1st Gen. Exhaust options

[Gen X]

My fault, forgot to add the studs and nuts to the photo. Got a set from the dealership. The hardware in the photo is for connecting headers to cats and cats to y pipe. I'll be passing by Harbor Freight for the torx. For the gaskets, do I need both the round crush gaskets and the FelPro between the headers and the cats?

 

[Prime]

My harbor freight didn't have the External Torx set. I had to get it from sears. Advance had one they could order.

You need all the gaskets. Get FelPro's for the header to head gaskets. And then use whatever you've got for the collector-cat junction. The flat gasket goes between the collector and the cat, the donut gasket goes on the other end of the cat where it connects to the Y-pipe.

 

[Gen X]

It's done! Took a bit longer than expected and had to fight getting out the old stuff. Good excuse to buy a few more tools though. The CEL was off when I finished as the battery had been disconnected. It came on about 20 mins after running the truck. I just checked the codes and had P160 and P161. Both deal with bank 2 sensor 2. It seems 161 is a problem with the heater control circuit and 160 is no activity detected. I put in a new 02 sensor. I just unplugged it and re-connected to see if I didn't connect it solidly enough. I cleared the codes, it hasn't come back yet. Anyone have this issue before? If it comes back does that mean the new 02 sensor is bad?

 

[Prime]

You sir, have a clean engine bay.

Is that the O2 you had to extend?

 

[Gen X]

Most of the dirt and grease ended up on my arms. Thats a shot of the passenger side. The stock exhaust manifold was actually cracked. I had no idea until I got the heat shield off. Also found the valve cover was loose and leaking by the firewall. Tightened all the screws on both and cleaned up the oil. In that photo, you can see the sensor I had to extend, but the code coming up is for the driver side downstream sensor. I bought a new one and the wire is a bit longer than stock. I read some posts that said the codes sometimes come sporadically usually from moisture in the connection. Im hoping it just goes away after unplugging and reconnecting everything. It wouldnt come up from removing the ground wires connected to the heat shields would it? There was a ground from body to shield on each side. Theres nothing to connect them to on the new headers. Do I need to reground those somewhere?

 

[Prime]

Most of the dirt and grease ended up on my arms. Thats a shot of the passenger side. The stock exhaust manifold was actually cracked. I had no idea until I got the heat shield off. Also found the valve cover was loose and leaking by the firewall. Tightened all the screws on both and cleaned up the oil. In that photo, you can see the sensor I had to extend, but the code coming up is for the driver side downstream sensor. I bought a new one and the wire is a bit longer than stock. I read some posts that said the codes sometimes come sporadically usually from moisture in the connection. Im hoping it just goes away after unplugging and reconnecting everything. It wouldnt come up from removing the ground wires connected to the heat shields would it? There was a ground from body to shield on each side. Theres nothing to connect them to on the new headers. Do I need to reground those somewhere?

You can never have enough grounds.

 

[Kris&HerX]

https://www.facebook.com/

Magnaflow Cat back, stock 2000 Xterra.

I think it sounds badass! Especially out on the trails in 1st gear!

 

[Pauly]

In case anyone ever comes looking...

I have a supercharged engine running a smaller pulley and a larger intake. I found a full pre-bent exhaust kit on Craigslist in my area and picked it up. It was a puzzle to figure out, but here's what I ended up with...


DT headers
3x Magnaflow universal cats (53005) - 2 up front in stock Secondary location, 1 right behind Y-pipe.
OE 02 sensors
2.25" ID pipe throughout
2.25" Y-pipe
2.25" Gibson Stainless muffler (came with the kit)

this setup seemed to give me a bit more ooomf since I do have the supercharged model. I know Prime said he talked to a legit exhaust shop, and while I do believe that, I think maybe since I have smaller pulley on my blower and a less restricted intake, I may be been a bit choked up with the factory exhaust.







I think the Gibson muffler sounds terrible with the headers and supercharger, but whatever. Maybe I'll swap it some day.

Sound Clip - 2.25", Gibson, DT Headers