HELP! Bassani catted X-pipe hitting frame. muffler shop won't touch it

GT12207 · Jan 17, 2006

Uh... so much for "Bassani quality workmanship"

I installed the bassani catback with stock h-pipe; sounded good, but not loud enough.

Then drove to Bassani in Anaheim to pick up the catted X-pipe. Went home to install it... BUT, the driver side cat is hitting the frame of the car really badly! basically the whole catalyst converter is TIGHTLY rubbing against the car. I spent like 2 hours trying to adjust it with no luck.

THe floor vibrates like crazy and the spot where my feet are is hot as hell.

Drove to local muffler shop #1, they said they don't want to touch any aftermarket midpipe on a mustang. Drove to muffler shop #2, the dude said "no shop in California will touch an illegal aftermarket midpipe with a ten-foot pole in California"

Am I screwed or what? any suggestions?

HoustonGT · Jan 17, 2006

Wait, even a catted midpipe is illegal in Cali? Fuggin NAZIS

Bubba Z. · Jan 17, 2006

Excuse my California emissions ignorance, but even a CATTED x-pipe doesn't pass emmissions testing? isn't Bassani headquarters in California? I can understand an off-road...

Suggestions? Maybe try a performance shop and not the local muffler chain. Also, commute to Arizona or Nevada. Not being facitious, just suggesting.

helty · Jan 17, 2006

the communist state of California pwns all. sorry about your luck man, if you're not too far from another state, that may be a good idea. or if you know anyone with metal working skills that will do it on the side. good luck.

xseler8 · Jan 17, 2006

Same as Bubba Z. Try a different state. The X pipe should fit. Call Bassani & explain. Maybe they(Bassani) will exchange it.

GT12207 · Jan 17, 2006

Yeah, EVERY aftermarket midpipe is illegal, even if it has 9999 cats on it. Only legal midpipe is the stock h pipe in Soviet California.

I think the Bassani catted x-pipe will probably pass the "sniffer" part of smog test, but will definitely fail the visual inspection once the inspector sees that it's not stock.

I live in Orange County, which is on the coastline. I'll call Bassani next week and if worst comes to worst, i'll just put the stocker back on since i might be selling the mustang soon anyways. This is freaking ridiculous. I have the worst luck with exhausts. I am gun shy now, won't ever mess with exhaust on any car again.

GT12207 · Jan 18, 2006

Is there anything i could possibly do in my garage to bend portions of the pipe downward by maybe 15 degrees?

bdcardinal · Jan 18, 2006

ya youre gonna have a hrd time finding a shop that will touch it. they can get their license to work on cars taken away if they have to take it out and reinstall it. only unmodified stock midpipes are legal in CA. maybe talk to bassani. although if its been installed they wont be able to touch it either.

RedBullitt · Jan 18, 2006

can you adjust the catback and get it to work? i have never had any bassani exhaust not go right in. if you cant adjust it, then definately call them and let them know.

thomas91169 · Jan 18, 2006

if you mark the points that need to be bent where its hitting the frame, then take it off the car, you should have more luck. if they ask, its "for an off road vehicle, and thats all you need to know".

or drive back to bassani and tell them their midpipe is hitting the car. bring the midpipe(which will obviously show marks from contact) and tell them they need to fix this problem or you want your money back. they should be able to bend that piece out to clear in a few minutes, if they do actual work there.

sucks though, the shop i got to ASKS to build me test pipes and ****. like "dude, for 100$ more i could build you a 2.5" mandrel bent midpipe with no cats". when my buddy first got his rsx(when they first came out) he built a rack so he could make pre-fabbed catbacks to sell. he made so much money we now get teh hookup big time.

rpburnette · Jan 18, 2006

Not sure if you have tried this, but when I first put my Bassani x-pipe and catback on, I had the same problem. I had to loosen (not take off) all the connecting bolts including where the x-pipe attachs to the headers. Adjust the pipe to clear everything and figure out a way to hold it there, a friend, clamps, whatever is handy. Than retighten everything. This worked for me and I haven't had a problem since.

Good luck

03ghoststang · Jan 18, 2006

loosen everything and get a pry bar to move and hold the cat in a position where it wont hit the or rub on the car and tighten the bolt it should hold in place

DocG · Jan 18, 2006

So is this something that is common on Bassani, or do they just make a bad one every once in awhile.

I don't think I'd bend it or anything yourself, then you'll never get your money back. Take it back to Bassani and get a new one, if its still fugged, try the other suggestions.

stangGT97 · Jan 18, 2006

I agree with just unbolting it, lining it up, and bolting it back to the manifolds. If it doesnt work then talk to Bassani and see if they'll give you an exchange. Putting my pipe on I soon realized it could turn into a nightmare since it came in 3 pieces, so I was very careful to line things up before torquing. Never had a problem since

03ghoststang · Jan 18, 2006

DocG2828 said:
So is this something that is common on Bassani, or do they just make a bad one every once in awhile.

I don't think I'd bend it or anything yourself, then you'll never get your money back. Take it back to Bassani and get a new one, if its still fugged, try the other suggestions.

it's a once in a while type deal cause with mine i had no issues with fitment

jimfitzgerald · Jan 18, 2006

It's illegal anywhere is the US to remove working cats from a car. That's why no muffler shop wants to touch it, especially in California. Thanks EPA.

Stus99GT · Jan 18, 2006

I'm sure the EPA would love my exhaust setup (O/R X-pipe). I'm doing it to help the environment, with the better gas mileage I'm getting.

03ghoststang · Jan 18, 2006

jimfitzgerald said:
It's illegal anywhere is the US to remove working cats from a car. That's why no muffler shop wants to touch it, especially in California. Thanks EPA.

yup and i live in California but there are some shops where i live that really don't care cause they need the money so they'll do it

MatthewP · Jan 19, 2006

I installed Bassani mid-length headers and the catted mid pipe. The mid-pipe setup is about 2 inches too long on the passenger side, and I finally had to cut an inch off the cat and an inch off the mid-pipe on the passenger side to make it fit. The driver's side fit perfectly. after I cut it, everything lined up and fit fine, but I was pretty pissed off at having to cut up a brand new exhaust when all the parts are made by the same outfit.

When it comes to exhaust, I guess it sucks to be in California. Here in Alberta the only real requirements are that your exhaust system is quieter than open headers, and that it prevents the emission of flames or sparks.

-Matthew

greenstang1313 · Jan 19, 2006

GT12207 said:
Uh... so much for "Bassani quality workmanship"

I installed the bassani catback with stock h-pipe; sounded good, but not loud enough.

Then drove to Bassani in Anaheim to pick up the catted X-pipe. Went home to install it... BUT, the driver side cat is hitting the frame of the car really badly! basically the whole catalyst converter is TIGHTLY rubbing against the car. I spent like 2 hours trying to adjust it with no luck.

THe floor vibrates like crazy and the spot where my feet are is hot as hell.

Drove to local muffler shop #1, they said they don't want to touch any aftermarket midpipe on a mustang. Drove to muffler shop #2, the dude said "no shop in California will touch an illegal aftermarket midpipe with a ten-foot pole in California"

Am I screwed or what? any suggestions?

Aggravating isnt it.....no muffler shops around where I live (MA) will touch an o/r h or x-pipe either.

HELP! Bassani catted X-pipe hitting frame. muffler shop won't touch it

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