Help me get this done ...

[AlienQuiksilver]

After listening to ALL of the clips in the sticky ... I was floored by the Steeda Axle Back/Pypes O/R - H pipe combo.

I will be buying this combo.

Questions. The H pipe, obviously I'll need the MIL eliminator kit as well.

Also, it can't be legal without the cats. What issues will I run into during vehicle inspection?

Will a place like Midas perform the work? I don't have the tooling to do the work myself, and I would like the added security of a pro doing it anway.

Thanks for your input, in advance!


-AQS

 

[DarkFireGT]

Midpipes on the S197's are a lot easier than on Sn95's. You can easily change it in just over an hour with basic hand tools and some PB Blaster. Soak the 4 bolts where the H pipe meets the manifolds. Let that sit for 30 minutes and it should be a piece of cake. It'll help to have a breaker bar (or impact wrench) and 1 swivel socket, along with a few different sized extensions.

As far as emissions, what state do you live in?

You will need mil eliminators, or you can turn the rear O2 sensors off with a tune (which is a fantastic mod on it's own).

 

[AlienQuiksilver]

I live in Pennsylvania.

How do I go about doing the tune you mention? Sounds like something I'd be interested in.

 

[bigcat]

the tune is as simple as plug it in, press a few buttons, and enjoy. takes less than 5 minutes.
get a tuner and a tune from a reputable dealer like bamachips, brenspeed, etc. cost will be around $400 for the tuner. get a CAI at the same time and save a few bucks. the tuner is THE BIGGEST bang for your buck on these cars. check with your vendor first, as some will offer free tunes from now on, and some will offer free tunes only for parts you buy from them. some dont offer free tunes at all.

 

[AlienQuiksilver]

Sheesh. $400, they sure know how to get your money!

I used to have a 2003 GT. I modded the crap outta that thing, but I ended up getting rear ended ... which believe it or not, totaled the car.

All of that money, gone! I took off what I could, but didn't get crap$$$ for any of it. All of that money, wasted. I guess that's the chance we take.

With the '06 stang that I got right after, I vowed to not do any mods. I have not done any for over 2 years.

I just remember the permanent smile I got from upgrading to a louder exhaust. I have a long commute to work now, so I say ... heck! If i'm going to be in my car so much ... I may as well enjoy it!

While that tune mod sounds tempting, I'm not looking for any more horsepower. 300 is good enough for me. Anything added by exhaust, nice! That's a bonus.

I think I'll pass on the tune and go for the MIL kit.

My biggest regret was getting a supercharger on the old one. I don't take my car to the track. After so many tickets, I was afraid to get on it enough to enjoy the boost. Ah well, it was still nice to have the option.

Thanks for the help guys, but I'm not going to work on it myself. I must seek out an alternative way of getting this on there.

 

[Hoboattacker]

Well, if you want, shoot me an offer for my CAI/Predator tuner. It is just a canned tune for the car when putting on the CAI. It would be MUCH cheaper than buying it new. I had an off-road h pipe with it and it worked flawlessly.

 

[o0Dan0o]

Will a place like Midas perform the work? I don't have the tooling to do the work myself, and I would like the added security of a pro doing it anway.

It is illegal for anyone to remove working cats from a car, so most shops won't touch that for fear of legal trouble. A local speed shop is your best bet.
Dan

 

[CPman]

Trust us, get the tuner (progammer) it is absolutely the best bang for the buck, even if you are not after much more power. It is a very usefull tool if you ever decide to add a CAI, change you rear gearing, adjust your speedo for different size tires, read and clear check engine errors, the list goes on an on. Even if you not after power gains, you can get a tune from many different tuners through email and load them into your programmer and enjoy better fuel economy and far far better throttle response than your car came with from the factory. Most people that have installed even a mild tune can't believe the differance in driveability and far better throttle response and have said that at times when they have had to put the stock tune back in to take there car in for warrenty work, they can't believe they used to be happy with the stock performance. It's night and day.

 

[CPman]

Don't mean to take this thread in a different direction, but is there any advantage to turning off the rear o2 sensors if there has been no exhaust mods other than perhaps axle back mufflers?

 

[MikeysOTP]

.....I will be buying this combo.

Questions. The H pipe, obviously I'll need the MIL eliminator kit as well.

Also, it can't be legal without the cats. What issues will I run into during vehicle inspection?

Will a place like Midas perform the work? I don't have the tooling to do the work myself, and I would like the added security of a pro doing it anyway.....

-AQS

It is not legal to remove the cats, keep the stock midpipe so you can put it back in for inspection. The mufflers will not effect emissions testing so you don't need to keep them, although it never hurts to hold on to your stock parts, I do anyway.

Don't mean to take this thread in a different direction, but is there any advantage to turning off the rear o2 sensors if there has been no exhaust mods other than perhaps axle back mufflers?

The only reason I know of for turning off the o2 sensors is to get rid of the check engine light that comes on when you remove the cats. Swapping axle-backs will not cause a CEL.

 

[AlienQuiksilver]

Well, if you want, shoot me an offer for my CAI/Predator tuner. It is just a canned tune for the car when putting on the CAI. It would be MUCH cheaper than buying it new. I had an off-road h pipe with it and it worked flawlessly.

How about I start at $1, and work my way up? I just may be interested.

I'm a really cheap bastard as many would probably assume from reading my posts.

Do headers mess with emissions at all? I didn't catch a decent "outside of car" clip with this setup's involvement with headers. I really would like to do a full exhaust if it's feasible, and easy to legalize when the time comes.

I guess I should probably do the midpipe myself like everyone says, if I'm going to have to put the stocker back on during times of inspection. Dammit! I do this kind of stuff for a living, so I prefer to pay when I can. I hate lugging tools back and forth from work. UGH!!! I work so freaking many hours, too. Ah well ... if it's important I'll make the time to do it.

I will still price the installation at a local speed shop, to see if it's a practical amount of $$$ to pay twice a year. I'm really trying to avoid doing the work.

Really, I do appreciate all of the help guys. I'm borderline teerarded when it comes to getting this stuff done. Having paid for all of this work to be done in the past, it doesn't leave me with much knowledge for future applications.