Hey guys. Well, the Flowmaster system came in the mail today. I called around to get it installed and everyone said the same thing, "Sorry, we don't install customer parts." Whatever. I looked at the job and read the instructions, and it really doesn't look that hard since it only goes to the Y-pipe. I am not a car wiz or anything, but this doesn't really involve anything too complicated. My question is, is there any equipment I'd need or any reason I shouldn't do this myself(like if the pipes need special equipment to come apart, or I need welding tools)? I have never worked on cars before, so let me know if I am going to get in over my head. Thanks a lot
Answer here, or feel free to email me at asiegel@vt.edu
I would say to give it a shot over the weekend as long as you've got another car for transportation. You may need some "extra" tools to get the old system off, ie BFH, hacksaw. But you might just get by with soaking all the bolts with some sort of penetrant and then just unbolting them. Putting the new system on should be easy, I'd maybe place all the piping on the ground and make sure it all slides together easily. If some parts don't go together easy enough to be done under the car, then I'd call around and ask a shop if they'd help you out with the openings. That's where having another car can help, instead of driving around heating up your exhaust system, let it stay cool and use another car, then you don't have to let the car cool before you get back at it. They have pipe benders that can enlarge the openings for you, and while I can't say for sure where you're at, the local places here do it free of charge. But if it all slides together nicely, then just bolt it all together. Some people prefer for it to be welded, I like the ability to be able to unbolt mine if I need to, for whatever may come up, instead of having to cut on it. Others may say to atleast have the system tack-welded, with it welded it's less likely to rattle because it won't loosen up and will stay tucked up exactly where you put it. But again, I didn't, mine's just bolted and it doesn't rattle, it's really personal preference. Once you get it all bolted together, and you decide you wanted it welded or just tack-welded, you could take it to a shop and they *should* do something like that for you, just call around and ask, and it shouldn't be that much. I'm not 100% sure on this, but they should disconnect atleast the battery to avoid damaging the computer, I'm sure somebody will jump in on this point and clarify it for you. I'd say go for it, no time to start working on the car like the present, and especially with these cars, it's best to learn your car like the back of your hand, good luck,
Scott
Exhausts aren't that hard to put on. The hardest part is usually getting the old one off. If you don't want to waste half of the day cutting the old one out, then you could try calling some of these places to see if they would pull the old one off for you. They aren't istalling anything, so they'll probably do it. And, it may not be that expensive. All they are going to do is blow through it with a torch. Then just drive home with a set of ear plugs, and put on the new one.
MAKE SURE that you don't need any of the hangers from the old exhaust before you have it pulled, though. They may cut through what you need, or throw it out. Then it wouldn't be so easy putting the new one in. Good Luck.
Brian
In addition to what Brian mentioned, Teflon tape is not intended for and should not be used in applications to seal petroleum products. It WILL degrade over time, eventually leaking.
I've seen it (unwittingly) used on diesel and one or two gas turbine fuel systems. It must be totally removed.