DIY – ECS swivel exhaust tips – no weld method and ECS X-pipe
Tools:
Jack stands or ramps
Reciprocating saw – metal blades
Dremel tool – metal cutters and sanders
4 X 2¼” ID to 2½” OD pipe adapters (see pictures)
4 X 2¼” muffler clamps
Muffler paste
Socket set – believe I was using ½” sockets – nothing out of the ordinary
Safety glasses
To start, initially I just wanted a better looking tip than the standard ovals, really nothing more than that. I’ve contemplated various units that would have needed welded on, in the $30 to $40 per range…but most of my friends that have the welding equipment, typically don’t weld stainless.
The initial costs of the ECS tip was hard to overcome (at $240), but thinking that this would have been a cut and mount method seemed to make the choice justified. Thus I spent what I consider a shit ton of money for tips, and was quickly disappointed when I found they were not a direct fit. Adding 4 extensions and clamps - total price of these ended up just north of $270. That's a bit for some ass end aesthetics - needless, here's what I did.
For the first part of this process, I wanted to see how far out the stock tips extended past the bumper, as I wanted the new tips to be about the same.
Once I had that down – it was time for jack stands. I have car ramps…and would suggest if you have those, to go that route first. Once lifted, I began to cut the outer most tip off. I originally thought these original tips were tacked on, but see that it’s more than just that. Needless, the metal blade on the reciprocating saw did the trick here, cut right were the oval becomes round. On cutting the outside, you will cut some of the inner pipe (as seen in the pic). I didn’t see any issues in doing this.
ECS tips 2.jpg
Once I had cut this, I quickly ran into two problems.
1st, the swivel socket end of the ESC tips are 2½” – and the pipe as you can see above – 2¼”. Even in the tightest setting – there was no way this was going to fit on this.
2nd, even if this did fit, the cut was so far back, it would have sat 2+ inches under the bumper. This needed to be extended out.
From this, I went to your typical AutoZone and picked up the only two 2¼” ID to 2½” OD pipe adapters of these they had. Also made a subsequent trip to Advance Auto to pick up the only two they had (seems these places only keep two of everything – something to keep in mind when driving around).
These adaptors seems to be perfect for the amount of extension required as well.
ECS tips 3.jpg
A little test fit to see how these would be extended out.
ECS tips 4.jpg
And from there, it was cut away city. On the inner pipes, you can see that where it goes round is about an inch further extended than the inner pipes. This will help provide the staggered look…
ECS tips 5.jpg
You will want to take your Dremel tool and clean up all the burs created from the reciprocating saw…only takes a minute or two.
ECS tips 6.jpg
Once everything was cut, I set the clamps on the pipes – but did not tighten at this point. I found it was easier to place and tighten the swivel tips to the extenders – with the bolts facing up first.
There’s a piece of metal sitting inside the swivel tip – personally moving it around didn’t really swivel the tips as I thought, but didn’t seem to have much of a clearance issue that needed to be addressed. I set these so the bands opened to the outside (away from each other) and the open end on the outside pipes faced out – inside pipes open end in.
ECS tips 7.jpg
From this point, it was just a tightening game – making sure the tips were tight to the pipe extension, and then tightened the extension to the muffler. While doing this, keeping the ECS logo up – and the tips extended where I wanted them.
ECS tips 8.jpg
ECS tips 9.jpg
Final thoughts on these – I’m okay with the looks, probably would have rather had a double wall slant, but these aren’t bad. Knowing now that I needed extensions, I would have bought the weld on ones and just tacked them to the extension and clamped. Just seems to be a waste having 2 bolt on parts here.
With this, I also added the ECS X-Pipe. The unit was on backorder – but just received it the other day. Installation on these are really simple if you have the right tools.
ECS has a really good right up on these – so there’s no real reason to dig into this again here. But, I will say that I do think there’s an issue with how much they have you take off the passenger side (or better put, what they have you leave). As you can see in the pic below, there’s a pretty big difference in what’s taken off the resonator pipe to what you see on the X-Pipe.
ECS X Pipe.jpg
From what I can see here, seems to be about an inch. Only reason why I believe this is an issue – it’s now extended the passenger side tips about ½” over the driver side. Most won’t notice, but I can. I’ll need to get back under there to clean this up. Once I figure out what this is, I’ll post a follow up.
With this, I’ll post some sound clips when I get a moment…just need to get them up on youtube.
From there, still waiting for my custom wheels – been 5 weeks now…they are saying they should be finished soon.
6 - stock diff.jpg
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks