Hey guys,

Working on installing AWE x pipe and AWE exhaust system. First timer with exhaust installs.

Pretty confident wrenching and can follow instructions, (I work in cardiothoracic surgery for a living) just looking for some tips and tricks as far as getting things installed easily, in the right order, not making any stupid rookie mistakes, etc…

I’m hung up on the x pipe. I installed the mufflers and over axel pipes only hand tight so I could still manipulate them. That went ok. Now I am trying to get the x pipe on the over axel pipes and can’t get one of them on for the life of me.

Should I dilate the x pipe outlet further? The x pipe outlet looks like it may be just a bit too small for the over axel pipe. I don’t want to screw up my new pipes.

I have the front end of the x pipe elevated on two jack stands. Do they need to be higher? Should I start at the front? Should I just take the whole thing back off and prefab the system on the garage floor to make sure everything fits together first?

I have new donut gaskets.

I have some torctite clamps.

I’ve got the up on quickjacks, so I have some room to move around, just not a ton.

Any helpful advice, short of “take it to a mechanic”, would be awesome. I’ve tried to research this pretty heavily, and found one other post stating that he had to spread the x-pipe to over axel pipe section as well. Sounds like he had a similar problem. Just wondering if that’s really necessary in anyone else’s experience.

Thanks a lot! I’ll throw up some pictures for clickbait. And maybe some relevant ones later this afternoon.

 

This probably won't be much help, but I didn't have any issues mating an AWE x-pipe to a stock axle back. It pretty much slid right together once I got everything lined up.

I have to admit to getting a chuckle out of "dilate the x-pipe". I've never heard it described that way, but it totally makes sense given your background.

 

If I'm understanding the issue it sounds like you don't have an alignment issue but a fitment issue. Yes, if you expand the larger side of the pipe then it should slip in easy. You may be able to rent and exhaust expander or if you take the pipe to a local exhaust shop they should be able to do it quickly for probably a minimal charge if any.

 

This is what I would do. A muffler shop will have a power tool to expand the end of the pipe quickly and they will probably do it while you wait. You just need to give them some idea how much expansion is required to make the pipes fit together. No reason to purchase a tool you may never use again (the low cost ones are a pain to use) and a rental tool may not really work as well as you would hope.

Bill

 

Thanks so much, everyone, for responding. I just took a clamp to the offending flange and spread it out a little more, and voila! It was the same driver side rear connection that I saw another person struggling with.

Anyhow, got everything in place this afternoon. It’s amazing what leaving a job and coming back with fresh eyes the next day will do. Just have to double check all connections and torque everything down; then test

 

nice!

yeah my awe x-pipe needed me to make it more O instead of 0. just took a few extra minutes to get it straighten out so it would fit on my new axle back pipes. probably got banged around some, nothing a hammer and pliers couldnt fix.

 

Looks like you got the fit sorted out. The only thing I'd add is make sure the clamps are tight. They can take a lot of torque, and I find that a lot of people have exhaust leaks on aftermarket installs.

 

Well, a few updates. Pretty much done got everything sealed up tight. No leaks except for one near the x pipe flange, that is coming out of the pipe weld area, not the the actual joint where the new gaskets are… didn’t really know what to do about it, if anything, short of sending it back to the manufacturer, so I just said screw it and put the thing all the way back together. I can get back to it if it proves to be a problem.



Just have to put the tips on.

Air shoots out of the gap between those two welds. Only on the passenger side.

Illustration

Rear leaf spring retaining plate mounting point for APR rear diffuser undertray attachment with mystery torque spec.

Additionally, as you can see, I have successfully reinstalled my beautiful APR rear diffuser, getting better alignment and fitment than I did the first time I installed it to boot, but, I cannot find my instructions and don’t remember the torque spec for where the undertray mounts up to the rear leaf spring retainer plates. I seem to remember 35ft/lbs. Anyone got any ideas? I contacted APR as well just waiting on them to get back to me. Thanks for looking!

 

Looking good and I bet it sounds good too!
Only tips I can offer are make sure your over the axle pipes are correctly positioned. Moving all that stuff around to line pipes up can **** them to one side or the other (dont ask how I know). Also, after a few miles go back and check the clamps and bolts at the donut gaskets. Things tend to move/grow through the heat/cool cycles.
Diffuser looks great!

 

I found this thread looking for advice - I haven't started yet - but have ARH 2" long tube headers and 3" xpipe in the mail. Going to mate with my stock NPP exhaust for a "tame / wild mode" exhaust system. Any opinions on how big a PITA this install will be to do myself? I did the same type of install on my C6 and I didn't cuss too much lol.

Side question - what brand/model lift is shown there in your pictures? I think I would like to get something just like that for a little more ease with changing out wheels/brakes/exhaust

 

looks like the quickjacks, which I have as well. works great for lifting the car pretty darn high and level.
as far as headers / xpipe many install the arh brand and appears to be fairly straight forward just takes time. also usuaing the stock npp exhaust many do as well since once the flaps are open is pretty straight flow out the back and loud.
I wanted to do headers on mine but decided to do other exahust mods while using the stock manifolds to get away from needed to be tuned.