installing a slp on my car

[Scarfather]

so i have bought an slp cat back exhaust and i wanted to know if any one has any tips for me. It would be great if some one could give me a diagram of the installation or some pictures to make the installation as smooth as possible, thanks.

[tenspeed]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65123

[ihatemygrandamg]

Take it to a shop. If not then I hope you have access to lots of tools, and be ready for a huge headache. Your going to need a sawzall or torch or something to get those bolts out.

[sick2002GAGT]

a torch or sawzall for the bolts? wow, im glad mine just snapped right off!

[ihatemygrandamg]

How many miles were on your car? The bolts prolly werent too old and some wd40 helped alot. I put mine on at 129k lol

[sick2002GAGT]

it put it on at 75,000 or so miles. the bolts were so rusted they just snapped off. not like it mattered though, the kit comes with new bolts.

[ihatemygrandamg]

Yea I wish mine woulda been that way. Tried wd40 but no go, the bolts were soo rusted and rounded off. I just took it to a local shop who put it on and weled it all up for $100

[dangerranger]

$100, wow, it only cost me $40.

[tenspeed]

Removing and trashing the old, installing and welding the SLP for $100 isn't bad.

[Shad0wguy]

My old exhaust, the bolts had to be cut and the holes redrilled. Installing the SLP was easy as pie though.

[ihatemygrandamg]

Originally posted by dangerranger
$100, wow, it only cost me $40.

Did you know the guy or something?Damn thats low as hell. Oh well I wanted it done and I had to work soon so $100 didnt sound bad at all

[dangerranger]

No, it's just a local shop, they may have remembered me from the last time i did business with them, but it was over a year ago. I had to wait like 3 weeks for an appointment to.

[ihatemygrandamg]

I just walked in to a local shop and told what I needed. A guy there did it in about an hour, then I got to enjoy it for a little while before I had to work:D

[wushdishmeen]

You have to weld parts when you order an slp? I thought the piping just fits inside of eachother...can someone explain to me please. I have a 99gt with 30,000 miles. I dont have access to a welding gun (that i know of) and was wondering if you have to weld pipes together and if so where?

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by wushdishmeen
You have to weld parts when you order an slp? I thought the piping just fits inside of each other...

Not necessary. I used the clamps that came with the kit. They are stainless too.

[wushdishmeen]

Is it true that the bolts that come with the slp wont fit the flange connected to the stock converter? If so then I need to know now before i go chopping off pipes and have no transportation to go purcahse the right bolts..

[tenspeed]

I used 3/8" stainless nuts, bolts and washers. I used a 3/8" counter sink to clean out and widen the holes in the flange.

Pictures can be found here -> http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b72/tenspeed/SLP%20exhaust/

[wushdishmeen]

so the bolts taht come with the slp wont fit the stock flange on the converter? or they do..i dont get it why would they give you bolts that are too big. Or do i have to like drill a bigger hole to get them to fit...if the bolts that come with it work i can start putting it on now

[sick2002GAGT]

the bolts that came with mine fit just fine, i dont see why yours wouldn't.

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by wushdishmeen
so the bolts taht come with the slp wont fit the stock flange on the converter?

I don't know if they would fit or not. Everything else is stainless and I like stainless hardware. I use SS on all my cars and bikes.

[wushdishmeen]

okay well i start cutting into the pipe that meets the muffler and even with a reciprocating saw that freaking thing wont cut all the way through. Its a smaller version of the saw though but I managed to get a cut to go through on one side of the pipe...i have a hacksaw too but using that is taking way too long. Now im thinking yea i have to do this then get those bolts off somehow...i think im screwed.

after reading this post i went to midas and they quoted $140 to put the exhaust on so http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_censored.gif that....i want this done myself, and i wanted to get it done today god damnit

[tenspeed]

If you have squirted the flange bolts with WD40 yet, do it soon. Taking the old bolts off was one of the hardest parts that I had. I ended cutting the heads off the bottom two bolts, cutting the pipe and then cutting the upper bolt. You can use a dremel cut off disk if you have one.

