1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I did my downpipe a few years back after I hit a piece of shoe box sized concrete roadway hidden in deep snow, must have been broken off by a plow, anyway, the blow cracked the header pipe at the Y welds.
Got a used downpipe from Goldwing for $60. Fearing breaking the studs on the bottom of the manifold, I used a Dremel and cutting disk to cut the nuts down to the threads (don't cut the threads on the stud) to loosen their hold, a couple were actually a little loose already. I had posted a few days ago whether this was a good method for the head-to-manifold nuts as I now need an exhaust manifold gasket, but got no responses. I think it works, you don't want to snap a stud trying to take a nut off, its bad enough when they break on reassembly, so improve your odds a little by finessing them off.
My cat flange had completely rusted away so removing those bolts was irrelevant, I got a new cat from Trollhattan (I think) for $175 and the remainder of the exhaust system for about $200. Was never happy with the sound of the Walker system, sounded too boomy and flat, suggest getting a Starla system instead. I think e-europarts has systems for $115 w/o cat.
Its doable with reasonable skills/experience by yourself, just get the car up in the air safely (jack stands) and work patiently. I use a tool that has cutting bits in a bike chain that wraps around the pipe and cuts it with a ratcheting motion, easier to cut out old system than to try to hammer the old sections apart. You can hacksaw it if you want to sweat a little more. Make sure your parts fit first though.
Use new gaskets at the manifold (2) and exhaust sealer paste on the pipe to muffler joints and new clamps and hangers. The cat to downpipe connection takes a special stainless steel (factory) sealing ring, aftermarket parts are not as good quality but may work. Check with sobstory (board advertiser) for parts/prices, they are usually pretty good with their prices. Lastly, take the thing into a garage if you don't have air tools so they can torque down all the connections, hand tight does not work. Should only cost a few bucks.
Good luck, let us know how you make out.
92 900S 5sp 173,000 miles.
posted by 208.212.2...
, Wed, 15 May 2002 16:25:54, Thu, 16 May 2002 08:52:54
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