So the Skunk2 SS is in!

Here's what I ended up doing:

- 19" lift on new jack provided lots of room; I also lifted about 12" on the rear hook with the $20 Walmart jack. 3-ton jack stands on the front jack points, 2-ton jack stands on the rear jack points. Solid.

- removed exhaust rubber hangers near shifter - no help
- removed exhaust rubber hangers above muffler - no help
- used Liquid Wrench, breaker bar and 18" steel pipe on the three nuts between the B-pipe and the cat - success! (The third nut -- the one on top of the pipe -- was a real :madfawk: to get a socket on.) B-pipe dropped down to the ground, lots of room!

For those who did the install with the B-pipe in place, I am impressed and amazed.

Also installed ES bushings. Now I understand why they are called shifter stabilizer bushings, and not shifter bushings. It was a surprise that I needed to move 2 feet towards the front of the car to install the big round bushing.

Great appreciation for both how the shifter connects, as well as how the exhaust hangs. Glad to have done this myself, and not given $85 to my local speed shop.

Minor goofs during installation:
- inserted big round ES bushing backwards. I was working on my back, then crawled out from under the car to remove the old bushing and install the new one. Left and right changes when you're on your back!

- forgot to remove the metal spacers from the old rectangular rubber bushing (near the shifter). These spacers need to be inserted in the new ES bushing. Started tightening the bolts, and thought that things didn't look right, as the poly bushing got all squished. :doh:

- over-tightened the bolt that connects the shifter to the shift pipe. Lowered the car, and learned I couldn't really move the shifter forward and backward; sideways was fine, though! Raise the car, loosen the nut....

The only question I have now is about the Skunk2 knob. A nut came in the package. I guess I'm supposed to install the nut, and position the nut so that the shift knob tightens against the nut, while still remaining in the right orientation (for the shift image on the top of the shift knob).

Not sure if I'm supposed to tighten the nut against the shift knob.... Or maybe I'm supposed to use Loctite blue on both the nut and the shift knob. :dunno:

First impressions on the shifting: Yes, throw is shorter, which is nice. 4th to 5th is most noticeable. Shift knob is nice, although I had no issue with the stock knob. Less of a 'Wow!' factor than I was expecting, but I've only driven the car around the block.... maybe I'll change my mind after I drive this weekend.

Again, thanks to everybody for the suggestions! :cheers: