hopefully by next weekend i'll have everything ready for the exhaust, and aside from the cats and A.I.R. tubing, i have all i need to install it. the kit came with clamps and i'm considering using them over welding cuz i figure if i ever have to take any of it apart, i would be able to. i was just wondering what most other guys out there do... i like the idea of welding for a "leak-free" system, but... it would have to be cut to replace any of it. i have to get adapters for the cat connections, so would (obviously) have to clamp or weld them, too.

also, is there any kind of a "flexible" A.I.R. tubing that i can put on myself? or do i have to go with the "hard" stuff?

thanks...

KAM

 

its better to weld the system mainly for no leaks but if u gotta remove it for some reason kinda sucks.

for the tubing for the air for the cat. go to any good parts store and ask them for black silicone hose for you cat., they sell it by the foot. most stores will know what ur takin about. if they dont go to small parts stores they should definatyl have it. thats how i got some for my friends firebird when i dropped a tpi 350 in his 86 firebird and we had to use that hose on his air tube for the cat, works great and wont melt or burn.

 

Buy some of these to make it easy to take off.
http://www.drgas.com/product.asp?id=9
Flowmaster make some, too, but they are reducers.
http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/cg...ml?id=jBp3vBWN

 

You could always use band clamps. I have them on my 98 trans am. they came with the dynatech systemaxx header system and work great. jeg's sells them, here is the page....
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...80&prmenbr=361

 

What about clamping it, but just using high temp RTV or something?

 

If you wanna be able to remove it, buy some header flanges (3-bolt) and weld them to the pipes. Then you can just unbolt them of you want to. My cutout came with two 3" header flanges for exactly this reason.

Welding is a much better idea if you plan to leave your system alone though. It will seal much better and you never have to 'check up' on anything. Depending on what clamps you might use, it might give better ground clearance too if its welded.

TIP - use stainless nuts and bolts if you don't weld it, they will be MUCH easier to remove later.

 

cool - thanks for the replies. guess i'll either weld it or use flanges. roger on the silicon hose... i'm sure the hydraulic shop i was in a couple of days ago has that - they have everything else under the sun. well, except the inverted flare fittings i needed. haha.

 

Heres a pic of the flanges I was talking about. I'm sure any decent exhaust or repair shop should be able to get some for you.

These ones came with the cutout thats also in the pic. They are roughly 1/4" steel. Its a Summit brand 3" cutout BTW.