I went to NAPA an purchased the exhaust Mid Pipe for my 98 OBW. I took my sawzaw to the exhaust and removed it finally.. I pulled the original busted exhaust out and layed it next to the replacement from NAPA, they are a little different. Question, will this work? or do I have the wrong part. I was just at the dealer and they have both pics in their system but could not tell me if they were interchangeable

Interesting. If you don't mind not having a rear cat it looks like it will work.

Yes it would work, is it correct, no its not. I didnt even know they could sell a replacement pipe that required a cat, without a cat, and still be certified for on road use.

 

I am curious, how much did they get you for it?

 

I would personally get one with a cat.

 

nipper

Could by chance the NAPA pipe be part

of a system NAPA sells the combines the two cats

into one three way cat mounted in front of the

resonator pictured?

 

IF this vehicle was in a smog inspected area it may not pass,

without the other parts.

PS - The bends look wrong at the front of the pipe.

 

http://www.walkerexhaust.com/catalog/ExhaustCouponScreen.asp

 

Go there and look. It is a different pipe and it wont work. The one you have has another cat in front of it as another pipe.

 

http://www.walkerexhaust.com/images/coupons/1416.gif

 

DO yourself a favor, contact

https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/oe_parts_cat.html

 

Send them an email with the pic and ask them.

 

nipper

Its not a cat. The rear cat bolts onto the front cat directly each one has a O2 Sensor. That pipe you see in the pic has no O2 Sensor connection.

Interesting. It looks like a cat but I guess maybe it's not. Must be another resonator or something. Anyway that does make this diagram make a lot more sense:

 

 

btw, is that your garage floor? Looks nice, what epoxy kit did you use?

So anyway in that case as long as it fits in ok it looks like it should work. The exhaust sound might be a little different/louder since the other resonator is not there.

nevermind.

I attached 2 pics one the rear cat lined up and one with the front cat bolted to the y pipe. I think its just a resonator. Hear are some pics. The Front cat is still on the Y pipe

I attached 2 pics one the rear cat lined up and one with the front cat bolted to the y pipe. I think its just a resonator. Hear are some pics. The Front cat is still on the Y pipe

 

Yes its a resonator.

 

 

nipper

that is a strange looking resonator

(one shown on the front of the original pipe)

 

cats get real hot thus the heat shields

 

I just wonder why this "resonator" needs the cat like

heat shield.

 

Can you look into it and see a honeycomb?

 

Could it be some strange CA model that found it's way to PA?

I'm in NY and both Blu and my 98 had the same setup.

 

 

I would really like to see the price he payed for the pipe, and if he calls one of the on line suppliers what they say.

 

nipper

I paid 196.00 from NAPA, part # 280-907. Now I am off to the hardware store for another Sawzaw blade and some bolts to hook it all back up. I tried the dealer but all they had where the spring bolts and the gaskets. I looked into the original pipe, there is no honeycomb.

Well being the "see it I might believe it" type

 

I went and looked at my 97 OB

Here is what I saw

 

 

I'm with you Skip.

 

I think at some point in that cars life, someone took the center pipe from a 90-94 Legacy, gutted the cat (which did not get a rear O2 sensor) and stuck it in there.

 

At least thats what the pictures in my Subaru parts quick reference guide, and memory tells me.

 

What he got was right, what he took out was wrong, but worked.

I paid 196.00 from NAPA, part # 280-907. Now I am off to the hardware store for another Sawzaw blade and some bolts to hook it all back up. I tried the dealer but all they had where the spring bolts and the gaskets. I looked into the original pipe, there is no honeycomb.

 

So the pipe would be cheaper from 1st subaru?

 

nipper

Well being the "see it I might believe it" type

 

I went and looked at my 97 OB

Here is what I saw

 

 

 

Thats what is under Blu too. The FSM is even more confusing. It calls that pipe a rear exhaust pipe, and shows the 2nd cat as its own part.

 

I have no idea how to post a PDF here, but if anyone wants to see it i can email it to them.

 

nipper

5/97-5/99 2500cc Outback & SUS, PN 44200AC161. Refured to as Exhaust Pipe, Rear. $155.48 + 14.95 min. S & H.

What is the torque spec of the rear O2 Sensor. I decided to replace while I have the cat off.

WAWalker, this adds up.... The nuts that I cut off did not look OEM, there could have been work in the past.

What is the torque spec of the rear O2 Sensor. I decided to replace while I have the cat off.

 

German specs. Gutantight:)

 

I don't know, I never torque them, just snug them up. Kind of like a spark plug, the O2 sensor has a crush washer, tighten tight enough to crush it.

I concur, WA nailed it.

My 94 has (had) that setup.

 

I knew it looked familiar.

 

That is why I went out and looked at Oh Bee.

 

 

Now the question of the hour

 

Are spring bolts necessary at the donut connection?

I concur, WA nailed it.

My 94 has (had) that setup.

 

I knew it looked familiar.

 

That is why I went out and looked at Oh Bee.

 

 

Now the question of the hour

 

Are spring bolts necessary at the donut connection?

 

Well it is a flex joint. I always replace them.

 

nipper

 

Now the question of the hour

 

Are spring bolts necessary at the donut connection?

 

Not necessarly.

 

The Y-pipe is mounted solid to the engine, the rear cat is mounted with fairly stiff rubber bushing mount to the trans................after the donut connection the rest of the exhaust is hanging from "rubber bands".

So the rear part of the exhasut can move more than the Y-pipe and cats. The donut connection with spring bolts is were the "give" is.