Some people get lucky and the bolts snap when they put a wrench to them.

The other hard part I had was getting the pipe over the axle. I learned later that if you cut the hanger a little shorter, it goes through easier.

[wushdishmeen]

ugh i have a reciprocating saw but no blades...the saw is an older model powerful saw and i went to home depot and they only had new universal blades that wouldnt fit what i had. So the guy made me buy one of those discs that hook up to a power drill and the thing was horrible it would just fall apart when i used it.

Now i have a cut in my exhaust pipe and i have work tomarrow...so i either have to drive with a hole in the exhaust or figure out a way to get this stupid peice of shit off

[wushdishmeen]

i cut through the pipe and got the muffler off. Now I have to figure out what im doing with the bolts on the flange...god help me..

another thing i realized theres a draw-tite hitched installed on my car from when i bought it and it made it even more of a bitch to get the damn muffler out. i hope its not in the way of installing the new one

[wushdishmeen]

took the draw tite hitch off....now it all lie on getting these flanges seperated...those bolts dont look like they are gonig to come out...and i really dont feel like spending hours cutting through another pipe with a hacksaw...god damnit

[99blackSE]

lol dude I mean no offence wush but reading your posts has provided me with a smile tonight. I think I can almost envision that sight.

[wushdishmeen]

haha its night one of saving $140...f' mechanics, ill get it done...

by the way if anyone wants a draw-tite hitch in awesome condition...make some offers, i dont want it

[tenspeed]

Ebay the hitch and call in sick.

Three AM is a great time to leave a message saying that you can't sleep, bad food, yadda yadda, yadda.

[wushdishmeen]

haha. i actually made the decision that if its not done before work im just going to not go in.

one of my friends from work actually offered to let me go to his uncles shop and get it done for free. so tomarrow morning im just going to take it to him and get the rest of the old exhaust off and the new system put on and welded.

i have to buy him lunch though so its not totally free :lol:

should work out good...thanks guys

[wushdishmeen]

I have another question. Basically all thats left on my car is the intermediate pipe attatched to the converter. The muffler is off the car.

Is it possible to go to a shop and have them remove the last pipe and then I can drive home and put on the new exhaust or will the car not run with no piping from the cat back.

Ive driven it without the muffler and its really loud but runs fine i guess...also will the shop cheese me and give me a high price just to remove those bolts on the flange and the pipe to a point where i might as well jus tpay the extra money to have it installed and welded?

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by wushdishmeen
Is it possible to go to a shop and have them remove the last pipe and then I can drive home and put on the new exhaust or will the car not run with no piping from the cat back.

If you do that, be sure to tie the rear of the pipe up with wire so it doesn't drag, break off, or damage the O2 sensor & wires. I guess the only other danger is getting a ticket for a loud exhaust. Keep your foot out of it.

Ive driven it without the muffler and its really loud but runs fine i guess...also will the shop cheese me and give me a high price just to remove those bolts on the flange and the pipe to a point where i might as well just pay the extra money to have it installed and welded?

Ask them before you get there for both prices. I used the supplied stainless clamps on mine, they should last the life of the car. If you have it welded, there's no chance of adjusting if something is hitting.

I just came in from the garage where I was getting my "winter tips" ready to put on. I take the SLP tips off to keep them out of salt.

[wushdishmeen]

Okay well. Basically I caleld another place they quoted $120 to take off the rest of the exhaust and put on the new one...the whole thing is i can put the new one on myself and i kinda wanted to.


Right now the exhaust looks like this


{::cat::}|||::{::res::}::::::



so its basically the cat flange and resonator flange connected and like a foot of piping after that...thats all thats left of the old exhaust. How much could it possibly cost to friggin disconnect those flanges...thats all they would have to do.

I have a reciprocating saw but I cannot get leverage to chop off the heads of the bolts...expecially the top one. I just freaking wish i could finish myself, ive gotten so far.

