My used 3SX downpipe arrived the other day. It was $150 shipped, pretty fair deal. The only problem is the guy slotted out a couple of the bolt holes. He said it did mount up fine on his 99. Well I have a 93 and it sounds like the 94-99 had problems so they needed to be slotted. I plan to just use a thick washer there for better clamping power.

Now my quesion. Do I need a special tool for removing the O2 sensors? or just a wrench. I see some cars need special socket that has a slot for the wire so the sensor can be taken off with a ratchet.

All my gaskets are here so now I just need to find a lift. I know the local tire dealer here pretty good and I'm sure he will let me drive my car on his lift in the next day or two so I can get it in the air to spray the bolts with penetrating oil. I might see if his guys can also loosen all the bolts a few days later and then tighten them up again. I pretty much know he would not install the downpipe and let me gut the rear precat there because of emission laws. (Plus his wife is our local judge).

So if I can get everything loose then I probably can do the rest at my house on jack stands. Gutting the precat is going to be the worst part. Just wish I could get it really high in the air to do it instead of laying on my back.

Kyle

_________________
93 3000 GT VR4

Take the precat off. It's a pain in the ass to get that heat shield out, but it's nothing compared to the pain in the ass of having all that stuff fall on your head while you're drilling it out on your car. Ask Jeff, he helped me do mine, and he says too, that will take years off your life getting that stuff all over you.

_________________
www.rockauto.com

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Well how hard is it to get the rear precat off? I hear people say to just gut them on the car is the easiest way. Originally the downpipe I had shipped was supposed to come with the rear precat eliminator. He couldn't find it and he said it didn't fit so he gave me $50 back. If I can I would take off the rear precat and do it on a bench. But it just sounded like it was a nightmare to get out.

Any suggestions on getting the rear precat off. Thanks

Kyle

_________________
93 3000 GT VR4

I gutted mine before i installed them in the car when I was doing my turbo conversion so mine were done on my work bench, clamped into a vice. In fact, I believe I now have them sitting in a box on my back porch becasue I installed pre-cat eliminators. Want one that is already gutted?

_________________
1993 3000GT VR-4 (build in progress)
1994 3000GT SL
Lead, Follow, or get out of my way!

Also know as:
"dead weight", "wrong wheel drive noob"

If you have a gutted rear precat let me know how much to ship UPS or priority mail. Do you have paypal? I can send some $$ today if you can get it in the mail tonight.

I'm only in the U.P of Michigan so it shouldn't take too long to get here. I want to it this weekend. So priority mail would even work on Saturday.

I assume a rear precat from any year would fit on a 93 VR4, correct?


Kyle

My direct email is

klindstrom AT charterinternet DOT com

Shoot me and email with your paypal email.

_________________
93 3000 GT VR4

Oh YOU gutted yours did you now? Funny, I could've sworn that a NINJA gutted yours.....

I did mine not only on the car but on jack stands vs a lift. It was still fine. I don't know what kinda sallys we have running around here, but it was NOT that bad.

_________________

oh, i just remembered, one of the bolts in the EGR pipe is broken off, you will have to drill it out and retap it or something to use it without an exhaust leak. Still interested?



Oh yeah, you did do the rear one, I did the front one. Hummm, you actually did WORK, well, before the beer and firewater came out that is.

_________________
1993 3000GT VR-4 (build in progress)
1994 3000GT SL
Lead, Follow, or get out of my way!

Also know as:
"dead weight", "wrong wheel drive noob"

Well I guess I probably would pass then. I looked that I could save time by having a gutting one to put in when I get the other one off. If I have to take the time to drill out a broken bolt and retap there really is no time savings. The time to do that would be the time to gut the rear cat on a bench. Granted I wouldn't have to have to breath all the converter, dust and crap.

Originally I wasn't worried about gutting the rear cat because the used downpipe was supposed to come with a rear cat eliminator. He couldn't find it so I sent me $50 back.

Kyle

_________________
93 3000 GT VR4

Kyle,

It's really not that big of a deal to gut them. it's nasty work because it's dirty, but it's not that "hard." Just where eye protection and a paper mask.

The biggest thing is to have something to get the crap out with like a wood bit that you hate strapped into an electric drill. Also, it's a bit of a pain to get all the crap out, but once it starts breaking up in chunks it starts coming out better.

you may also want a wire wheel on a long stem for in the drill as that will make cleaning up the edges a bit cleaner... not that you will care about half way through the project unless you are really a perfectionist.

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

Went down to a friends shop last night. It's and old repair shop from way back, maybe 1930's. Him and a friend bought a few years ago for like $18K (a steal!). Lift, air compressor, office, bathroom furnace. He has just about every shop tool around that you might need. Plus a fridge full of Beer!!! It's actually a perfect shop for guys who like to work on cars.

Anyway we got the VR4 up in the air and checked out how it will be to take off the downpipe. The all the bolts for the front and rear look pretty easy to get to and are not all rusted up. The studs on the rear of the converter look super rusty. The plan will be to just cut them off. The 3SX downpipe comes with three bungs and it had one plug. I need to get two more plugs because the O2 sensors are not on the downpipe like other years. I guess gutting the cat will be the hardest part but it will be nice that I will be able to stand under the car to do it, instead of laying on my back.

Hopefully I can get it done in the morning. I have a B-day party for my son at 3:00pm (5 years old). After that I have a bachelor party to go to. Tomorrow will be busy.

Kyle

_________________
93 3000 GT VR4

most exhaust shops have plugs, but I have not found many other places that have them. they were also special order around here.

I believe we used a 4" cutting wheel and what not to get Brett's Cat off. it sucked large flacid donkey c**k.

Spray EVERYTHING down well with PB Blaster or WD40 and then take it for a "spirited" drive over to the shop. the heat will help loosen up the bits and peices, and the penetrating oil will then be able to get in a tad deeper.

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!