Matt_H

come on guys!...i know this topic has been covered but cant find much by searching scoobynet.
Also should I tell my insurers (admiral) about the change? I told them about the SS backbox and they insisted on another £20 or so

cheers,
Matt.

[This message has been edited by Matt_H (edited 29 August 2001).]

Matt_H

Hi,

After obtaining a nice SS mid section (cheers Daz ) I'm gonna fit this tonight.
Two questions really - I presume the original heat shielding with have to stay? (after all its there for a reason!) Do I need to use gaskets for the metal/metal exhaust joint? - having bought the section 2nd hand I have none...so would I be able to use the gaskets that are joining the original sections? (providing they arent knack'd)...or will some exhaust paste do the trick?
Any advice/help much appreciated!

Matt.
p.s MY97 WRX SS backbox, OE downpipe.

ZAZ

When me and a mate fitted my SS BB to the standard centre pipe we didn't bother using gaskets or paste and it seems fine. I think I read somewhere on here that you just need to make sure the two surfaces are clean!

I've got a magnex pipe I need fitting and was going to take it to a garage but if it's easy I might give it a go myself! Please post how you get on.

Scott

Matt_H

ta ZAZ - will let u know

ZAZ

And yes, do tell your insurer about it. They will find any excuse not to pay out so don't give them a reason! My BB cost me an extr £26, I don't know what difference the centre will make!

Matt_H

yeah reckon your probably right...little b*stards!....71/2 years no claims and still my insurance is stupid!
I guess another £20 or so wont break the bank....just!

matt.

LES H'

I put new gaskets on from GGR magnex BB and centre pipe but if original ok use them.
Never replaced heat sheild on centre section!
Les H'

Matt_H

Cheers for reply Les.

Well everything went fine fitting it last night (well...almost ). Car up on ramps, old pipe off okay. Started to fit new pipe (rear gasket okay so reused) but came across a problem fitting to downpipe....

This is hard to explain but if you know what Im talking about you'll understand...the original bolts cannot be used to fit the new centre section as because the holes in the flange of SS centre are smaller the bolts wont go through sufficiently (the bolts are 'step bolts' and have a thicker shaft after the thread. So I got some new M8 threaded
bolts and some big washers (for the springs) and fitted the centre to down pipe.
Almost worked but the front joint blows...aaarrggh!

I think the problem is that because I connected the rear joint first this didnt then allow enough movement in the centre section to get the centre->downpipe joint seated properly ????

Is it best to do front join first?? anyone?
I will try this tonight.

cheers,
Matt.

Matt_H

any advice??? pleeeeeeease.....
I know there are people who know this stuff!

--> One last question:
my MY97 WRX - 2 cats or just one in downpipe?
not sure if the box in centre I removed was a cat or just a resonator.

thanks ,
Matt.

DAZ 4

Matt,

Why not give Pete Croney a call I'm sure if he's not busy he'll give you some advice, after all it is one of his products

Matt_H

a good plan Daz..
will try my theory and fit front first in an hour or so, if no joy will give him a call.
cheers ,
Matt.

PeterPerfect

Hi Matt
I've got the same problem with my recently fitted SS mid to SS boxbox
The leak between the dp and mid is very small, but the build up of black powder is visible at the join. I tried exhaust paste but this had no effect so I'll get a new gasket from the dealer and try that.
I've used the standard nuts and bolts on the dp to mid join and used a small washer to move the bolt shoulder out a bit. This allows the nuts to be tightened without clamping the springs all the way closed.

Cheers
Pete

Matt_H

cheers Pete, does sound like a similar problem ...sounds like you had different original bolts though as mine didnt have enough thread before step to go through the SS centre and d-pipe!

Fitted again last night, fitting the centre->DP join first. After finishing I started engine and like yourself could feel a very small bit where it was leaking.

Have sorted it now (I think)..this is how:
I tightened the bolts all the way down so the springs were fully compressed and so not acting like springs but spacers. Then I went for a blast to heat everything up and try and get the leak to seal. Then came back, let exhaust cool and then slackened off bolts to allow the springs to be able to
compress slightly as required.

Seems to be okay now but will double check leak has gone when I get back from work.

Does sound a bit better though and seems to be slightly less lag.
Almost forgot - had a closer look at the OE centre and the box is not a cat or a resonator its just a straight through made to look like a silencer! Shone a torch down into the front end and saw a 'restrictor' that narrowed the bore to about 1.5 inches! (prob to meet noise regs maybe?) ... no wonder it goes better now!

Anyway let us know how you get on with new gasket,

cheers,
Matt.

Pete Croney

Our centre section is designed to be used with the original gaskets, both downpipe and backbox. It will leak if you don't use them.

You will need to use diffrent bolts to the downpipe, as the original ones will be very difficult to refit, due to their length. We can supply these.

Haywards are having a press tool made so that they can replicate the OE pressed flange, in stainless. This will allow the original bolts to be used.

DAZ 4

There you go Matt, I told you he would help

Matt_H

yep cheers daz

Matt_H

...just checked......still a small leak..grrrrr

will try new front gasket tomorrow I guess.
reckon this is the best plan, anyone?-Pete.C?

pretty sure that i have done best using that gasket, I've tightened enough I think and there's only a small amount of compression left in springs (they're just over 1inch length I reckon).

cheers,
Matt.

scoobysnacks

Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier. I had the same problem as you Matt with the seal between the down pipe and a Magnex centre. It had to be quite tight before the seal was good but there is still some flex in the springs so it should be ok. For yourself a new gasket is probably the best idea as it should seal with more slack still in the springs. I've got an MY98 WRX and saw exactly the same as you in the original centre pipe - no silencer, no cat, just the same slight narrowing then widening of the inside and a box doing squat on the ouside of the pipe. Hope your new gasket does sort it all out.

PeterPerfect

So how closed should the springs be then ?
I assume the should not be fully closed ?

Pete C. - how much are the 'proper' nuts and bolts to connect the OE dp to the SS mid ?

Pete