12 replies to this topic

[Brendan O]

Hi,
I read a lot of the other Springfield Dyno (SD) posts at specmiata.com. It seems installing the SD exhaust can be tricky to install due to downpipe and engine orientation. It took me a really long time to get things lined up as best i could. Everything is still loose on the car because it just doesn't seem correct. The front hanger attached to exhaust is pressed hard against the suspension and the rear hanger is pushing the rubber mount backwards. The exhaust pipe itself is also right against the suspension. I don't think i have this right or I got an NA exhaust instead of NB. Here are some pics:

https://picasaweb.go...427784206631058
https://picasaweb.go...427794355997538
https://picasaweb.go...427800488388050
https://picasaweb.go...427811548414322
https://picasaweb.go...427824970592162
https://picasaweb.go...427834317944274
https://picasaweb.go...427841923337346
https://picasaweb.go...427848276446882
https://picasaweb.go...427856466039778

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
Brendan

[cpdenis]

Brendan, I had similar issues. When you tighten everything upfront the secondary pipe will shift. Even if it shifts a few mms upfront the change will be exponential in the back. I also had to bend the tabs some to get it to mount properly. Then weld.
CP

[Rob Burgoon]

SD exhausts fit poorly. Mine had the flange WAY off. I had it rewelded but it still hits stuff in like two or three places. It's just part of the package.

[ChrisA]

Mine did the same thing. Had to take it to a muffler shop to get it installed. They had to slightly bend the front portion of the pipe, cut off the hanger that hits the subframe and reposition, bend the rear hanger and add an additional. Fits well now! When you call about it you get the "Well it's a race car" crap; when it was really either poorly designed or the quality control sucks.

[Bench Racer]

I note you folks have 1.8's/99's. The SD fits very well on my 1.6.

Couple questions:

Have you called San Henry at SD? I'v spoken with him a couple times at the track & he's one hell of a nice guy.

Does the 1.8 have a OEM bracket near the motor/bell housing split. If none, look at the FSM & see if there shold be a braket there. If one was there or is shown, use it.

After installing a clamp of some sort at rear muffler if things look better, push the pipe away from the suspension by hand. If you have clearance bend the solid round rods that are welded to the exhaust system. The hanger pushing rearward is not the worst thing that this exhaus system is going to see. Weld on a new hanger & remove the original hanger.

[Jim Drago]

I have used SD exhausts since 2006 or so, probably installed 40-50 of these things. I had issue on one or two maybe. I have never had to reweld a flange on any 99 plus car. I hav had to bend a few, bend a few hangers. I think in an effort to make the exhaust straight as possible it is close in a few spots, a small angle change at the flange brings it very close at the back.

Jim

[Brendan O]

Thanks for all your help. After your posts, I now think that I don't have things backwards. I sent an email to Sam at SD yesterday but no replay yet. The pictures I posted are with 3 cross braces removed (middle and rear of car). There are pictures of all the cross braces I removed in the same web album onine:

https://picasaweb.go...9306024/Exhaust#

Last night I bent the two hangers attached to SD rear pipe using my hands. I bent the hangers towards the front of the car by around 1" so that the front hanger would stop hitting the rear subframe when i move the rear pipe towards back of car. I needed to move rear section backwards to give me more clearance from the green cylinder connected to diff. I will try post new pics with the bent hangers and new position. It seems to fit ok now (i guess). I'm thinking I should have let a shop bend the hangers because I bent them when they were cold and that's probably going to weaken them. Should you only bend the hangers once they are warmed up with a blow torch or something?

Also, how do you ground the O2 sensor when you strap it under the car? Is there a favorite place to put it? Do you guys use a metal clamp or something? Any pics would be appreciated.

thanks again

[Brendan O]

Also, I screwed up and cut the OE wire connector block off the O2 sensor wires going under car so I could pull the wires through the hole in tub under the driver seat. Here are some pics of fiasco:

https://picasaweb.go...303818859724930
https://picasaweb.go...303833316607410
https://picasaweb.go...735453325205890
https://picasaweb.go...735459595590722

I know I should not have done this

The other half of OE connector under driver seat with wires going to computer is unharmed:

https://picasaweb.go...735447765765874


I thought I might replace both sides of connector (male/female) with some old computer connectors I found:

https://picasaweb.go...735469461509554

or with something I could buy locally at Autozone or O'Reilly. I was going to try get a solderless type since I don't know how to solder but if soldering is recommended I will buy that type. Or I could try fix the one half of OE connector that I took apart since its not too badly damaged.