[tenspeed]

I used a Ryobi saw and a 6" blade. I have cut bolts heads off using a Dremel tool but that takes a steady hand and a bunch of disks. They don't bend at all.

Another trick is to drill a hole in the bolt head and snap or chisel it off. Start with a small pilot hole and work your way up.

You can see from my pictures where I cut my stock pipe in front of the axle. I supported the pipe with a jack stand and used the saw on the top bolt.

[wushdishmeen]

would a drill bit on an electric drill be powerful enough to drill through the bolt heads?? seems like it wouldnt...its worth a try.

plus once the bolt heads are off are you saying the flanges will just seperate..? there will still be the thread of the bolts in the holes rusted inside...whats the tips after getting the bolt heads off

[tenspeed]

Small bit - medium speed
large bits - slower speeds

Unless it's a stainless or hardened bolt, it should be able to drill it. Start at the bolt head and aim toward the nut. The weakened shank should break off with a wrench after enough metal has been removed. The bolt head and the nut hold the parts together. Remove either end and things come apart.

You use real low speed when cutting or drilling stainless. Higher speeds will dull tools quickly.

[wushdishmeen]

the wierd thing is it doesnt look like there is a nut on these bolts...it looks like a bolt head with a thread going through the hole...the other side looks like rounded off ends of a bolt thread...theres is no nut

another thing the guy was saying is if it doesnt work the last resort is to cut in between the flanges...i told him this wasnt a good idea because i need a smooth surface but he ensured me it would be a good clean cut. either way, tomarrow morning at 11am i have an appointment to have it looked at. ill update on what happens

[wushdishmeen]

Yea so i got the pipe removed...Now attempting to install the new system.

Like stated above the bolts that came with it were too big for the holes in the converter flange but fit fine through the new pipe flange. I started drilling at the holes to open them up a bit but it seems its taking forever

[coupe]

Chris, i love your attitude!

Thats the way to think. A get it done attitude.

DIY is the way to do anything and everything (to a degree).

[wushdishmeen]

The new exhaust is on and running...sounds great. Will get sound clips tonight.


Only thing I noticed was a minor leak where the intermediate pipe connects to the pipe that goes over the driveaxle. I tightened it as much as i could...possibly will get it welded? But it seems to work fine.


Update later tonite

[ihatemygrandamg]

Good job man, everything on our cars takes a little work lol. I know I love my slp

[wushdishmeen]

yea i got a video an dsome pics.


I angled the tips a little differently then normal, i like it this way though. As you can hear in the video the exhaust leaks kind of dont do the exhaust justice. It still sounds good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/swearonmyboobies/Picture001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/swearonmyboobies/Picture005.jpg

heres the video on youtube
video of exhaust (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0IjFHLkp7k)

[ihatemygrandamg]

I never get tired of hearing that sound :)

Not realy feeling how the tips are angled but to each his own. You have a beautiful grand am btw. Reminds me of mine,lol

[wushdishmeen]

thanks.

Yea I put the tips straight at first and for some reason I didnt like it because one tip on each is longer then the other. While i was installing one was crooked and then I did some fiddling around and i liked it at a angle...a bit original i guess, i dunno i like it.

The exhaust leak isnt bad but its definately annoying me. When I was driving on the highway near here I took off at a light and I started to fly then in the middle of accelerating the car jumped and kinda stuttered for a second.


I was thinking either getting those two joints welded or putting some soldering around the crack or even maybe a metal coat hanger wire rapped around to block the seam. No clue, I dont want to spend too much more money heh.

Funny story though. This guy in a firebird probably around 30-40 years old was tailgating everyone in front of us and revving his engine trying to get ahead of the traffic so he could take off. I kept close behind him and he finally got space to squeeze out in front into the open lane and started to take off. I flew out too and whooped him so bad...we both ended up stopping at the next red light. He kept inching up getting ready and then he took off again not realizing there was a cop. He ended up slamming on his brakes right behind the cop in the same lane and got pulled over. I just laughed and drove away. Fun first night with the exhaust =)

[coupe]

You will have many more of those nights.