Okay so I recently just went to a tuning shop to get an O2 Sensor bung welded in my down-pipe for my wideband. I spoke with them on the phone and specifically asked that it be TIG welded where to put it etc. So I get there they put it up on the lift and there isn't sufficient room by the stock narrowband sensor. They suggested putting it after the flex-pipe which I wasn't very happy about but agreed to since there was no other place. I give them the bung, plug (at this point the wideband had not come in yet), and torque specs for the down-pipe and was asked to go wait in the lobby. About an hour and a half later its done they pull it off the lift I pay. I go outside look under it looks okay I can't see very well but okay. I go to install the wideband when it comes in; I jack up the car crawl under. . . its obviously MIG welded and its the worst welding I've ever seen. They also never took the down-pipe off the car to do it. At this point I'm a little mad but can deal with it. I go to unscrew the plug and its seized; wonderful. . .so I call them they agree to try and fix it. Another hour drive there "Its seized there's nothing we can do, I'm just gonna put the other bung in on the other side of the pipe." I'm being told this after the hole is already drilled so I don't have any choice at this point. . .So the owner of the place puts it in; welding is even worse this time (MIG again) and is facing at an upward angle. . . So I left both times wondering why I just didn't do it myself.

So after that epic debacle the sensor is installed and my down-pipe looks like a 5 yr old worked on it. The wideband is all over the place and often reads 17+ which can't be right (extremely lean); and I can't drive around knowing that mess is right under me.

It's a 6 speed, the headers on it now are XS and nothing else fits except for Comptech ($1000 +)

So do I:
Bite the bullet buy $1000 headers?
Find a place to fix the down-pipe?
Buy DC headers and modify to fit?

 

Try to get maybe used j pipe or buy ebay cheap headers and swap jpipe only.

 

Your other option for headers is grind the rear mount bracket and use auto headers. Obx and auto comptech is gonna be the easiest requiring very little grinding. I am using dc but that required alot of grinding and I dont recommend it. although mine is still holding strong and I track my car sometimes. my thread
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-2001-2003-50/fitting-dc-headers-6-speed-808874/

 

Im sorry for your issue, but sounds like a pretty simple fix.
Just remove the f'd up pipe around the flex pipe with a new one and your straight...oh, and never go back to that hack shack again...lol

 

Yeah I think I'm going to call around some fab shops and see. I want to get the flex pipe moved back a bit too so I can put the wideband next to the stock O2 sensor. Hopefully this doesn't cost too much. Normally I would just do this kind of stuff myself but since I moved I don't have regular access to a TIG welder or a Machine Shop.

 

should only cost about 100 or less buddy...gl

 

I found a guy that builds race headers to fix the J pipe (down-pipe). The plan is to do it this coming Saturday. I'll post before and after pics so you can see how bad it got messed up.

 

Can someone with XS headers confirm that where the 2 pipes join the collector on the J Pipe (where the flex pipe is) is 2.5"? I'm pretty confident since it says it on the XS site just want to be 100%.

 

95% positive

 

^You can have the extra 5% from me.

They have a 2.5" collector. The CT headers have a 2.25" collector.

 

Exactly what I would do

GL OP and dont go back to that place....

 

I have a set of XS headers on the way. So they say!!! They gave me a tracking number so we will see when they get here. I amso bought a set of these off of Ebay and they do have the bend in the tube to fit the 6 speed even though the pictures don't show it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CL-TL...Q5fAccessories

 

cancel the order as soon as you can this picture shows one with two flex pipe that are known from shitty quality...

i think my friend ordered same thing and he had to do custom bend in exhaust shop

another thing is dont use their gaskets only OEM

 

I planned on welding them myself but there is only one flex joint in the pipe I received. Weird. We will see how the XS compares when it arrives.

 

Where did you find xs?? I know they don't sell those anymore. just wondering.. By the way, let us know how it goes Total2f.

 

Actually it is made by www.ssautochrome.com. Same company.

I purchased them even though they are out of stock. Next thing I know I get a tracking number. Should be here early next week.

 

They have just been shipping random eBay generics. You'll be able to confirm by seeing if you have the rear 6speed bend. If you do, then you got lucky with a good CT imitation.

Most likely though, you'll just get the generic without the bend.

 

Well that gives me something to look forward to!!

 

Old Hack Job with garbage welds.



Two O2 bungs both botched.



More proof how bad this welding is.



Fixed down-pipe with a new O2 bung in the correct location this time, a new flex pipe, and a new rear section. You can't see it because I had to compress the pic to post it but the welds are super clean. Overall I'm very happy with the end result. It ended up costing $150 but this is professional grade work and the pipe fits better now than when I bought it. This is also much cheaper than any other option I had as well.

 

Looks like they shot molten pellets of steel from a shotgun and whatever stuck was good. Thats some piss poor welding

 

one of the worse i've seen on this kind of job i can weld much much better

 

Did you ceramic coat your headers?

 

No its VHT Flameproof Coating. It protects from chemical corrosion mostly and helps with the heat a bit.

 

dude thats look like a circuit board when amateur soldering....