Side pipe install advice needed.

[Fluge]

How are the side pipe brackets attached to the frame. Are people using bolts that go through and through the frame and body?

I haven't fully installed the side pipes yet and I am wondering if this should be done before I powdercoat the frame so that I can weld the brackets on instead of bolting them on.

Thoughts? How are your brackets attached and are you happy with it?

Thanks

Marc

[Fox2]

Take the side pipes and have a local muffler shop open them up just a little. My Drivers side was not too bad. The passanger side was WAY off ! It was no fun ! I used the supplied harware and methods. I am about 90% where I want to be. Doing final fitting of doors and hood ......... I will make some minor adjustment to the bracket welded to the side pipes and should get me there.

[hotrod bill]

I bolted the bracket on through the square frame, but not the body. Worked good for me.
Bill

[mmarshall]

I used self tappers and never had a problem.

[Fluge]

....So if do the final assembly after powdercoat minus the body, mount the side pipes to the headers, install the frame bracket by bolting them to the frame, take the pipes off, install the body and then re-install the pipes, I should be good to go...right?

My passenger side pipes go on easy but the driver's side headers and sidepipe tubes don't line up well...off by 1/4-1/2 inches ...so ...may need to splay the header pipes apart a little to slide the side pipe on.

The reason I am asking is because the side pipes will be the only thing I haven't fully test fitted before final paint. I made the side pipe holes with a partial sidepipe install and made the holes big enough. I'd like to get the body fully painted now but without fully trial fitting the pipes.

Marc

[Grembler2]

its best to install the brackets with the body on so you can make sure the side pipes are in the correct position. My header pipes had to be either spread apart a little or squeezed together a little to get the side pipes to start going on then its a lot of wiggleing to get them to slide the rest of the way. I also made some marks on the header pipes so i could see how far the side pipes were slid on.

[Fluge]

I haven't looked under the car in that area to know the answer to this....in terms of access...

Can you bolt the bracket through the frame with the body on?

I think I need to make a trip to the body shop and look at a few things...

Marc

[Riptide Motorsport]

Yes you can Bolt the bracket on after the body is mounted .

[Grembler2]

I installed mine on the inside vertical side of the 2x2 box tube. Dont forget the isolation rubber if you do use it.

[Fluge]

I had a look under my car and I won't be able to drill (through and through) and bolt the bracket on the inside vertical of the 2x2 with the body on the frame. The body lip under the 2x2 makes it impossible to access the outside vertical of the 2x2. Not sure how Riptide did it.

Am I missing a trick? I guess self tappers with a few spot welds would do the trick too.

Marc

[CJBergquist]

I used revnuts...seem to be strong enough as they stood up to me dropping the car on them....

[Fluge]

Thanks...just thought of that as another option...great minds think alike

[Grembler2]

Rivnuts are fine... you can also either drill and use a fine thread tap or do what i did and use the large rivets

[MikeJones]

Hi, Marc:
big rivets are the easiest. dont need to worry about access and lots of strength. Make sure you get the spacers right the first time, or you will end up moving the brackets - guess how \I know.

Regards, Mike

hey, 13,500km so far!

[parnelli]

Hi Marc
I used the 3/16 rivets on the brackets. Have had no problems for 2000 miles.
I even pulled the left side off by catching the sidepipe bracket on a 2 stage curb
( yes I got onto the lot too hot ) with no ill effects. That is except for having to get
the Mrs. to bring me some tools so that I could unbolt the rear bracket from the frame
mount to drive home and do the remedial straightening.

Greg