need help with installing fabspeed bypass pipes

[ChrisZang]

Hi,

so my Christmas gift to myself was a set of fabspeed bypass pipes which I picked up NEW at an incredible low price at eBay

So, they came today and as the wifey is shopping and I have nothing better to do, I tried to install them - but no luck.
I know that a few of you have installed the successfully, so I hope I can get a few pointers

a) I can't get the end of the pipe properly aligned with the "U-pipe" which leads into the muffler. It seems to me that I need to saw approx 3/4" off the pipe.
I wonder if anyone else had a similar problem?

b) the pipes come in two parts: the long bended pipe which connects to the primary cat and a second short pipe which fits very loosely onto the first pipe. Question: do I simply stick it on and mount it (I am afraid that this will rattle a lot) or is there a clamp missing?

Needless to say: the pipes came w/o instructions...

Thanks & Merry Christmas
Chris

[jmatta]

Originally Posted by ChrisZang

a) I can't get the end of the pipe properly aligned with the "U-pipe" which leads into the muffler. It seems to me that I need to saw approx 3/4" off the pipe.
I wonder if anyone else had a similar problem?

b) the pipes come in two parts: the long bended pipe which connects to the primary cat and a second short pipe which fits very loosely onto the first pipe. Question: do I simply stick it on and mount it (I am afraid that this will rattle a lot) or is there a clamp missing?

Chris

I will do the best to answer your questions, as I have installed the same pipes on my '02 S.

A. Loosen all the clamps on each end of the U-pipe; they neeed to be moved around to work the short pipe in for fitting. My car had 12k miles on it when I did the work...everything loosened easily for me.

B. Bolt the long pipe to the exhaust manifold, do not tighten. Work the short pipe into the the long and then to the U-pipe. I'm going from memory (dangerous) but I believe I reused the clamp from the secondary cat. The key to this is to have all pipes loose so you can twist and turn them into position; when everything fits, tighten each a bit all around before final torque.

Hope this helps...if need be, I can go to the garage and take a look, but I think that's how I remember it.

[jmatta]

Chris,

There is definately a clamp where the long and short pipes meet. Mine has a large, flat clamp (see pic). The pipe is then attached to the U-pipe with the existing clamp that held the cat in place (verified by PET diagram). I'm sure my Fabspeed kit came with the clamps, as I didn't go buy these and they're not the usual "type" of muffler clamp you'd get at an autoparts store.

Again, good luck and let us know how it works out. You're gonna love the sound!

[ChrisZang]

Thanks for the responses.

while doing more research I found the following:
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15488
The author writes that he had the same problems with the right pipe (that's the one I started with) and that he had to saw 1" off to make it fit, I guess I will have to do the same...
From everything I read, it also seems that there should have been a clamp - which obviously didn't get shipped

last not least another question: it seems that the pipes are very close to the CV boots. Did you wrap your pipes with exhaust tape - or do you have any problems with melting CV boots?

Thanks again

[jmatta]

I haven't experienced anywhere near the problems you encountered. Could it be my pipes were manufactured as a different generation? The pipes are in the general area of the CV boots, but not close enough to cause heat related damage. If the car wasn't all wrapped up in storage in the cold garage, I'd go poke around some more...perhaps it will be warmer over the weekend.

[Boxtaboy]

I know of two people who have installed these Fabspeed bypass pipes, and both did not have to saw off any of the pipe to make it fit. I would take JMatta's advice and loosen all the clamps and then try jiggling them around until they all fit into place, and then retighten.

[george g]

Chris you definitely need the clamps and you should sand and smooth where the pipes fit into eachother. Lubing helps also but will smoke until it burns off. I live in RDCY if you want to see my install.
George

[ChrisZang]

Hi George,

thanks for the offer, I might take you up on it.
I have a friend of mine cut down the right pipe by 3/4 of an inch and will then see on the weekend how it works out

Thanks

[releese78]

Well, I decided to get rid of my cats (98, so it only has one pair). Best money I ever spent! It's actually not much louder, if not quieter at idle. Mine were really old, plugged up and rattling.

Rather than go with the Fabspeed pipes, I had an exhaust shop custom bend and weld some they custom made. They even welded O2 sensor bungs on them for me so I don't have to eliminate the 2 rear sensors. So far no CEL.

As for power and torque, there's not a whole lot of difference, but it's definitely smoother and the throttle is more responsive. When driving, it's not too loud at all, screams a little at RPM's above 4500. Inside the cabin, it's still very peaceful.

It cost me $240 for the mod and took 2 hours. The hardest part was finding a shop that would do this for me. I cohersed them by saying I'd pay cash and not ask for a receipt so that liability is off of them.

[jmatta]

There are no O2 sensors on the secondary cats on later cars...can't speak to the early ones?

[releese78]

Well, I spoke too soon. The CEL came on the first time I gave it some throttle. I read somewhere that you can get the PCM programmed to bypass rear O2 sensor monitoring. Is this true? Does the dealer have to do it or can I buy something to do it myself?