Silencer removal question...

[BIIOAB]

Been toying with the idea of having the exhaust 'modified' as much discussed on here i.e. cut box open,remove wadding and sleeve perforated pipes.
My question is - is the section of exhaust requiring to be removed do-able by myself (fair spannerman)or am I best leaving it to the modifiers.

Reason I ask is its just a pain in the arse time-wise for me to take the car in during the week, but if I could get it off/on myself it would overcome this?

So how easy or not...??

[clive f]

depends how handy you are with a welding set, if so its quite simple, cut open the silencer, either cut out the perforated pipes and replace with normal pipe, or roll some thin gauge sheet and sleeve them and weld them in, weld your silencer back up and off you go!
when cutting open the silencer, use a 1mm thick cutting disc, this will make it easier to weld up again as the joint gap will be relatively small.

[antonyj]

BIIOAB said:

Been toying with the idea of having the exhaust 'modified' as much discussed on here i.e. cut box open,remove wadding and sleeve perforated pipes.
My question is - is the section of exhaust requiring to be removed do-able by myself (fair spannerman)or am I best leaving it to the modifiers.

Reason I ask is its just a pain in the arse time-wise for me to take the car in during the week, but if I could get it off/on myself it would overcome this?

So how easy or not...??

Spanner skill wise its really easy, especially if you have a pit.
If not its obviously on your back time, but its not that hard..

[BIIOAB]

Thanks guys - Clive, sorry I didn't make it clear that it's only the removal/refitting I would do and take the box to a specialist....

[burriana]

What you would take a few hours doing, they would take 1/2 an hour! At least that's the way I look at it. It's getting it back on that's the bugger, they have a habit of knocking on the bodywork if you don't get them just right.

Edited by burriana on Monday 29th January 21:29

[spend]

You do realise how big the 'box' is, its all in one tailpipe to just under y piece.

Dave

[Wildfire]

Just out of interest, will it not totally screw the back pressure and exhaust gas velocity if you remove the pipes completely? Thus affecting performance?

[BIIOAB]

Yeah just had a rummage around underneath and without a pit and another pair of hands not going to attempt it - is a big item to wrestle around lying on your back with 18" clearance!!

[barreti]

I did it last week, on my own, with the car up on axle stands.

Loosen off the 6 belly pan bolts (17mm) but don't drop them [/]all out.
Undo the bolt on the bellhousing (do they all have these?) and front U clamp and the exhaust will drop onto the lower chassis x-member.
Put a trolley jack under the belly pan with something between it and the belly pan so you don't scratch it, let the jack take the weight and remove the rest of the belly pan bolts.
Pull the exhaust towards the front of the car so it pulls out of the diff mount (now you see why you put someting between the jack and the belly pan) and lower the jack to drop the exhaust.
I wouldn't recommend trying it without using the trolley jack because its heavier than you think.

Refitting is the reverse of the removal process (c)Haynes Manual

If you are taking the exhaust off, think about changing the belly pan mounting bushes. They cost bugger all but you can't tell just how shot they are till you get the exhaust off. Mine were absolutely knackered!

[D14 ays]

barreti said:

I did it last week, on my own, with the car up on axle stands.

Didnt realise anyone loved griffs that much

[spend]

Its not hard to drop ~ you just need some supports when replacing.

I was more worried you were going to try & fit it in the boot of a eurobox ~ Hercules transport is nearer the mark.

Dave

[BIIOAB]

Same thing - Volvo estate....

[spend]

Hope its got roof rack then

[shpub]

Wildfire said:

Just out of interest, will it not totally screw the back pressure and exhaust gas velocity if you remove the pipes completely? Thus affecting performance?

Has been known. Very dependent on the car though.

[jeffsy]

Just a cautionary note. I cut the silencer totally out of my old exhaust and all was good for a while until I got pulled by plod a few weeks ago for being too noisy. They were great about it but warned that a traffic plod could potentially preohibit the car.

