[NOW WITH PICS] Pep Boys Muffler Mod
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
[NOW WITH PICS] Pep Boys Muffler Mod
I just did the Pep Boys Mod - actually mine was an autozone mod. The pipes are on the shelf in the exhaust section. I had to drive to 3 different Autozones since the first only had 1 pipe, and the second didn't have any.
The end result: the pipes look totally retarded. (I'll post pics tomorrow) However, as expected, these puppies are loud. In the passenger compartment it's loud. Outside the car it's loud. Down the street it's loud. It's FRICKIN LOUD.
It's actually a lot easier to take the mufflers off than I thought. There are only 3 nuts on each side - plus the catalytic converter pipe connector which only has to be loosened and not removed. Unfortunately, I started off by taking off every nut and bolt connected to the muffler, only to finally realize where the real connectors were. For each muffler, the 3 nuts you need (1/2" hex) are facing the engine in a little triangle just about in the middle of the muffler can. You can't really see them unless you get under the car a bit. Get those bad boys off and the muffler wiggles out. It's easier if you slide the catalytic converter connector to one side. I took the wheels off, and the cans just barely slide out through the wheel well.
To emphasis my non-mechanic genes, the first muffler took me about an hour and a half to figure out. The second muffler took me all of 15 minutes to get off. So that's almost 2 hours. Go figure.
I had to tug a bit to get the mufflers out, so I'm a bit nervous about trying to get them back in. Anyone have any issues undoing the pepboys mod?
Needless to say, my wife thinks I'm an idiot. She might be right on other grounds, but this was a pretty cool experiment in my opinion. I'm going to run them for a day or so, but I don't think I could live with them on my daily driver. They're just too FRICKIN LOUD.
I'm glad I did this mod as it convinced me not to buy expensive bypass pipes. For me, a sport exhaust is the way to go.
-td
The end result: the pipes look totally retarded. (I'll post pics tomorrow) However, as expected, these puppies are loud. In the passenger compartment it's loud. Outside the car it's loud. Down the street it's loud. It's FRICKIN LOUD.
It's actually a lot easier to take the mufflers off than I thought. There are only 3 nuts on each side - plus the catalytic converter pipe connector which only has to be loosened and not removed. Unfortunately, I started off by taking off every nut and bolt connected to the muffler, only to finally realize where the real connectors were. For each muffler, the 3 nuts you need (1/2" hex) are facing the engine in a little triangle just about in the middle of the muffler can. You can't really see them unless you get under the car a bit. Get those bad boys off and the muffler wiggles out. It's easier if you slide the catalytic converter connector to one side. I took the wheels off, and the cans just barely slide out through the wheel well.
To emphasis my non-mechanic genes, the first muffler took me about an hour and a half to figure out. The second muffler took me all of 15 minutes to get off. So that's almost 2 hours. Go figure.
I had to tug a bit to get the mufflers out, so I'm a bit nervous about trying to get them back in. Anyone have any issues undoing the pepboys mod?
Needless to say, my wife thinks I'm an idiot. She might be right on other grounds, but this was a pretty cool experiment in my opinion. I'm going to run them for a day or so, but I don't think I could live with them on my daily driver. They're just too FRICKIN LOUD.
I'm glad I did this mod as it convinced me not to buy expensive bypass pipes. For me, a sport exhaust is the way to go.
-td
Last edited by himself; 10-01-2007 at 09:46 PM.
#2
Newbies Hospitality Director
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 18,084
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes
on
33 Posts
TD - you should have asked for some "how do I..." help. I have posted this diagram from the PET a couple of times and I would have been happy to do so again. I am sure tht the group of 3 nuts (circled) look very familiar.
#3
Instructor
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're into taking your mufflers on and off a lot (or even more than once), reverse the bolt 24 in the diagram above. In other words, take it out and put it in from the bottom! Now you can take the muffler off the car with just one bolt instead of three.
-Charles
-Charles
#4
Newbies Hospitality Director
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 18,084
Likes: 0
Received 34 Likes
on
33 Posts
Originally Posted by charlesml3
If you're into taking your mufflers on and off a lot (or even more than once), reverse the bolt 24 in the diagram above. In other words, take it out and put it in from the bottom! Now you can take the muffler off the car with just one bolt instead of three.
-Charles
-Charles
The last time I swapped mufflers, I gave up on bolt #25 and went back to removing the cluster of 3 nuts (#16 circled) on the muffler bracket..
#5
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by gota911
I am sure tht the group of 3 nuts (circled) look very familiar.
Here are a few pics for those souls brave enough to try this:
Here is what they look like installed. Ghetto to the nth degree.
Exterior
Disconnect these 3 guys
Close up
From this Spot - the nuts are on the inside facing the engine...
This is looking over the wheel into the wheel well.
#6
yep they look pretty bad......and I can't only imagine how loud that must sound!!!
For a grand you can get a set of sport exhausts....nice sound .....not over the top!
For a grand you can get a set of sport exhausts....nice sound .....not over the top!
#7
gotta agree. Those don't look to hot, in fact, they look bad.
Nicolass - do you still have your Dansk? Super sound right? How are you liking them? I got the Dansk Sport sound. I really like them. I friend of mine got the Fabspeeds but I haven't had a chance to hear them yet.
Nicolass - do you still have your Dansk? Super sound right? How are you liking them? I got the Dansk Sport sound. I really like them. I friend of mine got the Fabspeeds but I haven't had a chance to hear them yet.
Trending Topics
#9
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by LVDell
If it's just for the track and then back to stock after the weekend then who cares. But for around town, HELL NO!
-td
Last edited by himself; 03-12-2007 at 06:51 PM.
#10
Nordschleife Master
I assume they are in good and tight? If you wanted to add a safety bracket you could but as long as they are good and tight I can't imagine they would fly off. The metal is going to expand anyway when they get good and warm so the fit will be even tighter.
#11
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by LVDell
The metal is going to expand anyway when they get good and warm so the fit will be even tighter.
-td
#15
Race Car
Black Spray Paint is your friend here.
I had a local muffler shop quote me $150 for a custom made set with tips and mandrel (sp?) bends....but I'm leaving my GHL's on for the street.
I'm hoping the pep-boys mod doesn't look AS bad when painted black as I intend on using them at the track...last time I could barely hear my car over the other loud cars at the track to the point it was annoying.
Andy
I had a local muffler shop quote me $150 for a custom made set with tips and mandrel (sp?) bends....but I'm leaving my GHL's on for the street.
I'm hoping the pep-boys mod doesn't look AS bad when painted black as I intend on using them at the track...last time I could barely hear my car over the other loud cars at the track to the point it was annoying.
Andy