Is it easy to change the H-pipe?
 

I'd like to change my stock H-pipe out and was wondering if it is easy and how high do I need to lift the car to get it swapped? Anything welded in there, special tools needed and how long should it take? Any tips like how to prevent it from dragging on the ground or keeping it from rattling etc. before I start? TIA...

it's not too hard
 

it's just time consuming (sometimes) All you have to do is remove 4 nuts from the headers, (two on each) remove the 4 nuts from the mufflers (two on each) and drop the h-pipe. When the H-pipe sits on the headers it bends a little. Sometimes because it's a little warped it's a pain in the ***** to fit back up to the headers. I think the nuts were (for me) 18 mm on the headers, and 15 mm on the mufflers. You only need a ratchet, some sockets, and some time. You don't have to lift your car, but it does help a lot. It should take about 1/2 hour to 2 hours, depending if you have other issues with your car (like I do). Take care, Keith.

based on the number of bolts and where it is, it should be a 20 minute job but because it is exhaust and may be rusted together it could take a few hours.
Mine was a real f*** around. It was rusted so bad that I snapped two of the studs off of the headers. I had to grind them flat then drill holes for bolts so I could bolt up the new H. It was more work than I expected but it was still worth it.

Now like I said, if it's not rusted too bad it shouldn't take too long or be too hard.

Good Luck

I just changed my h-pipe and cat back a month ago and it was a big pain. You have to get the car up a bit. I just put my car on ramps and I had enough room to work with. My bolts coming from the headers were also rusted really bad. What I had to do was get a small torch to heat the nuts up so I could get them off. In theory, it should be a 1/2 job at most. In reality, it will most likely take a few hours. But trust me, it is more than worth the time when you stomp on that gas.
Oh yeah, I needed (and luckily had) a swivle for the ratchet set to get around the stock cat on my driver side. I have a 95 so I don't know if it will be different for you.

WD40.....
 

Trust me..it will be so much easier if you got under there at least 2-3 times before you attempt to install and spray all nuts and bolts with WD40.
Mine was a breeze.
HTH

Mine took 30 mins.

mine took several hours because i could not get the socket past the cat. converter on the pass. side. man, that sucked.


i'll never put another cat converter there again...!!!