Prove my friend wrong stangnet

fromadig91 · Feb 10, 2010

My buddy has a completely stock 2002 GT and is swapping the catback exhaust, he just ordered some stingers or Magnaflow catbacks, not sure which. He is insisting that he has to cut up the exhaust to take it off. I refuse to beleive this and haven't had the time to go over and look at it myself personally. Dam near everyone on stangnet has to have done this. Can I please get some feedback from some people who have done it first hand? Thanks again Stangnet

Rickyll7 · Feb 10, 2010

uh... its been a while, but I'm pretty sure you do. At least that's how it was done on my car. Only other way would be to drop the axle from the car.

Why not cut it out when your replacing it anyway? It's the easiest way.

Kornnut · Feb 10, 2010

Cut it right before the axle is the easiest way to get it off. Unless you want to keep it in one peiece I don't see why you wouldn't want to cut it.

2002BLGT · Feb 10, 2010

cut it about 2 inches behind the muffler this way it can be welded back if you ever wanna return it to stock

RedDaemon · Feb 10, 2010

the stock catback is a piece.

you DONT HAVE to cut it off but theres no reason why you shouldnt. its junk.

robmac36067 · Feb 10, 2010

like others have said

cut it about 2 inches behind the mufflers, if u don't do it this way then you are setting yourself up for a big pita.

nancygrl · Feb 11, 2010

Sorry dude...
Your friend is right. Easiest way to do it is to cut it out
Or like mentioned earlier, remove the rear end (big PITA).

wmburns · Feb 11, 2010

fromadig91 said:
My buddy has a completely stock 2002 GT and is swapping the catback exhaust, he just ordered some stingers or Magnaflow catbacks, not sure which. He is insisting that he has to cut up the exhaust to take it off. I refuse to beleive this and haven't had the time to go over and look at it myself personally. Dam near everyone on stangnet has to have done this. Can I please get some feedback from some people who have done it first hand? Thanks again Stangnet

The bet involves if the stock exhaust HAS to be cut off (not if it is easier). The Ford service manual calls for the STOCK exhaust to be removed without cutting. It is done by disconnecting the upper arm-to-differential bolts and shocks. This allows the rear end to hang down low enough to remove the stock exhaust without cutting (the rear end does not have to be removed).

My vote is fromadig91 is correct.

However, I agree it is easier to cut it. Removing the top arm-to-differential bolts is a PIA.

rockyracoon · Feb 11, 2010

If the car is on a lift id say you could probably do it according to the ford manual,however just being on jackstands I dont see how you could do it without cutting.

Rickyll7 · Feb 11, 2010

wmburns said:
The bet involves if the stock exhaust HAS to be cut off (not if it is easier). The Ford service manual calls for the STOCK exhaust to be removed without cutting. It is done by disconnecting the upper arm-to-differential bolts and shocks. This allows the rear end to hang down low enough to remove the stock exhaust without cutting (the rear end does not have to be removed).

My vote is fromadig91 is correct.

However, I agree it is easier to cut it. Removing the top arm-to-differential bolts is a PIA.

Yeah... it is POSSIBLE to do it without cutting, but its also pointless. Doing all that to the rear end is just about as bad as actually removing it. To get it off the car after all that is only another 6 bolts.

BlackArtemis · Feb 11, 2010

If you have a lift, you can take it out as one piece. My friends and I just used a sawzall in the campus parking lot. I bet the guy emptying the trashcan did a big WTF.

flstang65 · Feb 12, 2010

I did a cat back for a guy in my last shop and he wanted his old stuff back. I just lowered the rear end a few inches. As far as for my own car, I just cut it out.

fromadig91 · Feb 12, 2010

Thanks Stangnet topnotch advice like always. One more question, So say he does decide to just chop it, the aftermarket catback can sneak on up there and be clamped or welded (welded preferred IMO)? From my understanding you chop it so you don't have to go through the hassle of having to drop the back end, but are you gonna have to drop it anyways to put the new stuff on? For whats its worth it is a whole catback system, not just mufflers.

Rickyll7 · Feb 12, 2010

The new one will go up with the rear in place because it is in sections and clamps together once in place.

I wouldn't weld it if it were my car becasue then you can't adjust it or remove it easily in the future. Just be sure to use some Loctite on the threads so they dont back out.

Satin Silver GT · Feb 12, 2010

My OEM exhaust was cut off and the Magnaflow Catback was welded in.

rowapr · Feb 12, 2010

the stock pipes can be removed by unbolting the shock at the axle and removeing the upper control arm bolt at the axle. one side at a time and lower that side. did it on my 04 mach on my back an with bolting the new slp's on it took 45min-1hr. i also have a useless uncut catback in my shed going on 5 years now.

rpburnette · Feb 13, 2010

The stock exhaust can be removed without cutting it off on jack stands in ones garage. I know b/c I did it. I didn't use any super high jack stands, just your standard car jack stands found at Sears. I did have to lower my rear axle, but it isn't that hard, a few bolts, two more jack stands and a floor jack. I kept mine in case I ever needed to reinstall them (to sell the car, emissions, trouble with cops, new exhaust becomes damaged). With all that said, it would have been easier to cut them and remove them.

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