aftermarket cat back exhaust question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Kings2010 · 10-19-2015, 07:27 PM

I posted in another thread about my cnt 3" cat back exhaust install an initial impression but part of the install has been bugging me so I wanted to get others opinions.

The s pipes slide into the factory clamps and from what I gather are supposed to come very to close to, if not touch, the factory pipes. The problem is that if the pipes are pushed in this far then there is insufficient clearance for the s pipes to wrap "around" the cross member and up to the a pipe which has to sit slightly higher in order to clear the tunnel brace.

If I leave the s pipes a little more aft the clearance on the transmission cross member is alleviated but then the factory pipes are not butted up against the s pipes and the clamp is left to seal the exhaust.

Another issue is the the exhaust leaks at the a pipe joints. Has anyone successfully installed an aftermarket cat back using only clamps without any leaks?

Thanks,

Brian

harner · 10-20-2015, 08:34 AM

I installed my catback but the pipes are not butted up to the stock down pipe. This allowed for adjustment to tuck the other pipes up as far as possible. My problem lies with the pipes rubbing the floor pans with spirited driving. I adjusted the exhaust quite a bit and removed just abou tall of the vibrations, but the crossmember brace thing was removed and I haven't tried to reinstall.

I was in a hurry to install it the first time on a borrowed lift. The second time was just on the floor in a garage. I think if I took my time with it on a lift again, I'd be able to adjust it perfectly.

Punisher_ATX · 10-20-2015, 09:55 AM

Ive been fighting exhaust leaks for the past few months and finally i got frustrated and found a pretty effecient solution. I pulled out all the pieces and then coated the joints with some Permatex Ultra Copper RTV shoved the joints back together and clamped it all down. Been 2k miles and no leaks and the permatex holds up just fine.

Jylee · 10-20-2015, 10:05 AM

I have a zl1 cat back on my v6. It is butt and clamped by the factory exhaust clamp. No leak on my system.

You may want to check your new cat back joint, the two pipes should be the same size to prevent leak.

jack

Rangore · 10-20-2015, 10:14 AM

I had a Solo CAT back on my V6 for 70k miles...no leaks. On my current car I have the Borla ATAK CAT back for the last 500 miles and no leaks. It installed without issue too.

harner · 10-20-2015, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punisher_ATX

Ive been fighting exhaust leaks for the past few months and finally i got frustrated and found a pretty effecient solution. I pulled out all the pieces and then coated the joints with some Permatex Ultra Copper RTV shoved the joints back together and clamped it all down. Been 2k miles and no leaks and the permatex holds up just fine.

I have copper RTV in all of my joints, never had a leak.

Kings2010 · 10-20-2015, 03:35 PM

I used some red high temp rtv, but it was getting late and my wife was hounding me to go out. So it was a bit of a rush job. I'm going to try it again this weekend. If nothing else I'll go get it welding up since I don't plan on taking it off.

Kings2010 · 10-23-2015, 08:38 AM

Update:

I put the car back on ramps yesterday. I loosened the factory clamps and the clamps at the s-pipe/x-pipe junction. I was able to position the exhaust to clear the transmission crossmember and the bolts and still have plenty of room to clear the tunnel brace . I used a floor jack and a piece of 2x4 to hold the exhaust in place. I purchased some 3" u-bolt saddle clamps from autozone (3.99 each). These clamps are much better than the ones that come with exhaust. They squeezed the exhaust perfectly and now there are zero leaks. The in cabin noise is almost as quiet as the factory exhaust while cruising and wot is an awesome deep rumbling sound. I am very satisfied with this exhaust now and would recommend it.

B.

10-19-2015, 07:27 PM	#1
Kings2010 Drives: 2005 C6, 2013 ZL1 2020 Ram Cummins Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 192	aftermarket cat back exhaust question I posted in another thread about my cnt 3" cat back exhaust install an initial impression but part of the install has been bugging me so I wanted to get others opinions. The s pipes slide into the factory clamps and from what I gather are supposed to come very to close to, if not touch, the factory pipes. The problem is that if the pipes are pushed in this far then there is insufficient clearance for the s pipes to wrap "around" the cross member and up to the a pipe which has to sit slightly higher in order to clear the tunnel brace. If I leave the s pipes a little more aft the clearance on the transmission cross member is alleviated but then the factory pipes are not butted up against the s pipes and the clamp is left to seal the exhaust. Another issue is the the exhaust leaks at the a pipe joints. Has anyone successfully installed an aftermarket cat back using only clamps without any leaks? Thanks, Brian

10-20-2015, 08:34 AM	#2
harner Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NEPA Posts: 450	I installed my catback but the pipes are not butted up to the stock down pipe. This allowed for adjustment to tuck the other pipes up as far as possible. My problem lies with the pipes rubbing the floor pans with spirited driving. I adjusted the exhaust quite a bit and removed just abou tall of the vibrations, but the crossmember brace thing was removed and I haven't tried to reinstall. I was in a hurry to install it the first time on a borrowed lift. The second time was just on the floor in a garage. I think if I took my time with it on a lift again, I'd be able to adjust it perfectly. __________________ SOLD! 9/1/2020 2018 ZL1 A10 Hyper Blue - Rotofab CAI, Gibson catback @SurefireDetail OEM ZLE tails/third brake light, Gen5DIY reverse LEDs, front Amber LEDs, SMG laser LED side markers, SMG smoked reflectors 1994 Trans Am LM7/CPT 4L60E/9" 1987 IROC 2006 Silverado

10-20-2015, 10:14 AM	#5
Rangore Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Ed Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,220	I had a Solo CAT back on my V6 for 70k miles...no leaks. On my current car I have the Borla ATAK CAT back for the last 500 miles and no leaks. It installed without issue too. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS 45th Anniversary Edition - No longer owned: 2010 Camaro 2LT, 1993 Camaro Z-28

10-20-2015, 09:55 AM	#3
Punisher_ATX Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Austin Posts: 439	Ive been fighting exhaust leaks for the past few months and finally i got frustrated and found a pretty effecient solution. I pulled out all the pieces and then coated the joints with some Permatex Ultra Copper RTV shoved the joints back together and clamped it all down. Been 2k miles and no leaks and the permatex holds up just fine.

10-20-2015, 10:05 AM	#4
Jylee Drives: 2012 2LT Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sugarland, TX Posts: 96	I have a zl1 cat back on my v6. It is butt and clamped by the factory exhaust clamp. No leak on my system. You may want to check your new cat back joint, the two pipes should be the same size to prevent leak. jack

10-20-2015, 03:35 PM	#7
Kings2010 Drives: 2005 C6, 2013 ZL1 2020 Ram Cummins Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 192	I used some red high temp rtv, but it was getting late and my wife was hounding me to go out. So it was a bit of a rush job. I'm going to try it again this weekend. If nothing else I'll go get it welding up since I don't plan on taking it off.

10-23-2015, 08:38 AM	#8
Kings2010 Drives: 2005 C6, 2013 ZL1 2020 Ram Cummins Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 192	Update: I put the car back on ramps yesterday. I loosened the factory clamps and the clamps at the s-pipe/x-pipe junction. I was able to position the exhaust to clear the transmission crossmember and the bolts and still have plenty of room to clear the tunnel brace . I used a floor jack and a piece of 2x4 to hold the exhaust in place. I purchased some 3" u-bolt saddle clamps from autozone (3.99 each). These clamps are much better than the ones that come with exhaust. They squeezed the exhaust perfectly and now there are zero leaks. The in cabin noise is almost as quiet as the factory exhaust while cruising and wot is an awesome deep rumbling sound. I am very satisfied with this exhaust now and would recommend it. B.