Still waiting on my RA to come back from the body shop due to some winter damages (IMO Yokohoma's fault). Got my UR test pipe and UICP in the mean time. Anybody got any advice on the test pipe install? UICP seems fine.....but for some reason the test pipe worries me. Anybody replaced the OEM cat with a test pipe? Any tips? Thanks in advance!

 

The cat pipe is easily accessible under the car. Just make sure you use jack stand. Also, make sure the car is thoroughly cooled before you start messing with it as it gets really frakkin hot. I would suggest having a good penetrating spay lubricant in case the bolts are rusted. When putting the bolts back on to the stock nuts, make sure to hand start the bolts. It is a little too easy to strip them if you aren't careful.

 

like runaround said........
.....once you have the car up on stands soak the bolts with penetrant and wait a while.

also.......make sure to spray penetrant on the O2 sensor also.

the sensor will probably be siezed in the bung. be careful when removing.

if it seems like it is too hard to turn after breaking loose the threads on the sensor may be tearing off.

.........take your time with the ($400) sensor....the rest is easy.

 

buy an O2 sensor socket for like $7.00 makes the job very simple. U might have to prop up the O2 sensor wire on something once the testpipes in and the O2 sensors installed ( the wire tends to sag close to the HOT pipe).

 

I just rolled up the excess wire, and taped it, then stuck it under that black bracket it came out of.

Few other hints, disconnect the battery before you work on it. After you remove the O2 sensor, use some of that packing foam to wrap it up, so you don't accidently scuff it.

 

Put anti-seize on the 02 sensor threads so it's not a pain to take out in the future. Make sure 02 sensor wire is not going to get tangled up with your drive shaft.

 

Nice.....thanks for all the input guys


Thinking about making a how to for it......
Supposed to get my RA back from the body shop tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for starting this, im installing my new ams testpipe this weekend

 

Got the test pipe installed without any major issues. Definitely worth getting some penetrating spray and the o2 socket wrench. They are universal and you can get them at any auto store. I just used the pre-existing gaskets with some dabs of the gasket maker high heat. I took some pics of the whole process and may do a write up since this seems like a common interest.

 

Glad it went well! Definitely a nice feeling when you get it done yourself AND it works out right.

-Taranis

 

Yup......no CEL or anything.....FABO

 

Did you use the 02 spacer?

 

I didn't buy a spacer because the guys at UR actually weld one onto the pipe. I can't speak for other companies, but UR has it together in the simplicity department. A monkey probably could have installed the test pipe and the UICP for that matter. No fabrication needed.

The only problem was that there was excess wire because the spacer is a little further back than where the 02 sensor was on the stock cat. I used electrical tape to roll the wire up, and then secured it underneath on an already existing clamp to avoid future tangleation (I just made that word up).

Once my wife teaches me how to upload pics I will probably post them in a How To thread

 

That would be awsome if you could post a how to.

 

The next mod (down the road) is a high flow cat...

How do i do it?

Thx!