fitting decat pipe

[Beady]

Finally decided to go for this upgrade and recently received the pipe from Jim. I usually take the car to a dealer for anything but encouraged by the various diy posts I thought, how hard can it be. The Allen key bolts to the under-tray were all stuck solid so after trying a few things I drilled them out. Need to order new ones - any suggestions on best place to get them? The old pipe then came off ok. I took the back box off and after a little persuasion the new pipe wax fitted to the back box and loosely reconnected to the downpipe connection. However rain then stopped play. I am now struggling to refit the back box support bar into the two rubber mountings at each side. Is there a technique to do this? Didn't help that I was on my own, perhaps with another pair of hands it may be easier. Any help much appreciated

[superdavelotus]

Hi Paul,

 

It's a shame you drilled the bolts out before posting as I had the same problem last week when adjusting my handbrake. If you have some WD40 or GT85 penetrating oil with the straw attachment then there is enough gap in the grill to accurately point the penetrating oil to the ends of the bolts. Leave for a few minutes and they do undo. My first try at the bolt and my mate said that they would snap the heads off. A quick spray later and all the bolts came out!

The other thing is that you don't need to remove the bolts from diffuser to grill as this comes off wit the diffuser if you undo the two inner bolts and the posi drive screws to black part of bumper near the rear wheels.

As for where to buy them from, an engineering suppliers will stock them. The size is M5 x 16mm button head Allen socket, washer sizes is 14mm x M5 (I've just taken one out and measured it). When you refit, make sure you add copper slip otherwise you'll have the same problems in the future.

I don't have any advise first hand on refitting the back box as I haven't removed that item yet. Plan to do this in next couple of weeks.  Have you considered that perhaps you should remove one side then slide he back box onto the other side and refit the bracket to the bar and bolt back to body?

 

Regards,

 

 

 

David

[Christian43]

did mine recently. Fairly straight forwards although all bolts rusted solid. Lots of WD40 and a heat gun on the two nuts holding the cat pipe onto the downpipes.

 

I would say for the brackets each side I put one bolt in on each. rotated them onto the back box mounts then fitted the other bolt. If you lube the rubber with WD it will slide onto the back box easier.

 

BTW how far you push the back box into the 3rd cat removal pipe will make a fair difference on how central your tailpipes end up. I got mine wrong and my tailpipes are 1/2" off central. I will fix it when I change the back box (think I will fit the Larinni system).

 

cheers

 

C43

[auRouge]

If my Larini De Cat Pipe is anything to go by then whole system will be incredible..

Will you fit it yourself? Apparently a difficult system to fit.

[Colin P]

Stupid question, but they should slip right over the bar, I assume you have removed the rubber mounts from the car, slipped them on then reaffixed the lot.

Can't see why the lairini should be difficult unless it is built wrong. My 2bular went straight on. Biggest problem was getting one of the flange nuts off, which I had to use a splitter on.

[phaphaphooey]

Hi Paul,

 

It's a shame you drilled the bolts out before posting as I had the same problem last week when adjusting my handbrake. If you have some WD40 or GT85 penetrating oil with the straw attachment then there is enough gap in the grill to accurately point the penetrating oil to the ends of the bolts. Leave for a few minutes and they do undo. My first try at the bolt and my mate said that they would snap the heads off. A quick spray later and all the bolts came out!

The other thing is that you don't need to remove the bolts from diffuser to grill as this comes off wit the diffuser if you undo the two inner bolts and the posi drive screws to black part of bumper near the rear wheels.

As for where to buy them from, an engineering suppliers will stock them. The size is M5 x 16mm button head Allen socket, washer sizes is 14mm x M5 (I've just taken one out and measured it). When you refit, make sure you add copper slip otherwise you'll have the same problems in the future.

I don't have any advise first hand on refitting the back box as I haven't removed that item yet. Plan to do this in next couple of weeks.  Have you considered that perhaps you should remove one side then slide he back box onto the other side and refit the bracket to the bar and bolt back to body?

 

Regards,

 

 

 

David

 

David,

 

Not to thread jack but can you point me in the direction of some information as to adjusting the hand brake?  I have to pull mine up entirely too far for it to actuate such that I am afraid that I am going to break the black plastic trim around the hand brake. 

[superdavelotus]

Hi there, I've done an install guide on another thread recently. Do a search, it was only last week. You have to slacken the cable first then adjust at wheels.

How this helps.

[phaphaphooey]

After I posted this reply last night I found your other thread.  It was very helpful.  Thank you for taking the time to post it. 

[auRouge]

Can't see why the lairini should be difficult unless it is built wrong. My 2bular went straight on. Biggest problem was getting one of the flange nuts off, which I had to use a splitter on.

Apparently the Larini parts sometimes need a bit of persuasion to fit. The manufacturing side of it isn't always consistent...

My De Cat pipe went on but was apparently quite difficult and took more than the standard hour or so...

[phaphaphooey]

My 2bular went right on.

[Beady]

The decat pipe fitted fine, I was really just having a problem refitting the back box into the mountings single handed. Drafted in an extra pair of hands yesterday and now all finished. Found replacement bolts at a local engineering shop so all good now.

[Beady]

2 weeks in and the decat sounds fantastic with the Lotus sports exhaust.

Should have done it ages ago.

K&N filter next I think