Just got my Mag. cat back in yesterday

What are the pros/cons of welding vs. clamping in place?

One shop said they would tack weld it in place if I would install it with the clamps?? Is this a good idea?

Let me know what you think and what you have done.

Thanks

 

Thats what I had done, shop said that the clamps were adequate enough. They just tacked it for and lined everything up for me for $60. Had a problem getting the tips lined uped correctly.

 

I have that same catback and I have just a couple of tips for you if you dont know already. First being that the clamps are very prone to breaking (bolts at least). And second would be that it is very hard for most of these to get the passenger side tip to line up right, so make sure its dead straight before welding it if you decide to tack weld it. I got my kit used, and it had the tips tac welded because they would move I think. I just bought some stainlass steel exhaust band clamps to clamp mine together for about $6 a clamp, and they are MUCH better than the clamps that come with the kit. THe clamp looks like a sheet of stainless that seals right around the pipe. Buts its your truck man.

 

I agree, the clamps work just fine and really IMO, it's not worth welding unless your shop is setup to weld stainless steel.

 

I to agree that clamps should be enough. I used clamps on my install and after a few miles, had to readjust it and its held strong since. Welding would not allow you to make fine adjustments after its installed.

 

I figured that if they aint welded from the factory, there's no sense in me fixing what aint broke. I put mine on with the clamps from Magnaflow.

Here's a tip: After you install and drive a few miles...the next day, get back under there and crank those clamps down good and tight again for good measure. Grab your tip (once it's cool, of course) and make sure there's no slop in that last link especially.

 

Solder it

 

Forgot to mention that the Magnaflow seals better with clamps than the factory exhaust pieces do. You can see carbon residue leaking out of the factory connections, but none from the magnaflow.

 

When I installed my Magnaflow catback system I ditched the claps that came with it and used Torctite stainless steel sleeve clamps. Much better seal and looks better to

 

I'd ditch the stock clamps and bolts for sure. I stripped out the bolts that came with the kit originally, had to drive the truck w/o exhaust (LOUD, let me tell you) to the hardware store. didn't mess around, got grade 8 bolts / nuts.

 

3x on the stainless steel band clamps -- the clamps MagnaFlow sends in their kits are pretty weak. I got my clamps at NAPA and they blow away the clamps that came with my system. Here's what they look like when installed:

 

About how much will these clamps cost and did they have to order them?

Thanks for all of the replies! This site is EXTREMELY helpful, but it sure does cost me alot of money

 

I installed the SISO catback a couple of months ago and the Magnaflow supplied clamps were gorilla proof. A friend at work had already warned me about them from his install a year ago but mine were quite a bit stouter than the ones he received. I rounded a nut off overtorquing mine without a hint of stripping the threads or snapping the bolt.

My tip was also welded on from the factory...

 

If I remember correctly, the clamps were $9.99 each, which I thought was a little pricey at the time, but once I saw how they worked compared to the MagnaFlow clamps I realized they were worth every penny!

The NAPA store near me had plenty in stock, but if yours doesn't, they should be able to order them and get them in a day or two.

 

I'm not taking mine off and I'm not selling the truck. Plus, the ones that came with it suck. I had access, so i welded mine.

Whatever you do, I would be sure to get something besides what it came with.

Good luck and enjoy it!