thanks again
Brendan

[Justin Fowler]

I am considering a SD exhaust but I feel I may have a problem with my downpipe, is the downpipe flange where the exhaust pipe connects suppose to be pointing up towards the floor pan? I mean mines not going straight up but it has about a 70 degree angle, my "Redneck" exhaust I made at the house I had to make one hell of a cut to get the pipe straight as possible. My first thought was I received the wrong downpipe but this just concerns me

[ChrisA]

Thanks for all your help. After your posts, I now think that I don't have things backwards. I sent an email to Sam at SD yesterday but no replay yet. The pictures I posted are with 3 cross braces removed (middle and rear of car). There are pictures of all the cross braces I removed in the same web album onine:

https://picasaweb.go...9306024/Exhaust#

Last night I bent the two hangers attached to SD rear pipe using my hands. I bent the hangers towards the front of the car by around 1" so that the front hanger would stop hitting the rear subframe when i move the rear pipe towards back of car. I needed to move rear section backwards to give me more clearance from the green cylinder connected to diff. I will try post new pics with the bent hangers and new position. It seems to fit ok now (i guess). I'm thinking I should have let a shop bend the hangers because I bent them when they were cold and that's probably going to weaken them. Should you only bend the hangers once they are warmed up with a blow torch or something?

Also, how do you ground the O2 sensor when you strap it under the car? Is there a favorite place to put it? Do you guys use a metal clamp or something? Any pics would be appreciated.

thanks again

Sam, doesn't make these anymore. If I remember correctly, he sold the rights to produce and sell the pipe to Saferacer.

[davew]

I have installed a lot of these. 1.6 seems to fit correctly almost every time. 94-97 fit 2 out 3 times and 99+ are <50% right.

Cutting and rewelding the front flange is very common. As is redoing the hangers.

As far as I know, Sam sold the manufatcuring rights a couple years ago to SafeRacer. Since then the quality control has gone down hill. Don't blame Sam, the ones he built fit perfectly every time.

You also may be having problems due to the oversized subframe braces of a 2003 car. Their braces are much larger than a 99-00.

Dave

[Brendan O]

Thanks Dave. I did not know the 2003 rear subframe was bigger than 99. That explains a lot. But before I purchased from Saferacer, I asked Sam at SD about installing on a 2003 and his exact reply was: "should be same". I guess he assumes bending hangers is normal.

I reattached the cross braces and I had to push the magnaflow and the rear pipe about 1/2" up in order to be able to screw the cross braces back in. So now both the magnaflow and rear section are pressing downward against the cross braces - not sure how bad that is. I guess it means it is putting stress on the downpipe and header but maybe it is ok.   I am not sure I should try lift off of cross braces with a strap because that would mean even more stress. I took for test drive for first time last night and at low RPM there does seem to be loud rattling noise that makes me think exhaust is vibrating against cross braces but it is not too bad. Other than that, the exhaust sounds really good.

I have not yet installed rear O2 sensor under car but after about 10 mile test drive, the CEL did not come on. I think it will come one later from what i've read.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Thanks Dave. I did not know the 2003 rear subframe was bigger than 99. That explains a lot. But before I purchased from Saferacer, I asked Sam at SD about installing on a 2003 and his exact reply was: "should be same". I guess he assumes bending hangers is normal.

I reattached the cross braces and I had to push the magnaflow and the rear pipe about 1/2" up in order to be able to screw the cross braces back in. So now both the magnaflow and rear section are pressing downward against the cross braces - not sure how bad that is. I guess it means it is putting stress on the downpipe and header but maybe it is ok. I am not sure I should try lift off of cross braces with a strap because that would mean even more stress. I took for test drive for first time last night and at low RPM there does seem to be loud rattling noise that makes me think exhaust is vibrating against cross braces but it is not too bad. Other than that, the exhaust sounds really good.

I have not yet installed rear O2 sensor under car but after about 10 mile test drive, the CEL did not come on. I think it will come one later from what i've read.

My old 2001 SM came with the SD exhaust installed already when I bought the car. It always banged around a bit on take off and a bit going from 1st to 2nd but once on the track I never noticed it rattling or banging around. I even took some wire and tried to stop it from banging but to no avail. Tying it did not seem to hurt anything.