Time to quiet down the exhaust, help me decide how!

[Spartan7]

Well, after procrastinating and waiting eons for my extra hanger from Magnaflow, I finally dove into this. It didn't exactly go as planned, but what part of working on these things ever does?

Before. Neither of the tips was very straight, and the passenger side was slowly melting my bumper. Now I get to fix that, yay.

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Here's a side shot of before. You can see how horribly low the SLP system hung. It was so bad that it dragged on my garage approach every time. It was one of the main reasons for ditching this old system altogether.

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Yikes, that's low.

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After having a fun time with a horribly fitting Founders LCA relocation bracket (which I've now fixed with the dremel...), the rear end drooped low enough to pull out the old exhaust without cutting. So long!

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Here's the extra hangers that the LS1 system has, they fit into existing frame holes.

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Aaaand, here was the first major headache. Check out the HORRIBLE location of this driver side hanger. After doing some searching, it seems this is way more common than it should be. Way to go, Magnaflow.

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The second headache was the I-pipe. It was too long, by over an inch. I was mad about it, but because I have an aftermarket Y-pipe, I'll just let that one slide. Luckily, there's a very nice exhaust shop right around the corner that cut the inch off and expanded the tube to be an actual slip fit over the Y-pipe free of charge. All I had to do was slot it with the sawzall and it fits perfect.

After a LOT of adjusting, swearing, and crawling under the car, I got it sitting pretty good.

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MUCH better ground clearance.

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I also took the opportunity to install two parts that have been collecting dust for many months; a BMR full length adjustable torque arm, and a UMI low profile driveshaft loop designed for Kooks stuff. I also forgot what a huge PITA the torque arm mount is. I HATE that thing.

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I got the tips pretty close, close enough to be happy with them anyway.

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And of course, the required video clip.



I am SO happy with the final outcome (which is good, because Magnaflow's lack of quality control was pissing me off). The car is so much quieter now, no more droning while cruising. My first drive was much more enjoyable than ever before. I can hear the radio, have a conversation, and I don't have to kill the ignition in the drive thru. The interior vibrates less, and I can actually get on the gas a little without worrying about alerting the cops in the next county.

The system's fitment was only OK. The over axle pipe comes way too close to the panhard support bar, no amount of adjustment would get it away from there. I'm probably going to have someone notch the bar for me, and an exhaust shop will probably end up cutting the driver side hanger (since it's like 4" too long) and re-welding it so it will actually work with the OEM hanger. And my last issue, I lost part of the Y-pipe hanger, so now it sometimes rattles against the driveshaft loop. Anyone got an extra one lying around? I just need the part that bolts to the Y-pipe itself.

Again, happy happy happy with the quiet exhaust. Not so happy with their quality.