Upon looking into the legal side of this it appears quite grey however the closest to common sense I found was

- OK to have a loud engine as long as you dont make a nuisance of yourself by revving it outside neighbours houses (ASBO territory)
- OK to buy an aftermarket system off the shelf even if its noisier (eg all the Sccobies you have probably ever seen!!)
- NOT OK to tamper with your box!! - oo err missus - ie do what I did and cut the thing out and replace with straight thro pipes.

The MOT is quite vague as well along the lines of - if there is one does it do what it should given the age etc etc

Mind you my engine is a little loud sothats probably what caused the plod incident so you should be fine (PS great excuse for me to buy a quad zorst from ACT with cheery bombs!!)

cheers

[oggs]

jeffsy said:

Just a cautionary note. I cut the silencer totally out of my old exhaust and all was good for a while until I got pulled by plod a few weeks ago for being too noisy. They were great about it but warned that a traffic plod could potentially preohibit the car.

Upon looking into the legal side of this it appears quite grey however the closest to common sense I found was

- OK to have a loud engine as long as you dont make a nuisance of yourself by revving it outside neighbours houses (ASBO territory)
- OK to buy an aftermarket system off the shelf even if its noisier (eg all the Sccobies you have probably ever seen!!)
- NOT OK to tamper with your box!! - oo err missus - ie do what I did and cut the thing out and replace with straight thro pipes.

The MOT is quite vague as well along the lines of - if there is one does it do what it should given the age etc etc

Mind you my engine is a little loud sothats probably what caused the plod incident so you should be fine (PS great excuse for me to buy a quad zorst from ACT with cheery bombs!!)

cheers

I had mine done after hearing a friends Chim with it done... he just happened to be a Met Trafpol and he it was his everyday car so it is very legal

I've had no probs at MOT time at all flies straight thru!!

[Pasco]

jeffsy said:

Just a cautionary note. I cut the silencer totally out of my old exhaust and all was good for a while until I got pulled by plod a few weeks ago for being too noisy. They were great about it but warned that a traffic plod could potentially preohibit the car.

Upon looking into the legal side of this it appears quite grey however the closest to common sense I found was

- OK to have a loud engine as long as you dont make a nuisance of yourself by revving it outside neighbours houses (ASBO territory)
- OK to buy an aftermarket system off the shelf even if its noisier (eg all the Sccobies you have probably ever seen!!)
- NOT OK to tamper with your box!! - oo err missus - ie do what I did and cut the thing out and replace with straight thro pipes.

The MOT is quite vague as well along the lines of - if there is one does it do what it should given the age etc etc

Mind you my engine is a little loud sothats probably what caused the plod incident so you should be fine (PS great excuse for me to buy a quad zorst from ACT with cheery bombs!!)

cheers

Not very loud now then Jeffsy

[jeffsy]

Pasco said:

jeffsy said:

Just a cautionary note. I cut the silencer totally out of my old exhaust and all was good for a while until I got pulled by plod a few weeks ago for being too noisy. They were great about it but warned that a traffic plod could potentially preohibit the car.

Upon looking into the legal side of this it appears quite grey however the closest to common sense I found was

- OK to have a loud engine as long as you dont make a nuisance of yourself by revving it outside neighbours houses (ASBO territory)
- OK to buy an aftermarket system off the shelf even if its noisier (eg all the Sccobies you have probably ever seen!!)
- NOT OK to tamper with your box!! - oo err missus - ie do what I did and cut the thing out and replace with straight thro pipes.

The MOT is quite vague as well along the lines of - if there is one does it do what it should given the age etc etc

Mind you my engine is a little loud sothats probably what caused the plod incident so you should be fine (PS great excuse for me to buy a quad zorst from ACT with cheery bombs!!)

cheers

Not very loud now then Jeffsy

Nope unfortunatley - I think my problem was the noise from the monster engine. I never had any trouble with the old engine and thro pipe combo!

Still probably louder than yours though mate

[Pasco]

Probably Graham

[clive f]

graham, I bet pauls out there as we speak trying to fit a dustbin under the car