At 07:02 PM 11/13/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I am looking to purchasing a new cat back system. I want to install it
>myself. I have been hearing that they are all direct bolt ons. but as I was
>locking at my cat I noticed there is a pipe welded onto the cat and bolted
>directly onto the muffler. Now do most Dakota cat back systems bolt in this
>way directly to this pipe that is welded onto the cat or do the use a head
>pipe, Meaning that I would have to cut the pipe out? I guess my question is
>will I have to do any cutting of the exhaust? And if I do is it hard and what
>would I use to do it a hack saw? Another question is how do I disconnect the
>stock hangers? Cut them off two or what? Please help? I am looking at
>Pacesetters dual cat back or gibsons dual cat back porbaly pacesetters though
>because there's come with tips already welded on.
>
I installed a 3" Gibson cat-back on my '96. You do have to cut the
pipe before the muffler. I suppose you could use a hacksaw, but the
best way would be to use a reciprocating saw ("Sawzall"). If you don't
have one or if you can't borrow one, you should be able to rent one. The
hassle you save would probably be worth the rental fee. Once I measured the
spot where I wanted to cut the pipe, it cut through the pipe in about 5
seconds.
My stock hangars were pretty rusted and stubborn, so since the Gibson
came with new hangars anyway, I cut them off too.
It was an extremely easy install; now that I know what to expect, I
could install one in half an hour with plenty of time to spare. One
lesson I learned the hard way was to not overtighten the exhaust clamps.
If you do, they'll crimp the pipe and make removing the system a MAJOR
hassle. (Unless you cut it off, of course.)
-Jon-
.--- stei0302@cs.fredonia.edu ------------------------------------.
| Affiliations: DoD, EAA, MP Race Team, NMA, SPA, USUA. RP-SEL |
| '96 Dodge Dakota v8 SLT CC (14.58@93.55), '96 Kolb FireFly 447 |
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