Gonna be installing my Helix DP soon, mating it to the Perrin cat-back that is allready installed. The Catback flange was allready a lot thicker than stock, and using the stock bolt/spring set-up was a pain in the ass to get back on when installing the catback. Now I'll be installing the Helix DP, which also has a thick ass flange. There's no way I'll be able to use the springs and I don't know if that bolt will be too strong connecting those two beefier flanges. What is everyone doing in this situation? Are there longer bolts available and then I just use the stock springs? Where do I get these bolts?
I think most people have ditched the spring/bolt combo and just gone to normal bolts. Does the perrin retain the donut gasket? If not, the tension from the spring/bolt isn't really necessary. (Note* I may be smoking crack and not know a damn thing, though, this is what other less crack addicted folks have told me, I think...) Good luck! Oh, and check my sig....for a helpful hint on avoiding problems when doing exhaust work....
I ditched the springs on my exhaust and just use the bolts that it came with. No issues at all. Just get a gasket!!
I have the gasket ready to go, just wondering if people are allright running straight bolts. I figure the spring must be there for a reason?
Springs are only there to allow the exhaust to rotate around the donut gasket....... don't need 'em with a flat flange......
10/4.... Where do I get larger bolts from?? I assume you could get them allmost anywhere, but I'd rather get some that where built for this purpose...
Keep the springs on the bolts. They are there so the exhaust can bounce and not yank on your turbomanifold. You don't want to be putting that much stress onto your uppipe and turbo. The solution to the problem is... use 2 sets of locking vice grips. Vice one side at a time. This will pull the two flanges together to allow you to thread one bolt, then go to the other side and do the same thing. It woks like a charm and makes your life a heck of a lot easier. Make sure you have something good to push on the bolt and nut together when you are trying to thread it. If this doesn't work, use a hack saw and cut maybe half a coil from the spring, just be careful not to chop your fingers off.
^^^^ I had to compress the spring when I put my catback on and could barely get it.. Now with the even thicker Helix DP flange I don't see it happening. Maybe if I cut the coil like you suggested. I'd still like to get longer bolts though, the stocker gets real thin halfway thru and it doesn't seem like that would be to sturdy...
Just go to NAPA or Autozone and get some regular bolts. Helix DP's are not meant to re-use factory spring bolts (as stated above).