'91 3Gen SE with a bad flex pipe. A couple of local muffler shops want over $250 to fix. I've seen aftermerket Y-pipes for about that. Are they a bolt-on deal? If so, what is the difficulty level? I don't want to start yanking on the manifolds and break studs if I don't have to. Can't I just get a 2.5" flex pipe with slip-ends, cut the bad one out, and clamp the new one in? The car is a beater with 225,000 miles... I'm not looking for high-po improvements here. Any tips would be appreciated.

 

www.warpspeedperformance.com

 

if its just a beater than I do that....its a little more work but it'll only cost like $50(I think thats how much a new flex goes for)

 

It is a bolt on deal but the difficulty is usual very hard because the bolts are rusted on so ridiculously tight. Best way to install it is to find a decent mechanic to do it, if you're lucky they'll install it for 60 bucks. Get quotes from different mechanics.

My dad is good friends with a shop owner(at a Mobil station) so I had them install the pipe on my car. The price? 15 bucks even

 

You have to weld it the clamps won't hold that style flex piece. besides
they are also too high priced on that piece.
Aftermarket ones are available for 'bout $100


Sound familiar

 

I found a guy with a lift that I was going to rent so I could do the work. Then he decided to help out. It really wasn't that hard of a job. I gave him a half rack of Busch (as per his request) for the lift time and then gave him $20 since he was nice enough to help.

It takes a bit of time to get all of the heat shielding and stuff, but I don't think you can really screw it up unless you forget to put in the o-rings or something.

Although, if you have extra money, $50 is what I was quoted at a muffler shop for labor.

I recommend just getting an aftermarket y-pipe(warpspeed or cattman) if you can afford it. It really makes a difference in horsepower and actually costs less than a new stock one.

If you just want something to get you by, I would put a post in the wanted/for sale board that you are looking for a cheap, stock y-pipe for a VG. Someone who bought aftermarket is bound to have one in useable shape.

just my $.02

 

as it just so happens, i just removed the Y from my max(VG30E). It's in fairly good condition, not holes or anything still have the O-rings. I'm not going to need it because I'm getting an aftermarket, so for a fair price, you can have it.

 

I would just buy new o-rings either way. They are around $10 at NAPA.

 

What exactly is the purpose of the flex pipe , Why dont the header kits have them, What do they do? Only see them on foreign carrs??

 

It's there because the engine moves a bit while driving so the Y-Pipe needs a part to flex or else you might bend the pipe or something??? I dunno, something like that. The cattman header kit does have a flex section. I don't know why the pacesetter header kit does not have one.

 

OEM o rings at the dealer at 3 bucks each.

 

i had a new flex pipe welded onto the y pipe last year in long island , NY at american muffler....they charged me 80 bucks for new flex section and labor combined.

 

Perfect timing! I was going to my local boneyard tomorrow to check out the pickings. Please ping me at Rockhead261@Yahoo.com... let's figure something out, thanks!

 

UPDATE : I purchased a Y-pipe from cheapexhaust.com. It was only about $85, and that included shipping. It arrived in two days. What I got was a knock-off of the stock pipe... a cheap-exhaust! But, it was what I needed. Fitment was perfect, and I'm back on the road. Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. Hmmm..... thinking about tackling the timing belt/water pump job next......

 

they have very good prices on exhaust