I just got my Cattman Y-pipe. I'm pretty confident I can do the install myself with some sockets and WD 40. Anybody install their Y-pipe by themself? I've done my suspension and pretty much every mod completely by myself. Is it possible to break the bolts off without a torch? I think they want about $75 to install it. Rather save the money and also make sure it's done right.

 

Tom, here is a thread with a great write-up which might be able to shed some light on whether you think you would feel comfortable undertaking this yourself.

Good luck!

 

spray that bish with a bunch of PB Blaster!!! It gets tough underneath because of lack of leverage but all you need is to put a lil bit more muscle into it.

 

Liquid Wrench works good on them bolts....

 

I almost got mine done myself and it was tough. I had no room to work under the car. I was able to break loose all the bolts except the last one on the main cat which I rounded when the socket slipped. Really ****ed me off. The bolts on the rear pre cat were really hard to break loose. I wound up taking it to a local speed shop and paid them $50 to do it for me. I would say that you can do it, but without a lift it will be challenging. Good luck, it's worth it.

 

Don't waist your time under the car, it's gonna be long for nothing. Do it right go to the shop for easy acces.
A lift is always better.

 

you definately need the write tools to do the install and from a difficulty level 1-5
i would say its a 4.

defenitely need a freind with you.. it took me 4.5 hours to do it.. its a *****..

if you are not that experienced .. i recommend getting it done at a shop

 

Just lift your car up on jackstands and get under there. Use a breaker bar or piece of pipe to help loosen the bolts. The hardest part is initially loosening them, so spray lots of lubricant on the threads and nuts. After doing the header install, the Y-pipe seems like small change.

Mechanically, the only thing I would really worry about is fitment. If the Y-pipe doesn't bolt up to the pre-cats very well, then you're really in for a treat. Check the fitment as best you can. If it looks like everything will line up, jack the car and turn the wrench. But Cattman is known for products that fit well. I'm one who agrees.

Electrically, the hardest thing about extending the o2 sensors is soldering them. The stock o2 sensor wiring doesn't hold solder, but I was able to wrap enough of my copper extending wire around it that everything was encased in solder. Shrink wrapping is a good idea over the connection points.

Let's put it like this: you can always put the stock Y-pipe back on and go to the shop if you can't make it work. Otherwise, you pocket the $75, gain the experience of doing it, and know that it's done right. It'll take you more elbow grease than anything else.

 

I'm with elchino. I have an 01 and installed a Cattman Y. Get a buddy though, it makes things a lot easier. Make sure the car is cool and spray the hell out of those nuts. I'm not sure what elchino did when he soldered the O2 sensor, I didn't. Maybe b/c i'm cali spec though?

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I got under there today as I was installing my Ground Effects kit. It really didn't look like too bad of an install. I definately want to swap out my Y-pipe and make sure everything works fine after install before I go ahead and mount my front lip. Once I put the lip on I thought I can drive up on a lift. I won't even be able to change my oil on jackstands anymore. I want to do it myself, because my muffler guy kind of half asses stuff. Like he mounted my muffler with hangers from the side because he was too lazy to try and tack it from the top of the muffler. I also think he just eliminated the O2 sensor in the B-pipe.
I do have a few questions. To extend the O2 sensor wires do I need a special type of wire? or regular 22 gauge solid wire?
Also how are the headers attached to the Y-pipe? Is it studs on the header, pipe or is it a threaded rod? Not sure what's on the other side of the bolt. I see the 3 nuts from the bottom but what's on top? I did get new gaskets and a like 5 new nuts. The dealership said it was like a threaded rod.Thanks for the help.