KJ AWD exhaust compared to FWD exhaust

[DeanoTS]

Hi all, I was just looking at the exhaust system on my KJ AWD compared to my KL FWD and I noticed on the AWD all the areas where the exhaust is join its welded, the Cat, the rear muffler etc whereas on the KL FWD the areas where different sections join its bolted together, I wanted to take the cat off the AWD and check it but noticed I can't as its all welded up, is this normal that on the AWD all the joints are welded and not bolted together? cheers

[leadfoot6]

Hi all, I was just looking at the exhaust system on my KJ AWD compared to my KL FWD and I noticed on the AWD all the areas where the exhaust is join its welded, the Cat, the rear muffler etc whereas on the KL FWD the areas where different sections join its bolted together, I wanted to take the cat off the AWD and check it but noticed I can't as its all welded up, is this normal that on the AWD all the joints are welded and not bolted together? cheers

It seems that major sections of the exhaust system of your KJ AWD have been replaced with aftermarket parts.

Parts like the Cat and Rear Muffler are normally bolted on ex factory.

When I replaced my stock AWD rear muffler with a GTVi(equivalent in flow to a VRX muffler but with a drooped single outlet rather than a straight tip) AWD muffler 4 years ago, I had to make 100% certain that it was going to be a "bolt on" part before I purchased it second hand as I wanted to fit it at home with no welding.

It was a relatively easy fit working off the ground using standard ramps.

Below are images of what a standard factory AWD exhaust will look like.

The images are not of my car, but just some I have found from the 'net.

They correspond with what my TL AWD looks like from underneath.

They show "bolt on" Cat and (stock twin outlet)Rear Muffler.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Hosted by Imagevenue:

https://www.imagevenue.com/

[DeanoTS]

It seems that major sections of the exhaust system of your KJ AWD have been replaced with aftermarket parts.

Parts like the Cat and Rear Muffler are normally bolted on ex factory.

When I replaced my stock AWD rear muffler with a GTVi(equivalent in flow to a VRX muffler but with a drooped single outlet rather than a straight tip) AWD muffler 4 years ago, I had to make 100% certain that it was going to be a "bolt on" part before I purchased it second hand as I wanted to fit it at home with no welding.

It was a relatively easy fit working off the ground using standard ramps.

Below are images of what a standard factory AWD exhaust will look like.

The images are not of my car, but just some I have found from the 'net.

They correspond with what my TL AWD looks like from underneath.

They show "bolt on" Cat and (stock twin outlet)Rear Muffler.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Hosted by Imagevenue:

https://www.imagevenue.com/

Hi leadfoot6, thank you so much for your great reply, yes I thought it was weird thats its all welded as every Magna/Verada I have owned has been bolted together but this is the first AWD I have owned and wasn't sure if they were different. One thing I noticed is the bore of the exhaust seems to be quiet big, I don't know all that much about exhausts but I'm sure its larger then my KL FWD, I will have the measure it. I will have to see if I can upload a photo of it. Thank you so much for going to the trouble of uploading photos, much appreciated, cheers

[leadfoot6]

Last year I purchased a complete centre section(between rear of cat and in front of rear muffler) second hand as my original was showing evidence of rust holes(both visually and by sound).

I had made sure that the replacement muffler that I had purchased a few years earlier was "bolt on".

But, this time I got the local exhaust shop to fit the replacement centre section as I can't get the car high enough up off the ground for me to easily reach under there.

It all remains "bolt on".

They charged about $60 from memory, and married up nicely to what was already there.

[DeanoTS]

Last year I purchased a complete centre section(between rear of cat and in front of rear muffler) second hand as my original was showing evidence of rust holes(both visually and by sound).

I had made sure that the replacement muffler that I had purchased a few years earlier was "bolt on".

But, this time I got the local exhaust shop to fit the replacement centre section as I can't get the car high enough up off the ground for me to easily reach under there.

It all remains "bolt on".

They charged about $60 from memory, and married up nicely to what was already there.

Hi leadfoost6, I just took this pic today of my exhaust system, I'm not even sure if this is a cat or just a resonator, maybe the cat has been removed which would be illegal I'm sure, maybe you can shed some light on what you can make out in the pic, cheers Dean

https://imgur.com/4d2aN3R

[leadfoot6]

Unless the car has other modifications suggesting "racing car", I would not worry too much that the cat has been removed.

From what I have been told, or read here at AMC, removing the cat, or installing a "high flow" cat makes very little performance improvement to a Magna, especially when the rest of the engine is "stock"(or close to it).

To me, it just looks like an aftermarket cat(it could be "standard" flow, or it could be "high flow") that has been welded in place.

I do see the small muffler before the differential, as compared to mine, which has two resonators but no muffler before the diff.

[DeanoTS]

Unless the car has other modifications suggesting "racing car", I would not worry too much that the cat has been removed.

From what I have been told, or read here at AMC, removing the cat, or installing a "high flow" cat makes very little performance improvement to a Magna, especially when the rest of the engine is "stock"(or close to it).

To me, it just looks like an aftermarket cat(it could be "standard" flow, or it could be "high flow") that has been welded in place.

I was worried removing the cat would violate emission regulations, LOL its no race car but does go well, I have only had it 3 weeks, cheers thanks for your reply :-)

[DeanoTS]

Unless the car has other modifications suggesting "racing car", I would not worry too much that the cat has been removed.

From what I have been told, or read here at AMC, removing the cat, or installing a "high flow" cat makes very little performance improvement to a Magna, especially when the rest of the engine is "stock"(or close to it).

To me, it just looks like an aftermarket cat(it could be "standard" flow, or it could be "high flow") that has been welded in place.

I do see the small muffler before the differential, as compared to mine, which has two resonators but no muffler before the diff.

Sorry I forgot to mention it also has the single outlet on the rear muffler, guess it must be the VRX/GTVi muffler, like you have fitted to your car, but as the rest of the exhaust this too is welded and not bolted.

[leadfoot6]

From the Workshop Manual:

[DeanoTS]

From the Workshop Manual:

Hi thanks for that, only problem its too small to read sorry