I need some advice from those who have installed y pipes themselves...

I just got a y pipe from that awesome GD from warpspeed, and am not sure if I can do the installation myself or if i need to take it somewhere and pay more money. I have most of the tools required to do it except deep sockets and the drive extention (i have an 8 in one but not a 12). Could i still do it myself without these? What do you suggest, and what problems should i look out for? thanks

 

yea it could work, but use PB blaster, it helps alot. im doing mine also and i just soaked the bolts just so i can get them off easier when i get the y pipe.

 

do you really need the deep sockets?? because im pretty sure i can install it but i dont have a deep socket set. mine should be coming in sometime early next week.. CAN'T WAIT!

 

i think u do need one but then again i haven't done it, just rent it out from autozone.

 

Installing the Y-Pipe will not be easy. I still Remember being at Maximum Tunning. Jeff was working on it and and one of the damm screws would not come off. He had to use the tourch to break the damm screw.
You can always try.....

 

yea im kind of scared, i don't want to strip or break off any bolts, cause it would be a pain to drill thoes out.

 

It was not because something got broken, the problem was the damm screw was rusted, and it would not come off.

 

took me 5 hours with some music and chinese instant noodles and 1 trip to autoshop for pivot socket. it's doable, just be patient:

things you NEED:
1. deep socket + extension = makes life easier
2. pivot socket = to get one of those 14mm bolt off the stock y-pipe. (that bolt is on the rear header)
3. 22mm socket, or just use a wrench try to get the O2s off.
4. lots of WD40
5. u'll need to pull like a **** on all bolts

good luck

 

yea always be patient is what i've learned, and music always help's me work calm, i can't wait but then again i can.

 

and the chinese instant noodles




just remember...anytime you come across any difficulties you can't get through, just eat or grab a drink. chill out a bit then get back under the hood. it helps never wanna rush through things and break a stud or nut, cuz it sux.

 

yea tru dat, nah il take some chinese flat noodles with beef, they are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good, but yea i work slow at it and i always take a break when something difficult comes up, it helps me think of any other ways i can get around it.

 

well... i have some info that u guys mite wanna hear... the 6 bolts connected to engines exhaust mainfold.. came off easily... since i got the Y pipe and cat.. thought another two bolts im done.. but nope.. the two bolts on the cat were so rusted on... that when i put a socket on the bolts.. all it did was round the bolt out.... so now im left to cutting it off the bpipe carefully then grind the b pipe flange down to make sure its smooth and even... the rust surrounding the cat to the b pipe was so bad that it acted like it was welded on... well all i have to say is... check out the bolts on the cat before deciding if you want to do this yourself... i sure dont mind becuase i love working on my car... and i have the tools... but its alot of work...

 

UPDATE: well i just finish talking with dallas on the phone.. he is a awesome guy... very smart i mite add.... i am currently working on this new idea that dallas offered to maximas that has way to much rust when it comes to removing the cat convertor. He calls it the "rust package" ill update everyone about it when he sends me this... its not expensive at all... if you want to know more about this.. just email me.. or instant message me on AIM - bigjayx23.

 

i am really curious as to how your stripped the bolts with a socket? did you make sure that the socket was the right size and was on there square when u did this? because the bolts are not that soft if you put the socket on there correctly you will not strip it. it helps to have 2 people, one to hold the socket square on the bolt and then you attach that cheater bar on the end of the socket and bam the bolts come loose. if it doesnt work the first time get a longer pipe.... leverage is your friend.

 

did you spray and pray on those 14mm on the cat? i let it soaked in for about 1 minute and it came off easily.

 

The bolts were so rusted that the head of hte bolts went soft... not only were the bolts rusted... the connection between the bpipe and the cat convertor are also rusted together... the rust acted like a fine weld.... i even cut the two bolts out and the cat and the bpipe still held on together as if the bolts were still there...thats how rusted it was.... i should take some pictures for you guys... i talk to dallas from warspeed and he has see some occasions like this.. were it was so rusted that it was basically impossible to remove.. and find other methods of removing the cat from the bpipe... or other methods of installing new cat... dallas found a way for the "everyday joe" to do this. thanx to dallas i dont need to waste any money bringing it to someone to do it.. ill b the first to try this method out... ill keep everyone updated... if everything goes well dallas will offer this method for people who are having trouble with their cat convertor bolts.. he calls it the "rust package"

 

i just took my car to a muffler shop. They loosened all of the bolts and tightened them again to make sure i could get them off. The ones on the cat were insanely rusted, i'm glad i didn't try to get them off myself. Hours of aggravatoin saved!!! They were very nice, let me go into the garage and watch, and best of all, they didn't charge me anything! It looks like the o2 sensors might be a pain to get off, as well as one of the bolts off the rear header.

 

good luck with them o2 sensors.. but i think once u get the pipe down.. u should b able to get more leverage on teh o2 sensors.... dunno about hte one on the cat... maybe u should have them loosen that too....

 

soaked them for a whole day almost every 2 to 3 hours ill spray them.. no luck... ill take pics to show everyone