Well I finally bit the bullet and bought and installed the OBX headers, x pipe and high flow cats on my 09. First of all REMEMBER TO GET 2 24 inch TRAPEZOIDAL 02 EXTENSIONS FOR THE FRONT 2 SENSORS AND 2 36 INCH SQUARE 02 SENSOR EXTENSIONS FOR THE REAR 02 SENSORS. Next, there were no instructions, which was ok everything was fairly logical. The disassembly started with removing the coil covers, then although some have not done this I removed the plug wires and plugs and I removed the dipstick tube it has one bolt on top and just pulls out. Then carefully disconnect the front 2 sensors, the connector is mounted to a small plate I had to take the connectors off the plate in order to have enough cable to connect them. Next I raised the car up on the lift (Thankfully I am in the Military and the auto craft shop has a lift. It was indispensable.) I went under the car and removed the cat studs and lowered the x pipe, be careful to remember to disconnect the 02 Sensors. Remove the 2 small nuts that hold the x pipe in place they are on a bracket right in front of the transmission. I then loosened the clamps and pulled the x pipe out. After that I removed the cats from the manifolds, this was the only hard part of the disassembly because the bolts were really corroded I ended up spraying it liberally with Liquid Wrench penetrating oil and I also sprayed the 02 sensors and they came right out. I let the car back down and removed the bolts from the manifolds they both came out from the bottom with a little wriggling and moving. Installation began of course with the beautiful headers they really looked nice a few scratches but no significant dents or damage. I put them both in from the top. I set the left one in and I put the front center bolt in it to hold the header in place then I put the rear gasket in and loosely put the 2 other bolts in the back, I then removed the center bolt from the front and put the front gasket in and tightened everything down. I raised the car up and I was amazed that everything lined right up the 2 outlets from the headers were right perfectly centered and lined up. Then I put the doughnuts on the cats I had to use a rubber mallet because they fit really tight. I then made my only mistake I installed the cats with the 4 included bolts. This turned out to be a mistake later in the process. I then had the only problem with the system. The X-pipe didn't have enough of a bend in the right side pipe and no matter what I did it would not line up the pipes to the muffler were north south and the right side of the x-pipe was at south east. This is also when I noticed that the pipes couldn't go together and slide over the cats outlets you have to slide the extensions into the cats then put the cats onto the header flanges. Luckily the craft shop had a bender and we were able to get it close enough to make it work (I could have sent the thing back but I wanted to be done) However, the amount I could not get straight made the extension pipe between the x-pipe and the cats too long by a quarter of an inch on each side. I used a band saw and cut both pipes and they fit pretty good I hooked up all of the clamps most of them are the band clamps and worked really well however where the x-pipe connects to the tailpipes they sent some pretty cheap u clamps they worked but are really poor quality I think I will get some band clamps from autozone and replace them. I lined everything up and then and only then tightened everything. Due to the x-pipe issue my right muffler and outlet are about 1/2" farther back than the left one but you have to look really close to notice it. I started the car and used a piece of cardboard held over the exhaust tips to check for leaks, this required a buddy. I had no leaks and everything was symmetrical and tight to the body I had to zip strip the 02 extensions away from the exhaust pipe and I have to wait for the 36 inchers for the rear to arrive tomorrow. The extensions can be gotten for about 70 dollars for all for just do an internet search that is what I did. I am impressed with the sound quality and with almost all of the quality of the headers and other pieces. They were constructed out of very good materials and are very solid. I will get a tune at some point in the future but I want to get a new CAI first. I hope this helps anyone thinking about doing this, I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which everything went together except for the x-pipe. God Bless all and email me with any questions you might have. Overall I would say this system was worth what I saved on it over the better more expensive systems.
Steve

 

Man good thing you had the stuff ready to make things work, would have sucked for someone without a pipe bender and saw. You had similar issues to what guys had when installing the low cost headers for GTOs. If you can make em work it's worth it in savings I guess.

 

uh oh I have a set sitting in my garage waiting to go on...
I bought a set of 02 extensions from TKO I hope they will be long enough, they are for the cooks long tube headers, but says will fit other long tubes. Will measure them when I get home. Not sure I want to try and install myself now, I dont have a pipe bender...
Thanks for the write up
David

 

bradleywrench13; I think the problem you had with having to bend the pipes was caused by the Chevy change to the overaxle pipes for '09. The mid pipe/overaxle pipe orientation changed for '09 and up. The OBX headers were apparently for the '08 and earlier.