Cat-back Install Difficulty?

[Docmallory]

I am probably going to be getting a Borla cat-back exhaust soon. I am wondering how many bananas the install is for a guy with no real exhaust experience and limited tools.

I am primarily concerned about getting the old exhaust off. The studs on the rear O2 sensor look pretty good, but the bolts where the tail pipe attaches at the rear of the rear cat look pretty rusty - the nuts (if that's what those are) appear round - not boogered up, just not hexagonal.

A Dremel and hacksaw are my only cutting tools. Of course, I am very familiar with Mr. P.B. Blaster.

What's the prognosis for me doing this myself?

 

[landtank]

Get 3 new rubber mounts and their nuts. On the original exhaust the muffler pipe bolts to the rear cat with 2 bolts that thread into a plate with 2 captured nuts. That is probably the worst of the removeal of the original exhaust. Look carefully at the original exhaust as you might be missing the hanger at the rear if the muffler. You want to be sure not to remove the rear most hanger if this is rusted off as the whole exhaust would then be hanging on the cats and possible damage them. I like sawzalls fior this kind of work. I started by cutting the pipe just after the raer O2 sensor so not to damage the cats if the exhaust suddenly fell while attached.

 

[Docmallory]

Very helpful. Thank you!

I'll have to see if one of my neighbors has a Sawzall....

 

[Junk]

BTW, Doc, if you post where you are at, some other folks with more tools may be able to assist or at least stop by and ridicule you as you work

 

[Docmallory]

Anybody know the size or part number of the Borla muffler that is included with their cat-back? I'm trying to see if they sell it seperately.

 

[clownmidget]

Doc, go to the source
(http://www.borla.com/contact.us/?cartID=2004072810065968.120.229.44)
Mike R.

 

[landtank]

Best price on the Borla that I'm aware of is at www.Performanceproducts.com their web site is usually wrong as the price in the cataloque is $389.00

 

[archie]

Very helpful. Thank you!

I'll have to see if one of my neighbors has a Sawzall....

If you're gonna use the sawzall, I recommend getting some short old 2x4's or other pieces of wood to wedge between the car the exhast system. This will prevent the exhaust from moving around loosely on the hangers while you're cutting. I used the car jack to push up the exhast system towards the wedged wood increasing the stability. Good luck!

 

[pound3151]

I recently put a Borla cat back on my 80. A sawzall and air powered cutting wheel were my best friends to deal with the old system. As Landtank said, take a close look for rusted off hangers. I had to slightly modify one of the Borla's hangers to get it to match up to my frame mount, if you do, be careful not to bend it at the weld. New rubber mounts from CDan were installed also. Other than that, it's a low bananna job.

Brad

 

[Docmallory]

Best price on the Borla that I'm aware of is at www.Performanceproducts.com their web site is usually wrong as the price in the cataloque is $389.00

I bought the Borla system on sale last week from www.truckperformance.com for $370 with free shipping. It arrived today. They had two at that price, but I hesitated to say anything until I knew I'd be satisfied with what they shipped. Price is back up to $451 now.

EDIT- and to answer my own question above- Borla uses model number 40930 muffler for the Land Cruiser. I cannot find it listed or for sale individually. It is 8.5"x5.5"x24", offset/offset. The piping in this kit is 2.25", according to paperwork.

I have already removed the rusty cat bolts and O2 sensor bolts in preparation for installing this thing later in the week (replaced with temporary new hardware). Looks like it will go on quickly. Will do my best to get before/after sound files.

 

[landtank]

Glad to hear it. I just got my replacement muffler for that broken hanger. Maybe this weekend I'll get it changed out. Let us know how it goes in and how you like the sound.

 

[Docmallory]

Does anyone want a slightly used factory exhaust system? It would be pick-up only. If nobody wants it, I'll just cut it up and will autopsy the muffler to see if I can find the whistling culprit.

 

[Docmallory]

Glad to hear it. I just got my replacement muffler for that broken hanger. Maybe this weekend I'll get it changed out. Let us know how it goes in and how you like the sound.

Did they just send you the muffler, or the whole front muffler/pipe section?

Which hanger broke?

 

[Junk]

Doc, it's ususally the hanger on the back of the oem muffler that goes and it usually goes when people cut off the resonator and don't tack in a new rear support.

 

[landtank]

The hanger on the front of the muffler section at the rear of the last cat. They sent me a whole new front section. My original section did not fit correctly so I bent the hanger to get it to work. However 40k later it broke and no questions asked other than the receipt and the new one was fabbed up and sent out.

 

[Docmallory]

Just installed the Borla last night. It went pretty smoothly - the only hitch was getting the old tailpipe out - the flange would barely fit between the body and the rear crossmember and I was hoping not to cut it up in case somebody wanted it. Finally got it out in one piece, but had to jack up the rear about 18 inches and drop the spare in order to finagle it.

The Borla kit is nice and went together well. I ended up buying the cat gasket, all 3 exhaust cushions (every one of the originals had at least one stud snap off), the nuts for the cushions, and 6 washers for where the cushion studs go through the Borla hangers.

No obvious performance difference, and wasn't expecting any.

Sounds good, but don't expect a V-8 sound. No droning in the interior. Disappointed with lack of burble at idle. Really can't hear it until the engine is revved up a bit.

Looks darn shiny, like a big chrome snake hanging under the truck.

 

[Rookie2]

Pics. Please.


Rookie2

 

[Docmallory]

Pics. Please.

Here ya go.

It does appear to hang lower after the cat than the stock pipe, but I'm not 100% sure.