Header, downpipe and midpipe installed but...

[Protege_Speed]

I finally was able to get my Wagner header, dowpipe and midpipe installed over the weekend. I bought both pipes high flow cats. Can't really say much for performance because I am so annoyed with the vibration I am getting. It seems that either my flexpipe is hitting the crossmember or something else. It's not hitting all the time though. It can be at cruising speeds or at open throttle but not all the time. I haven't been able to really check it yet. Has anyone else had this problem? I remember reading somewhere about automatics not having much room with this set up but I can't find the thread. If you had this problem, how did you fix it?

 

[Blown]

Might be between the collector and the tranny. Check your gap there. My ractive header had <1/8" gap and rattled occassionally as well. Annoyed me to no end!

 

[p5sundevil]

a 1/8 gap? were you using the originaly gasket? or any at all?

your best bet for solving the rattling problem is to buy the kartboy exhaust hangers, like their shifter bushings are a poly material instead of soft rubber and will keep the exhaust from moving around. is it the cross member or a heat shield it is hitting, some things under there can be safely bent out of the way.

 

[Blown]

Original OEM gaskets. It differs from header to header but the rattle is prevalent.

 

[tonkabui]

a 1/8 gap? were you using the originaly gasket? or any at all?

your best bet for solving the rattling problem is to buy the kartboy exhaust hangers, like their shifter bushings are a poly material instead of soft rubber and will keep the exhaust from moving around. is it the cross member or a heat shield it is hitting, some things under there can be safely bent out of the way.

i've noticed a LOT more vibrations throughout my car with the kartboys. my car now vibrates so much, it shakes my doors. the hangers work great, but be ready for more stress on your flex joint. if it's not well made, the flex joint can be overstressed and break.

as for the wagner kit, the only way to make sure everything is fitting right and to isolate your problem, you're gonna have to put the car up on a lift or jackstands and have someone rev it while you do a visual inspection of all clearances. good luck. sucks you spent so much money and not be satisfied.

 

[akhilleus]

I have an AT and with the OBX 41 header there is really no way it could interefere with the tranny...that was a rumor about the AWR that wasnt true. I bet it is your midpipe since that weaves through and near support items etc... I guess u have to visually inspect it....it could be the 2nd cat heat shield as someone had mentioned

 

[p5sundevil]

yah well you have to assume the hangers dont just eliminate the vibration, they just dont allow the exhaust to be the part vibrating....just transfers it to the body of the car really but it is to be expected when doing that kinda upgrade, sucks that it has a trade off though, no simple solutions i guess.

 

[akhilleus]

I also would like to see an image of the midpipe installed if possible.

 

[Protege_Speed]

I actually have the Kartboy exhaust bushings. I will try to put the car up on the ramps tonight to see if there is anything I can do.

 

[p5sundevil]

then the bushings may be whats doing it cause wagner may not have counted on those when designing the midpipe for clearance, although when I think about it I dont see how that could be the cause.

guess its a tim allen job, just tweak it a little =)

 

[Protege_Speed]

I tried the stock bushings because I thought the same thing. That made it much worse. I took some video. I will try to upload it somewhere. It's 6mb and it shows some pics also. It doesn't show it hitting the crossmember but it shows how it could and the pics show some evidence also.

 

[Protege_Speed]

More...

 

[tonkabui]

damn, that sucks. it's definitely the flexjoint rubbing up on the frame when you rev hard.

 

[FrigginGLI]

I bet when your boucning down the road and hit bumps that would be the cause.

 

[twilightprotege]

time for engine mounts!!!

my exhaust doesnt move 1 little bit!

 

[akhilleus]

Mayeb there is some way to either secure it more or put in a hi-temp rubber stopper on the frame to prevent the vibration

 

[Protege_Speed]

Anybody know of a place to put a 5mb video to share? WMV format.

 

[Protege_Speed]

Weird thing is I don't hear it or feel it banging when I hit bumps.

I bet when your boucning down the road and hit bumps that would be the cause.

 

[Protege_Speed]

That may definitely fix it. I wish I could show off the video I got.

time for engine mounts!!!

my exhaust doesnt move 1 little bit!

 

[tonkabui]

i think a lot of people use we todd did racing or something like that.