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Need exhaust help

L

loggerbomb

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jun 10, 2004
Messages
3,744
Location
Kitchener, ON Canada
My exhaust is crapped out - flex pipe is toast. How hard is it to remove yourself? I tried looking for a how to but came up empty. Just wondering if I could save some money and get it done myself.

I was also wondering if I got headers, if they take the place of the flex pipe, but I am thinking "NO" after seeing some pics. Can someone clarify that for me?
 
loggerbomb said:
..I was also wondering if I got headers, if they take the place of the flex pipe, but I am thinking "NO" after seeing some pics. Can someone clarify that for me?
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"NO" is the correct answer. The headers take the place of the exhaust manifolds (precats).
 
Well I knew I could count on you for a response Tony! Though abot the flexpipe. Is it a pain to replace yourself? I just don't want to pay a shop 100 dollars if I can crawl under and unbolt it myself.
 
...only it doesn't unbolt, haha. My flex pipe has a pretty big leak right now as well. The thing is getting scorched beyond belief and im afraid its gonna break soon UGH. However, it doesn't just "unbolt." Unless you plan on taking off the cats as well. If you want to replace JUST the flex pipe, it needs to be cut off, and the new one welded on. My mechanic will be doing this for me very soon. I will post an update on how much he charges me for labor. :)
 
Trust me, for $100, it some times is easier to bite the bullet instead of messing with exhaust at times.
I can see if you were replacing a muffler, but that flex pipe must be honestly welded in.
 
ok good to know. The total cost I was quoted was just over 200 bucks though. about a hundred for the labour and a hundred for the pipe, plus taxes and all.

I thought they might bolt up as I am pretty sure my old corolla did. When I got that flex pipe fixed they had to weld the bolts in place because they kept popping out.
 
Well like usual I am confused again. In that link you gave me Tony, Goonz has a pic of a flexpipe and there is bolts on it.

The shops I got quotes from didn't look at the car or anything, so it would be pretty hard to tell if they (the bolts) were seized or not.
 
Well seeing as you have a Zetec just like I do, a year older, I'm 100% sure you have the same exhaust setup I do, and the flex pipe IS NOT BOLTED ON. it comes as one piece with the cats all the way to your cat converter. It basically is PART of your cats. So, like I said, it needs to be cut out, and a new one has to be custom cut to fit the gap and welded in. I will probably be getting mine done on Tuesday, I will let you know of the cost if you would like. My mechanic is a biiit pricey, but he has owned his own shop for over 30 yrs by himself I think. He's a good guy...
 
zorrex said:
Well seeing as you have a Zetec just like I do, a year older, I'm 100% sure you have the same exhaust setup I do, and the flex pipe IS NOT BOLTED ON. it comes as one piece with the cats all the way to your cat converter. It basically is PART of your cats. So, like I said, it needs to be cut out, and a new one has to be custom cut to fit the gap and welded in.
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Seems weird, not that I don't believe you but you would think they (ford) would have made it a separate piece as having it being one seems to be more of a pain. My cats and mufflers are likely near the end of their lives too. Maybe I should just bit the bullet and get that svt exhaust.
 
Well, my muffler died at around 75k, and now my flex pipe at 85k...How many miles on yours? Because when my mechanic had my car on the lift we were inspecting the rest of the exhaust, and he said it should hold up with minimal problems for another 40k if I'm not a jerk to it, haha.
 
So I'm presuming that's your original exhaust? Hmm...well if the exhaust doesn't look to be in good shape overall, you might as well just get a brand new one...:shrug:
 
Well thats the thought. I mean for 200 bucks I can get one small piece repaired or for a couple hundred more + cost of hanging it, I can get an svt exhaust.

Though I really need to get my rear springs done as well. They are right toast.
 
loggerbomb said:
Though I really need to get my rear springs done as well. They are right toast.
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I concur. My car has wicked bad a$$ sag. :(. I really don't have the money to fix that within the next year, though. Stupid college. I'm probably going to have to sell my car next summer and get a cheaper one. :cry:
 
Yeah. I had my timing belt snap - that was 800. Than the exhaust went. Depending on what I do it'll be between 200-500. Than I need to do the springs and that will be somewhere between 200-400. Depending on how brave I feel. Also need to take care of my front drivers wheel, got some whining high pitched noise there. Oh and need to get some new tires as I am driving the old winter tires to the threads! :laugh:

All that sucks and there will be more as the whole suspension likely needs redoing since its so old. I wouldn't mind but I don't exactly have steady work right now and its really making it difficult to find the funds to get the car fixed. :blackeye:
 
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