Replacement exhaust system..

[ChrisW500]

Well I have bit the bullet and treated my 99 Chim 400 to a new system from ACT. I have gone for his Cherry Bomb system so I get a bit more noise from the current one piece and very quiet system.


So my question is, given that I will be doing this myself with the car raised on the highest setting on the axle stands on the drive, what is the recommended method to do it?

Just by looking at it I am assuming that I... always dangerous! .....

Spray the front exhaust joint with industrial amounts of WD40 or similar and let soak / spray various clamps and ARB bolts as well
Remove the rear ARB at the mounting plates and let it hang
Disconnect the exhaust at the elephant trunk, and the side exhaust engine mount
Disconnect the rear exhaust hanger
Remove belly plate and replace the mounting rubbers / mounts
Support on trolley jack or jacks
Somehow pull / thread it out over the ARB at the rear of the car

From peoples experience is it better to loosely assemble the complete ACT system first and reverse the removal process or assemble the parts under the car?

Any advice on fitting one on your own without a lift would be appreciated

Thanks

C

[bobfather]

Remove front nearside wheel, remove engine block exhaust bolt (near y piece clamp). Undo and slide off the u bolt. Remove rear ARB. Undo 6 bolts holding muffler plate. Place wood chocks in front of the muffler so that the exhaust doesn't have too far to fall and a soft surface to land on. Remove rear L bracket while supporting the two tail pipes. Now rotate the exhaust back and forth with the tail pipes whilst pulling backwards. The system should come free relatively easily

[ChrisW500]

Great many thanks good advice ...

This is the kit ... assume that its best to put it together loosely and reassemble in one piece or do it in parts underneath?

[bobfather]

Three step process. place engine mounting onto front section, then insert with exhaust paste onto Y piece, loosely fit engine mounting bolt. Fit mid section again using paste, bolt mid section up to the chassis. Now tighten and seal everything forward. Lastly, fit the tail pipes making sure you have clearance between body and pipes at the back. Tighten and seal tail pipes and put earmuffs on before starting the car

[ChrisW500]

Many thanks 👍

[Paulprior]

I removed as per bobfather, removal of rear ARB is fairly easy, I put mine back piece by piece and wriggled around until it looked right, make a note of where your current exhaust ends as with the new one it’s effectively adjustable, so you can go more in or out
I had a bit of a challenge getting the 2 clamps at the back to sit right without the bolts touching the frame

[R8FUN]

Any chance of a video so we can hear it with its new Exhaust?

[ChrisW500]

Yep I will do a before and after video and share it on here!

C

[Ice_blue_tvr]

What's the current lead times with ACT? I'm eagerly awaiting a new one for the Cerb, but was warned there was a long wait..

[ChrisW500]

Mine was 10 weeks ....:-(

[sawman]

Been waiting since about april for some manifolds….

[bobfather]

Try contacting AP Exhausts, they manufacture these parts for ACT

[sawman]

bobfather said:

Try contacting AP Exhausts, they manufacture these parts for ACT

I understand that the fabricators have been struggling with supply issues and the pingdemic

[ChrisW500]

So not had any time to start on the job due to other priorities but did manage to get started today.

So following helpful advice on here I managed to get the old one off without any dramas..



So clearly the ARB bushes and drop links are past their best





The main bushes are also past their best so I have ordered some up and as soon as they arrive I can the crack on with the install


Also the belly pan once removed showed that the silencer mounting bobbins were also shot again replacement ones on their way….. more to follow !

[ChrisW500]

Hi guys ..

Again thanks for all the advice as to fitting the ACT system single handed on on the drive.

So all done. As mentioned relatively straight forward the ARB refitting did fight me but all done in the end.

So as requested I have uploaded a short video on YouTube for the sound of the new system. Apologies for the video in advance!

I have yet to give it a proper long drive but very happy with the sound as I do not think its over loud but does give it a better TVR noise in my opinion :-)

So it was a cold start up and run so so some condensation present

Hope it helps others!.... Here is the link that I hope will work https://youtu.be/GhwIGUdlD_g

Chris

[Jon100p]

Hi Chris,

That looks like a nice system and well done!

One suggestion if you don't mind .... I would rotate those two clamps (see snip) by 90 degrees or more so that the bolts/brackets are out of the way. So they are less likely to snag on something (including you when you are next crawling underneath on the driveway!).


Jon

[ChrisW500]

Thanks and will do!

[R8FUN]

Looks really nice. Top marks for doing a job like that on your drive using axle stands!

[ChrisW500]

Thanks guys

So advice taken and I have rotated the clamps! Do not want to damage those on the first road hump!

See changes and also the new drop links and ARB bushes… I have done the drop link nut up really tight I assume there is no torque settings for these?

[bobfather]

After removing my exhaust a few times and reading how some PHers were running without the rear ARB, I completely and permanently removed mine. There's so little movement on the rear suspension that for road use it never has any effect. 5 years on and three NC500's. I'm happy not to have one. Removing it also has the benefit of increasing rear ground clearance