop the rear end out and got a couple nuts out before I stopped them. I took it to a great Vette Mech (at another Chevy dealership) and he did the swap in about 45 minutes.
On the A4 the right side is somewhat difficult to snake out from everything.
Just my 2cents -
On the A4 the right side is somewhat difficult to snake out from everything.
Just my 2cents -
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 977
Likes: 0
From: N/A
St. Jude Donor '06-'09
Well, having helped (mostly moral support) remove a ZO6 exhaust last week I would definitely say to find someplace that has a lift. Very precarious getting the car up high enough to remove the exhaust without cutting. Didn't want to cut the ZO6 Ti exhaust since there is a fair amount of resale value in them.
Jeff
Jeff
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Newport AR
Anyone who spends about $1,000 on new catbacks and can't see the value in having the stock taken off and the new catbacks installed for $50, especially when a lift is required, is a mystery to me. I do 100% of my own wrenching on my bikes, boats, trucks, tractors and cars, but not when they must be at least 3 feet off the ground; and I do it solely because its fun. Dirty, nasty stuff that's not fun goes to the dealer - like grease jobs and oil changes.
However, I plan on building a new 30'x60' garage this summer and it will have a hydralic lift.
However, I plan on building a new 30'x60' garage this summer and it will have a hydralic lift.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
Likes: 2
The -only- reason to pay someone with a lift to do this job is if you want to save your stock exhaust. Maybe you leased the car, and need to restore it to original condition in a few years.
However, if you're getting rid of the stock exhaust because you don't like the sound, that baby is just going to collect dust in your basement or garage or shed. When you decide you're tired of the car, are you really going to jack it up and put the stock system on? I wouldn't...
Skip the lift, cut the stock exhaust off and throw it away.
I love my GHL Bullets. And the stock exhaust that I cut off of my Corvette was probably recycled by Waste Management.
However, if you're getting rid of the stock exhaust because you don't like the sound, that baby is just going to collect dust in your basement or garage or shed. When you decide you're tired of the car, are you really going to jack it up and put the stock system on? I wouldn't...
Skip the lift, cut the stock exhaust off and throw it away.
I love my GHL Bullets. And the stock exhaust that I cut off of my Corvette was probably recycled by Waste Management.