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Cadillac CTS V
Swapping an X-Pipe Exhaust for a Resonator

Changing a 3" Race X-Pipe Cat-Back To a Resonator Style for the Cadillac CTS-V

 

 

 

 

Installation time:  Approximately two leisurely hours with one person.

  1. Items/tools needed:
    1. 1 set of Rhino ramps
    2. 1 set of jack stands (or second set of Rhino ramps)
    3. Hydraulic floor jack
    4. Trouble light
    5. 1-pound hammer
    6. Rubber mallet
    7. 11/16" wrench
    8. 17 mm wrench
    9. 16 mm wrench
    10. ½" drive ratchet
    11. ½" extension
    12. ½" drive, 16 mm socket
    13. 3/8" ratchet
    14. 3/8" extension
    15. 3/8" drive, 13 mm socket
    16. 3/8" drive, 15 mm socket
    17. 3/8" drive, 16 mm socket
    18. Pry bar
    19. Drift punch
    20. 12 pack of Dew ;-)
    21. scrap wood 2x4s
    22. Zaino Z6 (or equivalent for clean up prior to engine start)
    23. Microfiber towel

 

2.  Unpack the resonator from the B&B box.

Cadillac CTS V

3.  Support the rear of the V on Rhino ramps.  Jack up the front and support the front of the V with jack stands (or another set of Rhino ramps).

Cadillac CTS V

4.  Loosen the four nuts most of the way at the two front flanges of the factory exhaust, do not remove the nuts yet.

Cadillac CTS V

5.  Lubricate the exhaust studs to prevent this from happening....Doh!  =(

Cadillac CTS V

6.  Remove the four bolts/nuts connecting the polished muffler pipes to the x-pipe.

Cadillac CTS V Cadillac CTS V

 7.  Place a 2x4 on the head of the floor jack, roll the jack under the rear of the car.  Line up the 2x4 under the exhaust just behind the x-pipe slip joint clamps.  Raise the 2x4 up until it just contacts the exhaust.

Cadillac CTS V

8.  Remove the two center support bolts and spacers and set aside for reuse with the resonator.

Cadillac CTS V

9.  Slowly lower the floor jack.  After the jack has been lowered all the way, finish removing the four front exhaust flange nuts.

Cadillac CTS V

10.  The x-pipe will be perfectly balanced and can easily be rolled out from under the car with the floor jack.

Cadillac CTS V

11.  Compare the x-pipe to the resonator.  Orientate the resonator such that the mounting tabs are properly located.

Cadillac CTS V

12.  OPTIONAL - Measure the length of the assembled x-pipe.  It should measure approximately 87" from the front header pipes to the rear of the x-pipe flanges.

Cadillac CTS V Cadillac CTS V

13.  OPTIONAL - Measure the width of the header pipes while still clamped into the x-pipe.

Cadillac CTS V

14.  They should be approximately 20" wide.

Cadillac CTS V

15.  Loosen the x-pipe's two slip joint clamps.

Cadillac CTS V

16.  Remove the front header pipes for reuse with the resonator.

Cadillac CTS V

17.  Wipe down the x-pipe with WD-40 or equivalent to remove fingerprints and other contaminants for optimum long term storage.

Cadillac CTS V

18.  Reinstall the slip-joint clamps onto the resonator.

Cadillac CTS V

19.  Install the front pipes into the resonator.  For this install, the front pipes were pushed into the resonator until the lines left from the x-pipe were lined up with the front of the resonator.  OPTIONAL - Double check the over-all length which should be the same 87" measured in step 13.

Cadillac CTS V

20.  Balance the resonator and front pipes on the floor jack.

Cadillac CTS V

21.  Roll the assembly under the car and line up with the header pipes coming off the engine.

Cadillac CTS V

22.  Connect the front pipes up to the factory header pipes.  Start the nuts by hand only at this time, do not tighten.  On this installation, one can see the 5/16" x 2" stainless steel bolt that was used as a temporary stud to replace the one damaged in step 5.

Cadillac CTS V

23.  Raise the floor jack and align the flanged joint at the rear.

Cadillac CTS V Cadillac CTS V

24.  Line up the muffler pipes with the resonator.  Place paper gaskets between the flanges and install the two nuts and bolts in each.  Snug each side of the flange up evenly and tighten.

Cadillac CTS V

25.  Install the B&B supplied bushings (two thick & two thin) and bolts into the center support and tighten.  Note:  The thinner of the two bushings is on top. 

Cadillac CTS V

26.  Tighten the four front exhaust flange nuts.

Cadillac CTS V

27.  Tighten the clamps at the slip-joint connection of the resonator and front pipes.

Cadillac CTS V Cadillac CTS V

28.  Double check that all fasteners are tight and there are no clearance issues with any components.  Before starting the engine, wipe down all surfaces of the exhaust - mufflers, tips, pipes to prevent blemishes and fingerprints from being burned in, discoloring the surface of the stainless.  For this installation, a microfiber towel and Zaino Z6 was used.

Cadillac CTS V



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