Yesterday i got my new exhaust (PaceSetter, pretty nice and super cheap), and I spent all last night getting the horribly corroded and broken exhaust pipe and muffler off my car.

note: Minnesota cars are a pain in the butt cause of the massive corrosive buildup.

But anyway, spent all last night ripping off exhaust hangers, grinding off bolts, and using a little elbow grease to get the exhaust off.

Anyway, it ended up that unplugging the 02 sensor from the cat, and detaching the whole exhaust right after the headers was going to be easiest (the connection from the cat to the tail pipe was essentially welded by rust).

In the process, i pretty much had to rip the heat shields, top and bottom, off the cat to be able to unscrew the 02 sensor.

I am just wondering, what is the purpose of these, and should I bother getting replacements? there is still one heat shield left, mounted to the bottom of the car, but the 2 on the cat are pretty much trash.

sorry this is so long, thanks

 

i'd get replacements... they're there for a reason :thinking:

 

My gf's heat shield was doing some major rattling and she took it to her honda guy and he just tore it out and said don't worry about it.

 

hows the exhaust?

 

havent got it on yet, should be on by tonight or tomorrow. i will post initial reactions and pictures as soon as it gets set up.

by the way, man is my car loud when it runs with no exhaust after the headers (had to pull it into the driveway for the night)

 

yeah an open header is loud as shiettt.
that heat shield probably protects the car from the heat. lol.
so if you dont want stuff to start melting or catching on fire...

 

whew. Finally after a few more hours, my exhaust is *on* . well, close enough, i need a few more exhaust hangers and a little more tweaking to get it to sit right, but the hard work is over.

let me just say, honda dealers can suck it!! they made me pay 10 bucks a bolt for the bolts that bolt your cat to your tailpipe. DANG thats expensive for bolts. But i had no choice, the only way i could get the old ones off were to cut them, and they were rusted to all get out anyway.

So after a few more hours, a lot of silicone grease, and a rainy night under a car, its done.

Sounds pretty nice! 2.5 inch piping, and kind of a weird looking tip, because the inside of the tip is yellow, but I am assuming that will turn black with time anyway. I will try to get some pics tonight if it isnt raining.

 

How bout posting some sound clips of that Pacesetter? All I hear is they make horrible sound but would love to decide for myself. BTW you may feel some extra heat rising from the center console with that top cat shield missing. Other than that should'nt do you any harm.

 

really?
i have only heard the sound from inside the car, and it sounds decent. Actually its pretty quiet, and thats one of the big things i wanted. my tail pipe was completely severed for about 4 months, and let me tell you i got sooo sick of it. Ive actually heard exhausts louder than my exhaust without the muffler attached, and i definitely didnt want anything like that.

I really havent heard much about this brand, besides its a decent brand and the price was right (under 200 bucks for a complete catback), so i figured i would give it a try, piping is piping, and if i really hate the muffler i can buy a nice one with all the money i saved.

 

sounds clips!