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Borla Exhaust Install


rtobrian
09-30-2010, 11:15 AM
I just bought a Magnaflow direct fit cat and a Borla exhaust for my 2002 Grand Am Gt 3.4. I'm thinking about installing it in my driveway. How hard can it be? Has anyone installed this or similar setup and if so do you have any pointers? Thanks

rtobrian
10-01-2010, 06:27 PM
Well I sawzalled the exhaust off and now i'm stuck on the 2 rusty nuts/studs that hold it to the manifold. I tried my electric impact and a breaker bar. I'm going to soak them with penetrating oil and try again tomorrow. I should've just took it to the shop and let the pros do it!

3100
10-02-2010, 05:49 PM
I know, I did my head gaskets 2 times and never wanted to play with those bolts, what I did once is cut the exhaust pipe after those bolts and before the cat so I can remove cylinder head with complete exhaust manifold and small portion of the pipe. And the second time time I decided to remove all six exhaust manifold bolts in order to remove the head. It is PITA, I know. But I would rather do it this way than risk my head under the car. The key is to be patient, use PB plaster then wait, if it does not work then use wire brush to clean the threads and torch to heat up the bolts. I learned several days ago not to put my fingers in something that is not for me. I wanted to replace threshold on the kitchen door the other day. So it all started fine, until something pushed me to remove small decorating boards around the door frame. :grinno: I took about 1/2 foot of paint from the wall with it.:lol2: So I was getting deeper and deeper into mess. So I said I'll just get a new one and paint in nicely instead of using the old one since I remember seeing prices of similar boards in Home Depot something around $2.46 range. So I was right, once I got there something did not really click I see this nice 10 foot board for 2.46$ hmm very cheap, and at the register lady rings 26$ with tax. There I learned that it was 2.46 per foot, but I acted cool like I expected that price. (was embarrassed to even mention what my imagination was) so to make long story short for f@#$%^ threshold that costs about 13$ I spent about 300$ + of some stupid material (boards, plaster, paint, weather strips, screws, black Decker wood cutting machine) maid mess painting, I don't even know why I even bought that foam that is very sticky, I still can't get that thing off my fingernails. Not to mention all the wasted time and energy. For that price I could have installed two brand new doors, with frame (kitchen and porch door) and it would look brand new and much better.

Same like you, at the end you will probably end up taking it to the muffler shop and at the end it will cost you more money and your time. But this is fun part from which we learn our mistakes. Good luck.

rtobrian
10-02-2010, 08:52 PM
Thanks, this whole money saving idea of doing it myself is going to cost me double if not triple. I did manage to get one nut off but the other one is starting to strip. I've been soaking it with PB for a day now and i'll try again tomorrow. I would've left the cat alone but the 3 bolt flange end was rusted beyond belief so I did what any novice would do and cut if off. lol I did manage to hang the borla cat back kit without any problems and the tailpipes look pretty sweet...

rtobrian
10-03-2010, 01:06 PM
Update: I prayed last night and when I got up this morning I PB'd it again and put my impact with a 9/16 socket(because it was rounding) and laid into it and the cat fell on my head. There's no better feeling in the world, i'm having a great day! I also have another thread on here regarding my P0140 code and I think I found the cause. The muffler shop that welded the cat in last year missed about a 1/4in on the very top of the pipe before the cat so I had a small exhaust leak.

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