How-To Install an After-Cat Exhaust System

4. If things are tight, a light tap on the muffler mountingflange with a plastic hammer helps separate the mufflers and the H-pipe.

5. (above and right) Next, the tailpipes are removed from their hangers by pryingthem off; a large screwdriver or crowbar does the trick. Note thedifference in the way the mounting tabs are oriented on the tailpipe.The pipe being removed is on our '95 GT subject car, while the other caris an '01 GT. That's why Bassani offers different systems.

6. If the rubber in the tailpipe hangers is dried out, a spraylubricant like WD-40 is a big help in getting the tailpipe separatedfrom the hanger.

7. You have a couple of choices here. To remove the stock system,you need to cut the pipe directly behind the muffler. If you want toavoid cutting the stock system, drop the rear axle to get the tailpipesout--something you might want to do if you have, say, a collectiblelate-model like a Cobra, a Bullitt, or a Mach 1 and don't want to weldthe stock system back together if you decide to reinstall it in thefuture.

8. Once the tailpipes and mufflers are separated, the tailpipescome right out from behind the car, provided the car is on the type ofhoist from which the rear axle can hang. If you have the car on aramp-style hoist, it might take more effort to get the tailpipes free.In any case, having the axle hang down (with the weight of the car offof it) helps, since it provides additional clearance between the car andrearend.

9. The Bassani system uses all stock hangers. The ones that holdthe mufflers in place slide right onto the muffler hangers, as shown.

10. The Bassani tailpipes slip over the rear axle and connect tothe existing hangers underneath the rear bumper cover.

11. Once the tailpipe is in place, the next step is to installthe mufflers. Slip the muffler into the tailpipe, as shown, and be sureto have the clamp already in place before joining the muffler andtailpipe.