Dynomax cat back system and new cat

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Mar 1, 2004 | 05:01 PM
  #1  
I installed this yesterday in about 4 hours. For those of you who have bought one and have yet to install it or those who are thinking of buying one, here are some tips.

(If you don't have a lift or access to one).

1) Make sure the *** end of the car is as high as you can get it. My jack doesn't have enough lift, so I had to put it on blocks to get it to match the highest setting on my jack stands.

2) It may seem like a PITA, but remove the rear sway bar and panhard rod. The one piece intermediate pipe won't fit over the axle unless you do this.

3) Have some extra 3/8" hardware around. I don't know if my kit wasn't fully stocked with hardware or they don't provide it, but all I got was 3 exhaust clamps. It is a lot nicer to replace all that old rusted crap with nice, new stuff. I used some exhaust manifold studs to connect the ball and socket joint at the cat-- looks nice.

4) They don't provide a new tailpipe hanger on the passenger side. The stock one is welded to the tailpipe. Auto Zone has a replacement. I haven't gotten one yet, but I just tightened the hell out of the clamp.

5) You will have to drill out the driver side tailpipe hanger bracket to thru bolt it or you will have to tap it and find a bolt to match. I drilled a clearance hole and thru bolted.

6) Don't fully tighten anything until you are sure that is where you want it.


Overall, it was easy to do. You will need a buddy to help manipulate the pipes, hold them in place, and hand you tools. If I knew these tips before hand it probably would have taken less time. I had to stop and find hardware, figure out how to get that pipe over the axle, stuff like that slows you down. I also had to get my old pipes and cat off and install a new cat. I will post some pics later.

See ya.
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Mar 1, 2004 | 10:51 PM
  #2  
Re: Dynomax cat back system and new cat
Quote:
Originally posted by 3rdgenstm

2) It may seem like a PITA, but remove the rear sway bar and panhard rod. The one piece intermediate pipe won't fit over the axle unless you do this.


Overall good right up....I had the same problems mentioned above on my Dynomax catback....is your's 3in? Only different thing I did was have a buddy raise the car up in the back(lift up on the bumper with his hands) and I slide the Ipipe over the axle. I was gonna resort to what you did...or pay somebody else to do it...but luckily that worked. The muffler will sound better in about 2-3mths...after its broken in.....good luck
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Mar 1, 2004 | 11:56 PM
  #3  
I think the largest one-piece I-pipe in the complete cat-back is 2¾", just the two-piece ones are 3".
What I did when installing my one-piece pipe, was to make it into a two-piece by cutting it on the straight section that goes up to the over-axle bend, and join it with a coupling. Much easier than trying to wrestle with the one-piece pipe.
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Mar 2, 2004 | 08:53 AM
  #4  
Quote:
4) They don't provide a new tailpipe hanger on the passenger side. The stock one is welded to the tailpipe. Auto Zone has a replacement. I haven't gotten one yet, but I just tightened the hell out of the clamp.
Quote:
5) You will have to drill out the driver side tailpipe hanger bracket to thru bolt it or you will have to tap it and find a bolt to match. I drilled a clearance hole and thru bolted.
?
I never knew there was a tailpipe hanger on the passenger side. I thought the hanger on the intermediate pipe supported that side, while the driver side tailpipe hanger supported that side of the muffler. I never had to drill anything, the driver side pipe bolts right up to the existing rubber strap. What car did you put this on? Are you sure you got the right exhaust?
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Mar 2, 2004 | 12:11 PM
  #5  
There was a hanger on the pass side on the original system and I am not gonna trust that tailpipe to stay in place just with the clamp. I bought and will weld a new hanger for that tailpipe. There is a hanger on the intermediate pipe, but it doeesn't 'support' the tailpipe.

I had to drill out the hole in the bracket welded to the driver tailpipe because I used new hardware and made it all the same size. A 1/4" bolt should fit back thru the hole just fine. The system that was on my car (I assumed it was factory by the looks of it) had a bracket welded in the same spot, but the hole was tapped. The Dynomax tailpipe wasn't tapped, so I drilled it and thru bolted.

I'll try to take and post pics tomorrow.
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Mar 2, 2004 | 12:12 PM
  #6  
Oh yeah. I also used some Hi- temp nickel anti seize on the connections.
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Mar 3, 2004 | 07:33 PM
  #7  
Heres 1 pic of 4
This is just a shot of it from the rear.

Dynomax cat back system and new cat-exhaust1.jpg  

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Mar 3, 2004 | 07:34 PM
  #8  
This is the driver side hanger and thru bolt on the tailpipe

Dynomax cat back system and new cat-exhaust2.jpg  

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Mar 3, 2004 | 07:35 PM
  #9  
This one is the cat

Dynomax cat back system and new cat-exhaust3.jpg  

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Mar 3, 2004 | 07:37 PM
  #10  
This is the passenger side hanger I installed. I welded it at work after I took these pics.

Dynomax cat back system and new cat-exhaust4.jpg  

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