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DaveK
10-18-2009, 05:55 PM
Hi everyone

Just picked up some Watson long tube headers from ebay and looking for advice on what I need to fit them. I have a Haibeck chip at the moment for the stock exhaust so I think I need a different tune when I install the watsons.

The headers have no cats as they come and are 3 inch collectors. My current exhaust is a borla. I'd prefer to run cats, so I'm thinking an aftermarket cat might work to match up to the rest of the system?

I imagine there will be some element of fabrication needed and between us chickens my welding isn't the neatest!

Is there anything else I should do while I'm doing this? Xpipe and so on? Advice from anyone who has done this sort of thing would be great.

Thanks :thumbsup:

Dave
Kb7tif
10-18-2009, 06:49 PM
Installing the headers are not that bad just take your time. I dont think there pre-fabbed pipes you will need between the collectors and cats/exhaust so custom might be the way of life here.
I just put watsons on m y 92 and it will be well worth the effort.
GOLDCYLON
10-18-2009, 11:39 PM
You will need some O2 extender hanrnesses and you will need to remove the inner fenders to free up some room for the install. I suggest you buy an oil dipstick seal from Jerrys gaskets as you will need to reposition the dip stick tube. (I'll assume you have the gaskets for the headers as well). Once pulled the large seal become brittle and can tear. As to aftermarket Cats most favor either the high flowing mdipstick tube agnaflows or the random technolgies cats.

http://www.jerrysgaskets.com/

Another suggestion may be the anti-vibration lock thread types of bolts so the bolts dont back out.
DaveK
10-19-2009, 10:44 AM
I have the dipstick seal from the group buy but no header gaskets - just checked Gerry's site and he has them so I'll get those ordered. Where do I get the O2 extenders from?
tf95ZR1
10-19-2009, 06:11 PM
Where do I get the O2 extenders from?

Try:
Marc Haibeck http://www.zr1specialist.com/
Jeff Flint http://www.pnwzr1.com/, and
Randy Woods http://www.zr1products.com/

And I highly recommend swapping out the Borla resonator
for an "X" pipe. More resonance around 1800 rpm but well worth it.
Hammer
10-19-2009, 11:35 PM
I have the dipstick seal from the group buy but no header gaskets - just checked Gerry's site and he has them so I'll get those ordered. Where do I get the O2 extenders from?

Go to NAPA, they had the parts and I just made mine. You need to ask for Weatherall connectors if I remember right. Take the right O2 sensor with you so you get the right parts. One male end and one female end. I only needed one for the passenger side.
IowaZR-1
10-21-2009, 08:00 AM
Send them to me for a "test" fit on my '93......will advise of any trouble installing.......if they don't fit I'll give you $500.:thumbsup:
DaveK
10-21-2009, 11:14 AM
Send them to me for a "test" fit on my '93......will advise of any trouble installing.......if they don't fit I'll give you $500.:thumbsup:

:sign10:

Thanks for the tips everyone. I did a search on the forum too (should have done that first!) and found a lot of information etc. Couple of things I couldn't find though.

1. Random Technologies Cat part No.
2. What's the best source for an x-pipe (again a part no would be useful)

Emailed Marc Haibeck, he has a dipstick adapter bracket and the O2 sensor extensions and I will get a new calibration from him to take in to account the headers.

I also found a company in ontario that does ceramic plating. Emailed them to check about getting that done possibly - no response so far. How much difference does the ceramic make? (it certainly looks very pretty)

thanks again

Dave
Jeffvette
10-21-2009, 07:08 PM
1. Random Technologies Cat part No.
2. What's the best source for an x-pipe (again a part no would be useful)


Dave, order the magnaflow cats, they are cheaper and I suspect the same part as the RT units, minus the price.

X-pipe are you running a 3" system?
DaveK
10-21-2009, 08:40 PM
Jeff, thanks for the heads up on the Magnaflow/RT cat issue.

