LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

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Old Jan 23, 2005 | 08:58 AM
  #1  
Steve0's Avatar
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From: Hartford, CT
People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

How is your guys' ground clearance? I am on stock springs and scrape over amost every speedbump I go over if i dont creep. I'm beginning to think maybe I need to loosen up the y pipe and readjust it to raise everything up an inch or 2. Here are some pics of my exhaust:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...57521251JZaqXB
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...57521379ACIBAk

What do you think? Does it seem a bit low to anyone?

Thanks
Steve
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 09:01 AM
  #2  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Something is wrong.My Hooker LTs have at least 2 inches more clearance than that.

Last edited by joeSS97; Jan 23, 2005 at 09:05 AM.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 09:20 AM
  #3  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Looks like you are missing a hangar or soemthimg. You can barely see my y pipe underneath. I've never scraped my exhaust and my car is dropped an inch.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 11:25 AM
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

You need to loosen the bolts on the y-pipe and cat, then push the exhaust up as close to the heat sheild as you can. Then tighten the bolts back down.

I never scrape w/ my Mac's and I'm lowered 1.25 inches.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 11:36 AM
  #5  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Looks like something's wrong there. Are you still using the hanger that goes on the rear of the catyletic converter? I don't have any exhaust clearance issues with my car. My driveshaft loop makes contact way before my exhaust.

Frank
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 01:08 PM
  #6  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

No, I am not using the hanger where the stock catalytic converter mounted, as the aftermarket cat had no previsions for it. I think the problem is that my y pipe was just installed hanging too low. Me and my dad did the install ourselves and just bolted the y pipe up in there.

Hopefully, if its not too cold tomorrow I can go outside, loosen up the bolts and attempt to raise it up.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 01:17 PM
  #7  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

mine hangs about that low, and I hit my cat alot.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 01:58 PM
  #8  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

What condition are your engine mounts in?
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 02:55 PM
  #9  
Steve0's Avatar
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Thats a good question. The car has 89,000 miles...

Can I visually inspect them? I would assume that if the rubber was cracked that would mean the motor mounts are bad. I dont notice any abnormal vibrations when I'm driving the car.

Hopefully this is just a y-pipe fitment issue...
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 03:46 PM
  #10  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

mine hangs pretty low as well, please elaborate on the engine mounts and what to look for to tell if they're worn out.
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 05:04 PM
  #11  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Originally Posted by Steve0
No, I am not using the hanger where the stock catalytic converter mounted, as the aftermarket cat had no previsions for it. I think the problem is that my y pipe was just installed hanging too low. Me and my dad did the install ourselves and just bolted the y pipe up in there.

Hopefully, if its not too cold tomorrow I can go outside, loosen up the bolts and attempt to raise it up.
Mine hung too low until I put that mount (hanger) back on...

Frank
Old Jan 23, 2005 | 05:56 PM
  #12  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Loosen the Y-pipe at both ends and where the cat-back is attached. Jack the pipes up keeping decent clearance from the body (Pieces of 1x6 work for good gaps). Then just tighten everything up. You shouldn't need the hanger, and even if your motor mounts are worn you can still just readjust for clearance.
The only hangers I have on my exhaust is the 2 for the tailpipes.
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 09:39 AM
  #13  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

Grrr... I'm beginning to hate my car.

I after attempting yesterday and having this incident happen, I go out this morning to finish what I had started. I wanted to loosen the y-pipe, jack everythign up, then tighten it back down.

Well, after I jacked up the exhuast and retightened everything, as soon as I let it back down the exhaust went right back to its normal place. I fire up the car and hear "WIP WIP WIP WIP!!!," as well as smell fumes that remind me of my dad's old musle cars. Exhaust leak galore!

I just ended up retorquing the bolts. I have pretty much concluded that I need to attatch an exhaust hanger where the stock catalytic converer attatched. That woudl raise the exhuast up a couple of inches and give me the clearance I've been missing.

Thanks for the replies guys. Hopefulyl this can be taken caer of before the weekend.
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 10:31 AM
  #14  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

There shouldnt be any ground clearance issues w/ mids
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 11:13 AM
  #15  
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Re: People with Mac Headers, come inside (ground clearance issue)

nto to get off subject but i cant beleive a can fits under your car



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