Hi I just happened to lose a piece of one of my exhaust pipes today. I've got a Centurion, and the pipe broke right at the top of the bend, above the axle. I have located another exhaust system, which is 60$. The question is, since the pipes bend over the axle, it will have to be dropped I guess, for the new system to go in. How much labor should this be, and what would be a reasonable cost. Any other suggestions regarding the exhaust system on this model or the work required is greatly appreciated, since I've never attempted this before. Kimson
Just jack the car up and put jackstands underneath. From there unhook the shocks and let the rear come all the way down. It should give you enough space to remove the pipe and install a new one. The biggest problem is removing the old one completely. With it being on so long, I'm sure it welded itself onto the muffler. The rear suspension shares the same design as the GS's (I think, as my brother's '70 Le Sabre does), so a replacement shouldn't be hard to get. Depending on how the rest of the exhaust is, I would consider putting a whole new system on.
Hi I think the whole system is welded. So I would prefer to just slide the whole enchilada out and slide the replacement in. The system I found at the salvage yard comes from another Centurion, and if I remember correctly, it had a cross bar welded between the pipes. So maybe it has to go in, in one piece anyway. I had my girlfriend call them, as soon as I saw that it had broken. I told her to ask for the entire dual exhaust system, and they said 60$. So I'll try to do a complete change. Which means it would have to go in backwards. I don't know, I don't want to be stuck with the car in the air, and me not knowing what the hell I'm in for. I'll call around as soon as I've confirmed that the new system will fit. I'd love to do it, but........ I might save me some headache by having someone else look at it. Is there any danger in running the car, when the pipe is broken at the bend. Could there be a fire, becuse of the heat or anything else that cold be damaged? Many thanks for the help.. Kimson
There's no danger from the heat of the exhaust, you'll be okay until you get the new system on. Believe it or not, the exhaust system is pretty easy to change, especially if it's already together from another car. It's basically unhooking the shocks to drop the rear, unfastening all the hangers, and unbolt the system in order to put the new one in. I can understand not being familiar with it and getting frustrated too. It shouldn't be too much to get the system installed since half the work is already done for the shop.
I've now retreived the exhaust system, I fit the entire thing in one piece in the car. I had one of the pipes between the gas and the brake pedal when I was driving, with the rest sticking up like two branches out of the back of the car. It looks pretty funny. The guy at the wreckers, who removed it for me, cut the bars holding the axle with a torch cutter, to have it out, with as little work as possible. This system, has smaller mufflers, than the one I have on right now, but the pipe diameter is the same. Will this affect the car in any way? Performance or noise? Tomorrow I will look for a shop, that will have the honors... Kimson
take it to your local muffler guy and let him put it on. have him make a qoute and tell him its binding when you go back to pay him. ussually when you jack the car up there is enough room to twist in the new one.:Comp:
