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Lethal Performance Mid Pipes Installation

Suprawill1

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#1
They finally arrived but having a hard time getting a shop to install them. A muffler shop actually told me it was a p-i-t-a to do and involved heating the pipes to remove the old ones and said to return the Lethals and he would fashion in his own flex joints, keeping the original pipes and would be easier. I told him these were supposed to fit the OEM system without cutting, welding or modifying anything. When I asked him what his cost was to put his flex joints in, he told me $600. I said bye!

The next shop told me to go to the Midas Muffler around the corner because they were professionals at that type of work. I told them I just came from there!

Another custom exhaust shop that I used to go to because they did good custom work told me aftermarket parts never fit as advertised and said it would at least be $200.

If I had a place and a lift, I'd do the darn things myself but ....

Can anyone here who has had these installed shed some light on fitment, degree of difficulty or cost to install? Thanks!
 

Cdubya

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#2
It doesn't quite fit like OEM. And yes, it can be frustrating to detach old exhaust pieces. one of my rear pieces wouldn't insert easily to the stock piece...ended up using a pipe expander to open it up a bit. It took three times longer than I expected but I don't have a lift. a big metal mallet is useful. But after install, not a lick of problem these past 3 years.
 

OP
Suprawill1

Suprawill1

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Thread Starter #3
It doesn't quite fit like OEM. And yes, it can be frustrating to detach old exhaust pieces. one of my rear pieces wouldn't insert easily to the stock piece...ended up using a pipe expander to open it up a bit. It took three times longer than I expected but I don't have a lift. a big metal mallet is useful. But after install, not a lick of problem these past 3 years.
Thanks for the response! The place I plan on taking it to tomorrow should have all the pertinent resources for a successful installation. If it was a little difficult for you, it should be a lot smoother for a custom exhaust shop. If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you from start to finish?
 

Cdubya

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#4
Thanks for the response! The place I plan on taking it to tomorrow should have all the pertinent resources for a successful installation. If it was a little difficult for you, it should be a lot smoother for a custom exhaust shop. If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you from start to finish?
I'd guess two hours, not including the time spent going to AutoZone to borrow a pipe expander.
 

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Suprawill1

Suprawill1

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Thread Starter #5
I'd guess two hours, not including the time spent going to AutoZone to borrow a pipe expander.
Ok, thanks!
 

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#6
When I asked him what his cost was to put his flex joints in, he told me $600.
lol
 

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Suprawill1

Suprawill1

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Thread Starter #7
Well, I finally got these installed. I went to Tony's Custom Exhaust in Glen Burnie. It's a shop I used to take my Supra to years ago. He got me in as soon as I arrived. His tech had the OEM pipes off in 7 minutes and had the Lethal pipes installed, start to finish in 25 minutes! He even found the tail pipe hanger I started to bolt in yesterday but was unsuccessful, and bolted it up for me. I never even mentioned it to him.

I feel like going back to the places that had tears running down their faces saying "awe man, these pipes are are pain to get off. You need to heat them and they're still tough to get off ", and telling them, "well, this guy did it in 25 minutes. Had the stock ones off in 7 minutes. He died from the sheer agony of pressure to get the job done and they had to close!"
 

BrooseDaMoose

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#8
My mechanic had my entire exhaust off in less than an hour. He never mentioned using heat for anything. The toughest part was getting the down pipes off. That’s was because of the lack of space getting up in there to the bolts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

edog

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#9
I did the mid pipe install of the Lethal stock replacement mid pipes last week. The stock pipes came off easily, I did spray the nuts and pipes with PB Blaster before attacking them with a large rubber mallet. Both sides were off in about 5 or 6 minutes. Getting the Lethal pipes back on required the use of an exhaust pipe expander, the assistance of a friend and a torch to heat the front joint area. The rear joint went in easily. And I was on a lift doing the work.
 

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Suprawill1

Suprawill1

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Thread Starter #10
My mechanic had my entire exhaust off in less than an hour. He never mentioned using heat for anything. The toughest part was getting the down pipes off. That’s was because of the lack of space getting up in there to the bolts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I did see a couple tutorials on the DP installs. In both cases, they had to lower the front subframe and the transmission mount brace to create ample space to get the driver's side DP bolts. The passenger side is a little more spacious.
 

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Suprawill1

Suprawill1

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Thread Starter #11
I did the mid pipe install of the Lethal stock replacement mid pipes last week. The stock pipes came off easily, I did spray the nuts and pipes with PB Blaster before attacking them with a large rubber mallet. Both sides were off in about 5 or 6 minutes. Getting the Lethal pipes back on required the use of an exhaust pipe expander, the assistance of a friend and a torch to heat the front joint area. The rear joint went in easily. And I was on a lift doing the work.
Wish I had a lift, I would have saved some $$. The tech that did mine told me that the rear connection comes up a bit short but the rest fitted ok. Didn't need to expand the pipe. I'm connecting to a stock cat back so maybe that's the difference.
He also advised purchasing new clamps with your MP purchase.
 



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