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I recently aquired one of dan's 3' exhausts for my se, I'm still currently tossing up if its some thing i want to do my self or get some one else to do. I'm just wondering if any one on here has any tips or links for removing the standard dump pipe? looks like a real pig of a postion and after 200 odd thousand kms doubt its going to want to budge easily tools needed would be a big helper like what socket attachments make it easier. Is any thing needed for the exhaust sensor or does it go in the same location?

Dan's exhaust attaches to the small cast dump pipe, it's a bit tight in there and I think we ended up using a wobble extension to get to one of the bolts. Gary was kind enough to let me use his hoist so it was a lot quicker and easier than laying on your back but doing it in your driveway isn't impossible. The v band gives you a bit of rotation and mine all bolted up fine.

I also had acccess to a hoist for my install, and the dump was still a PIA! There is one nut in a very tight space and you don't have much wiggle room. You're going to need some small good sockets and a precise wrench, and a ton of patience. Hit it with lots of WD-40 in the days before the install, even if you give it to a shop to do - you don't want them snapping a bolt!

If you're confident in your tools, then try it yourself. If you don't think you have eveything you'll need, just give it to a shop, save yourself hours of frustration.

You will love the results though!

Okibi wrote:The v band gives you a bit of rotation and mine all bolted up fine.

You got V-Bands? Mine is all nut and bolt connections!

There is about a dozen 3" NitroDann exhausts and not all are specc'd the same, Dave's also has a Varex muffler.

I helped james_p93 install my FM 2.5" exhaust on his car at my place using jackstands.
It's a bitch of a job - I would rather pay someone else to do it now that I've done it once and crossed it off my DIY list.
You'll need to soak those nuts with PB blast, or similar, for a few days prior to the job.
You'll need patience, a large swearing vocabulary, wobble bars, ratchet flexi-joints, and long ratchet extenders (there's one nut at the top that we could only reach using 2 1/2" extension bars run up the length of the downpipe).
See this for more info: http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index.php/topic,25022.0.html

Got the mechanic to install my Mania 2.5" system when the car was in for a service.

All up it cost $135 (including new gaskets and hangers) on top of the normal service cost so a bit of a no brainer really!

Yea after looking around on the net this doesnt seem like some thing you want to do on jack stands. Think I'l just pay some one to do it, least then i dont have to go through grazed knuckles and throwing tools across the carport just need to find some one who's open on a saturday.

Seem to be missing the gasket to go ont cast dump, where would be a good place to get one from?