The watsons are a 3 inch collector. The rest of my system is a borla which is 2 1/2 I believe. From other posts on here it seems I will need to use an adapter after the cats so I would need a 2 1/2 x-pipe I think.
Jeffvette
10-21-2009, 08:55 PM
Dave, you might look at dumping your Borla set up and going to a true 3" system.
Hammer
10-21-2009, 10:22 PM
One question for you. What size are the primaries on the headers? If they are the 1 7/8" you won't need anything fot the dipstick. It fits with no problems. I'm not sure about the 2" Watson's though.

Here's mine, they are going on over the winter. Do yours look like this?Thanks again Ted.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k60/HammerZR1/ZR-1%20Stuff/IM000544.jpg?t=1256174490
-=Jeff=-
10-22-2009, 09:37 AM
Dave, you might look at dumping your Borla set up and going to a true 3" system.
WTF you have against Borla!! :mrgreen: :sign10:

For the 2" watsons you will probably need the adapter bracket for the dipstick
RICKYRJ1
10-23-2009, 04:49 AM
I have a brand new set of the MG cats that I am not going to use. They are at Marc's, I can have him ship them to you. $125.00 shipped
DaveK
10-23-2009, 07:23 AM
Jeff - You're probably right. Ultimately I'd like to go with the full SSW system but for now the Borla system will have to stay. I like the look and sound of the Borla system but I've not had much to compare it with. Blackjack told me about a restrictor in the system that I will probably look at taking out while I'm doing this - some kind of disk at the front of the resonator I believe.

Hammer - the primaries are 2 inches. So I better get the gear to handle the dipstick.

Ricky - that works for me. I'm going to be ordering the other stuff from Marc anyway so hopefully he can bundle it up at the same time. How do you want paying? Paypal is probably easiest from my perspective.
DaveK
10-23-2009, 07:33 AM
Not quite as fancy as yours, Hammer.

http://www.vette-dreams.com/f/DSCF2941a.jpg
-=Jeff=-
10-23-2009, 09:19 AM
Jeff - You're probably right. Ultimately I'd like to go with the full SSW system but for now the Borla system will have to stay. I like the look and sound of the Borla system but I've not had much to compare it with. Blackjack told me about a restrictor in the system that I will probably look at taking out while I'm doing this - some kind of disk at the front of the resonator I believe.

Hammer - the primaries are 2 inches. So I better get the gear to handle the dipstick.

Ricky - that works for me. I'm going to be ordering the other stuff from Marc anyway so hopefully he can bundle it up at the same time. How do you want paying? Paypal is probably easiest from my perspective.

I was just bustin' Jeff since he has 2.5" corsa :-D

I have the 2.75" borla with headers. I am changing the resonator and hopefully adding Cats this winter..
Pete
10-23-2009, 12:06 PM
and hopefully adding Cats this winter..



Noooooooo,
Why?

Pete
-=Jeff=-
10-23-2009, 12:29 PM
Noooooooo,
Why?

Pete

the smell from the exhaust.. odd thing is the BLMs look to be 128 +/- 4 all the time.

I might just do the Resonator I had Al set up and try that first.
Pete
10-23-2009, 12:38 PM
I might just do the Resonator .


Again
Why?

Just do: Headers, X-pipe, mufflers,Borla's are quiet enough.

LT5 likes to breath why choke it up with rasonators and cats [-X

Pete
-=Jeff=-
10-23-2009, 12:58 PM
Again
Why?

Just do: Headers, X-pipe, mufflers,Borla's are quiet enough.

LT5 likes to breath why choke it up with rasonators and cats [-X

Pete

Cause the Resonator I have is better then the one on the car
DaveK
10-30-2009, 11:02 PM
Was underneath the car cleaning it up ready for storage and noticed two things.

1. The Borla system eliminates the resonator. Hadn't noticed before.
2. I'm missing an exhaust hanger bolt. The hanger is there. Just the bolt is missing. Are these special at all or can I just replace with anything that fits? Alternatively anyone got a supply of these?

Thanks

Dave