15 replies to this topic

[The Badger]

Have my new Larini however when i removed the rear undertray, it seamed as if the back box wouldnt fit past the cat, does the cat need to be removed from above the flexi section to get the back boc out? If so how have people got to the bolts above the flexi to get it off? Any help much appreciated

[james141]

Have my new Larini however when i removed the rear undertray, it seamed as if the back box wouldnt fit past the cat, does the cat need to be removed from above the flexi section to get the back boc out? If so how have people got to the bolts above the flexi to get it off?

Any help much appreciated

I had this problem, some people say you can get it out but we couldnt, you need to remove most of the cat section if the bolts arnt siezed

We just took the clam off in the end

[The Badger]

Yeah I was fearing that, the bolts are seized, was hoping i could get a long bar on my socket and reaching up above the flexi to remove it. How easy was it to remove the system after you got the rear clam off? Hoew long did it take to remove the rear clam?

[mandarinvx]

Clam removal with the exhaust will probably take best part of a day all-in if it's your first time

[The Badger]

Will removing the rear clam create a lot more space to work the seized bolts, or give me more space/easier access to the bolts on the cat?

[mandarinvx]

It would allow you to get a Dremel / grinder to the bolts on the manifold / pre-cat, would be very awkward with the clam on

[Anarchy]

But your clam bolts might be seized

[drpau]

Get some Plus Gas on them bolts (not wd40 its not 1/4 as good). That will do the job for you, I had similar issue when I came to do my pre-cat, let it soak for a bit and then get your extension bar on there - easy as pie then....

[vocky]

it's far easier to remove the downpipe than remove the clam probably

[james141]

it's far easier to remove the downpipe than remove the clam

probably

Problem was when we did it we were half way through and we didnt have any spare bolts if we screwed them up and the car needed to be running by the time we finished.

So it was easier for us at the time to take the clam off, it is not as bad as everyone makes out with 2 people.

[Whippet]

I did it with a mate without taking the clam off. If you just take the cat off the hanger there's plenty of room as it drops down (once the top left manifold bolt is out) - the pain is getting the old bolts off (dremelling + 5 x hardened drill bits) and getting the old box out for which you have to flex the underneath of the rear clam.

[The Badger]

OK, been working on it today with the clam left on, pre-cat came away from the back box easy as, bolt just came straight off, just the hangers to release in the morning, any tips for the easiest way to do that, do you need to clamp the reverse of the bolts? Will the old back box fit past the pre-cat, rubber hanger removed, or willI need to relese the 3 bolts above the flexi section?

[The Batman]

i just used a bit of force and it came flying out onto my face! but was worth it lol

[Whippet]

OK, been working on it today with the clam left on, pre-cat came away from the back box easy as, bolt just came straight off, just the hangers to release in the morning, any tips for the easiest way to do that, do you need to clamp the reverse of the bolts? Will the old back box fit past the pre-cat, rubber hanger removed, or willI need to relese the 3 bolts above the flexi section?

The old back box will fit past with the cat just dangling there - it is a bit of a squeeze and at first it may seen that there is no room - just mover it around a bit and if needs just flex the underneath of the clam - The exhaust hangers can be a pain to budge... just get physical on them. You'll need to cut a line through the heat shield to get it out

Still have a few useful pages bookmarked from when I did it

http://www.verboom.n...0511/index.html - bit more than just the back box but good pics

http://www.vx220.org...s...c=33673&hl=

http://www.vx220.org...s...7454&st=160 - shows a larini in place

[The Badger]

Thanks folks, it did pass the cat whilst it was dangling, pure manipulation and force squeezed it out, there were a few twitches from the nether regions as we flexed the clam to get it out...squeezed the new one in and tightened it up and it was worth all the work, cuts and blood blisters, it sounds awsome, and pops as soon as it drops below 2k rpm, if your in the market for a back box, its the one!

[Whippet]

Good news.... Sounds even better after a couple of hundred miles