Today was a very hot day and I wasn't going out.
Decided to install the Taitec GT Competition exhaust that has been lying around for several weeks now.
So, I took at the tools and went down to the garage. Got the car on jack-stands front and rear. So far so good.
Crawled under the car and notice how the cat-heat-shields look to be in the way for the exhaust-flange nuts. And of course all these little 10mm nuts are badly rusted and won't budge at all. That is, the first one came loose pretty easy but then got stuck in the 10mm socket. Luckily, I have another set but the others simple don't give way.
Finally, decide to try it with the heat-shields on, and see there, I have on a little trouble getting these larger14mm nuts loose. After a bit of wrenching and trouble getting to the upper ones the come loose all of them. I immediately give them a nice oil-bath.
The exhaust is loose now but how to get it off. I start pulling the rubber blocks from which the exhaust is hanging. This stuff is tight! I remember the FAQ telling about using the car-jack to lift the stuff up a bit. I try it and yes, it works. With the right side lifted with the car-jack I can now lift the other side with my pulled-up knee and work the rubbers off. After that, the rest is easy.
Now I have to put the Taitec on. Luckily, it's much lighter than OEM and doesn't have all these heat-shields. Getting the rubbers on is easy but the right flange simple doesn't lign up. I also don't seem to be able to get the old gaskets out so in the end I decide to leave them where the are. In the end I take all the rubbers of but one, undo the left flange I had already on and then finaly manage to get the right flange on its bolts. Put on the three nuts loosely, then over to the other side.
After than, put the rubbers on and tighten the nuts again. And voila, finished !!
Put the car back on its wheels and bring all the stuff back in the house. Total time, not counting a 40 minute brake, 4 hours, 20 minutes. Not a record time but have learned much again. And only cut myself once....
Afther a good long shower I take the car out for a drive. The Taitec sounds louder and much deeper than the OEM exhaust. However, the growl it now has disappears more or less around 4000 rpm which I think is nice. Enough sound down low but no more than stock at higher speeds.
For the record, the Taitec GT Competition weighs 11.4 kg (25.13 lbs). The OEM I have now weighs 19.7 kg (43.43 lbs). Total saving therefore 8.3 kg or 18.3 lbs.
Next step will be the Dynojet again to see if it makes a difference.
Decided to install the Taitec GT Competition exhaust that has been lying around for several weeks now.
So, I took at the tools and went down to the garage. Got the car on jack-stands front and rear. So far so good.
Crawled under the car and notice how the cat-heat-shields look to be in the way for the exhaust-flange nuts. And of course all these little 10mm nuts are badly rusted and won't budge at all. That is, the first one came loose pretty easy but then got stuck in the 10mm socket. Luckily, I have another set but the others simple don't give way.
Finally, decide to try it with the heat-shields on, and see there, I have on a little trouble getting these larger14mm nuts loose. After a bit of wrenching and trouble getting to the upper ones the come loose all of them. I immediately give them a nice oil-bath.
The exhaust is loose now but how to get it off. I start pulling the rubber blocks from which the exhaust is hanging. This stuff is tight! I remember the FAQ telling about using the car-jack to lift the stuff up a bit. I try it and yes, it works. With the right side lifted with the car-jack I can now lift the other side with my pulled-up knee and work the rubbers off. After that, the rest is easy.
Now I have to put the Taitec on. Luckily, it's much lighter than OEM and doesn't have all these heat-shields. Getting the rubbers on is easy but the right flange simple doesn't lign up. I also don't seem to be able to get the old gaskets out so in the end I decide to leave them where the are. In the end I take all the rubbers of but one, undo the left flange I had already on and then finaly manage to get the right flange on its bolts. Put on the three nuts loosely, then over to the other side.
After than, put the rubbers on and tighten the nuts again. And voila, finished !!
Put the car back on its wheels and bring all the stuff back in the house. Total time, not counting a 40 minute brake, 4 hours, 20 minutes. Not a record time but have learned much again. And only cut myself once....
Afther a good long shower I take the car out for a drive. The Taitec sounds louder and much deeper than the OEM exhaust. However, the growl it now has disappears more or less around 4000 rpm which I think is nice. Enough sound down low but no more than stock at higher speeds.
For the record, the Taitec GT Competition weighs 11.4 kg (25.13 lbs). The OEM I have now weighs 19.7 kg (43.43 lbs). Total saving therefore 8.3 kg or 18.3 lbs.
Next step will be the Dynojet again to see if it makes a difference.
