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[jjleonard]

Whilst at WIM this morning I took the opportunity, when the car was on the lift, to have a good look at the exhaust system.

I've got a hole just ahead of the back box, and the MOT is due on the 9th May, so I know that'll fail.

Tony at WIM said that in his opinion trying to remove the back box on it's own would be a mistake as the downpipes into it ('upsteam' of the clamp) are so rotted they are likely to snap too - so it looks like i'll have to replace the back box and central silencers.

So, for my two questions:

1) I have very little cash so am looking at Eternal Car to source the exhaust but can't find anything on their site and ebay store for my 2.6 - are all V6 exhaust systems the same?

2) Is this easy to fit myself with the car on axle stands? From looking under the car it appears that the pipes join just down from the cats with a 'mounting flange' (not sure of the correct term) so It LOOKS like I can unbolt that, then undo the mounting bolts all the way back to remove the old exhaust and back box. Is it that easy, or am I kidding myself?

[RobG]

VX state same part number for centre and rear sections so imagine they`re the same

[ians]

It should in theory fit although you wil find that the tail pipe is a couple of inches too short.

Having said that, on my eternal system, I needed to cut an inch or so off one of the centre pipes in order to get it to fit at all.

The main gotcha with DIY is that flange joint at the front.  Some plonker decided to put the threads in the cat section, so if/when the bolts shear, the stuck bit needs to be drilled out (as opposed to if the bolts had gone in the other way, you would just chuck the centre section away anyway..).   It is worth being very very careful with those bolts - use load of Plusgas, heat or whatever in order to get them out in one piece, and then replace with stainless bolts (M8).  

[jjleonard]

Thanks Ians - any idea how long the M8 Bolts should be?

Do I need any other gaskets / paste etc, or do eternal supply all that?

Ta
John.

[ians]

You need to order everything you need separately.

In reality that means you need the two clamps - I think they are  2 1/4" - I got mine from Halfords, a quid or so each on TC.   You can probably reuse the rubbers.  Need a tube of Firegum (also Halfords).

Not sure about the bolts - I bought 50mm ones and cut the odd one down that was too long to fit.  30mm would probably be ok , but better too long than short

Don't forget the Plusgas..

[Kevin Wood]

Couple of (2" IIRC) U bolts might be required for the bracket that joins the two exhausts. The bolts in mine disintegrated on application of a spanner.

Kevin

[ians]

I don't think I managed to get that back on mine.

[jjleonard]

Thanks all - after spending a little bit more time on the eternalcar site i reckon i need the following bits (plus mounting kits, firegum etc) and Plusgas!

http://store.eternalcar.com/exhaust-rear-silencer-vauxhall-p-120952.html

http://store.eternalcar.com/exhaust-central-silencer-vauxhall-p-120946.html

http://store.eternalcar.com/exhaust-central-silencer-vauxhall-p-120947.html

They appear to do the mounting kits as well so I'll order those from them, and get the rest of the bits at Halfrauds.

I've tried to source plusgas before - anyone know where i can get it? I've stuck with 3 in 1 penetrant spray before, which seems to work ok.

[ians]

that's a 3L back box - does yours have dual tail pipes?

[jjleonard]

that's a 3L back box - does yours have dual tail pipes?

Well spotted - my mistake.

this one: http://store.eternalcar.com/exhaust-rear-silencer-vauxhall-p-120948.html

is the right one, I think!

[ians]

Yup looks good to me.  As said, you will find the tail pipe is a bit short but no problem.

[Kevin Wood]

I don't think I managed to get that back on mine.

Me neither. U bolts on order though so I'm going to give it a try when they turn up.

Kevin

[jjleonard]

Question number 3 - as my car is a 2.6, eternalcar refuse to guarantee that the exhaust parts listed for a 2.5 will fit.

Has anyone got experience of them not fitting? I recall an earlier comment about one of the pipes potentially being 2" too long, but apart from that, has anyone fitted one to a 2.6 or 3.2?

Cheers
John

[Kevin Wood]

Fitted one to a 3.2 with no problems. Tail pipes are a little short and look a bit silly but I will fit some trims to them when I get round to it. Other than that it went on very easily.

Not quite as refined as the original fit system but, for the money, can't complain.

Kevin

[JamesV6CDX]

=

Not quite as refined as the original fit system but, for the money, can't complain.

Kevin

Thing is Kev - the original system "double skinned one" - is no longer made - the dealer one you would get from a dealer is now comparable to eternalcar.

I think with all options considered, Eternalcar is great value