Wagner Motorsports Header, Down and Mid. (HELP! having problem)

[manofmacg3]

Hello!
I am the proud (well kinda) owner of wagner header, down and mid with high flow cats. They are beautiful! But there is a problem, I am having problems with the fit. The downpipe flange is hitting my oil pan (look at pic) when bolted up to the mid!!! (sad2) And the flex pipe is cutting really close (look at pic)
This really sucks! And I'm totally confused to why this is happening, simply because I've heard nothing but great things about wagner and I know he produces quite a bit of these.
Has anyone else run into this problem? Please reply!!!!
I'll be calling wagner monday to see what can be done, but nothing is going to be quick and I'd hate to have to put back on my stock equipment.

 

[RyanJayG]

try losening up the blosts on the header>cat flange. there should be a little play because the holes are larger than the bolts. turn it in the firection away from your oil pan. there isn't a whole lot you can do about the flex joint being clost except for maybe getting the GTspec 4point brace.

 

[P5MoJo]

is your car automatic because i heard the oil pan positioning differs between each tranny..

 

[manofmacg3]

Tryed re-adjusting the bolts this morning and it gave me a little play. But now i'm wondering if it is the flange hitting my oil pan or the flew pipe hitting the brace... hmmm. Anyway.. something is still hitting. And I only hear it hit when the car is in drive and I hit the gas.
Anywho... and yes it is an auto.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I have the same problem with my Ractive header. The flange rests against the oil pan, and I too have A/T. Try adjusting fitment, but it didn't help. I just deall with it, I only hear it when I'm stopped, sometimes.

 

[manofmacg3]

Well... its seems now that the flange isn't the problem. The flange is about 1/8" to 1/4" away from the oil pan now. And the downpipe doesn't move, no matter how hard I try to jiggle it, so that being the noise problem I've ruled out. My theory now is that is the flex pipe on the mid pipe hitting the cross beam. Makes sense right? Anywho.. I'll try to test this theory more tomorrow.. going to cut a piece off an old tire and wedge it in there.. no noise = problem known.
Thanks for everyones input.. every bit helps.

 

[twilightprotege]

do you have kartboy exhaust hangers?

 

[manofmacg3]

Twilight Protege - no i don't have the kartboy hangers? possibly help you think????

 

[manofmacg3]

GOOD NEWS!!! Well sorta... problem is isolated 100%. It is the flex pipe hitting the crossmember. All ready spoke with wagner this morning, they suggested a few things (which none worked unfortunatly) and said if worse comes to worse they'd send another midpipe. I am going to just go ahead and order the Kartboy hangers I think, just because. Funny enough... if there wasn't a flex pipe, I wouldn't have a problem...lol. Calling wagner back to see what the next step should be.

 

[twilightprotege]

i was going to say the kartboys might be the problem. a mate in australia had kartboys on his car and his exhaust as hitting a lot. the problem was that the engine was moving under flex, but the exhaust wasnt....bang bang bang bang.

 

[manofmacg3]

i was going to say the kartboys might be the problem. a mate in australia had kartboys on his car and his exhaust as hitting a lot. the problem was that the engine was moving under flex, but the exhaust wasnt....bang bang bang bang.

Good to know! Well... ordered them already and now I figure what does it hurt. If they don't work out I'll just return them.

And I called wagner.. they are sending another midpipe!

 

[twilightprotege]

if they dont work out - time for engine mounts.

my exhaust moves less than 1mm now.

 

[scorch70]

Good to know! Well... ordered them already and now I figure what does it hurt. If they don't work out I'll just return them.

And I called wagner.. they are sending another midpipe!

I had the same problem. I ordered a GT Spec ladder bar to see if that would help, but it didnt. I ended up having to have the hangers rewelded in a different spot. Now no rattle.

Good luck.

 

[manofmacg3]

I had the same problem. I ordered a GT Spec ladder bar to see if that would help, but it didnt. I ended up having to have the hangers rewelded in a different spot. Now no rattle.

Good luck.

Cool! Well, wagner is sending a new midpipe and if worse comes to worse I could always modify the hanger. Thanks

 

[Maxx Mazda]

I had the same problem with the oil pan on my Ractive header, It is easily fixed. I made the mistake of tightening the lower bolts onto the flange first. If you loosen everything off (bottom pipe flange and where it meets the block) and then stick something between the header and opil pan to hold it like a 1/4" away from it. Then tighten the upper bolts first, then go to the lower. Then pull out your spacer and you're all good to go. Only takes like 10 minutes, and no more header rattle!

 

[NJP5Guy]

well the easiest fix would have been to get 4 washers and use them to lower the brace under the car.thereby giving more clearance for the flexpipe. how much did you spend on all three parts with shipping? did you notice a gain in power? im looking to replace everthing before the cat-back system while still retaining the cats.......wagner is just pricey.

 

[codz]

i had the same problem. I have the n/a header and catless dp, on my manual p5. The down pipe comes very close to the oil pan. It took some time to adjust it but it has clearence now, my exhaust is rattling somewhere now though, i'll have to get under there and check it. I guess your not alone in having this problem. Also I have the SS header and it's starting to show surface rust. SUCKS.

 

[manofmacg3]

Yeh... still awaiting the new midpipe. The rattling is annoying, but luckily harmless. I may have to try what was suggest by adding washer to the cross member, when and if I have time.
I payed $850 shipped for all three.. all stainless and with high flow cats.
And ooohhh boy are their gains!!! Getting the car to move is not a problem, not that it was before, but now there is no question.
And Curious??? Where exactly is the header starting to rust??? Because around the welds it most likely will.

 

[RyanJayG]

it shouldn't rust if they welded it with the proper wire.

 

[codz]

Not the welds, it's the actual piping, but my DP which is also SS isn't rusting at all. I'm going to be e-mailing andrew pics.