As the title says I will be taking off my stock exhaust. I prefer not to cut it. Can the stock exhaust be removed cat back in one piece without using a lift. I plan on putting the front on ramps and the rear on jack stands. Thanks for the advice

 

Yes that's how most people do catbacks unless they have a lift. My car came with a Borla system on it but to do the headers we jacked the car up 18-22" but that is way more than you'd need for just a catback swap. Get some PB Blaster and spray down the bolts too.

 

so no cutting is necessary of the stock exhaust for removal?

 

Drop the rear end down, or get the car REALLY high but my exp is still droping the rear. Done it a few times.

 

No cutting should be needed as long a the car is high enough in the air to swing the exhaust out.

 

When I removed the stock exhaust off my hawk I only had about 12,000 miles or so and I had to cut mine where it went over the axle. I used the 2 ramps on the front and 2 on the rear just like you said. My problem was I could not get it to come out of the muffler, and that was also stainless. So I guess if you have better luck than me you can get it removed in 1 piece.

 

From my experience you will have to drop the rear end to get the exhaust out in one piece.

 

cut mine over the axle also it will then drop out easy

 

The stock SS exhaust is one piece from the y-pipe back so there are no clamps/joints to disconnect like an aftermarket catback so you either cut it somewhere over the axle on the i-pipe or you remove the passenger shock/spring and slide it out the side. The only band clamp is at the y-pipe i-pipe connection. The exception would be if your car came with the SLP D/D then there are clamps/joints at the i-pipe muffler connection .

 

jack up the rear end,put jack stands under the car and the rear axle.unbolt the sway bar both sides and the right side lower control arm.unbolt the bottom of the right rear shock.unbolt the main clamp holding the cat back to the y-pipe.maybe spray some JB 80 on all the bolts and pipe fittings.no cutting needed.

 

Cutting it isn't that bad and will save you a lot of trouble. Just when you get the car up plan where you want to cut it so that it can be put back together with a clamp.

 

got underneath it last night. couldnt get the leverage i needed. the exhaust im putting on it is used so it needs a little tweaking. making an appointment at a muffler shop, oh well.

installed my MGW shifter last night instead, love it.

 

yeah drop the rear.....just un bolt the lower shock bolts and the rear will drop....and you can then maneuver the pipe out from over the axle.

done it a bunch on my 3rd gen and the 4th when i swapped CB's

 

I always bring a torch if exhaust bolts are coming off. GM Y pipe bolts SUCK. Catback needs to be hacked off. Check out how aftermarket exhausts come to get an idea of where it should be cut.