Cat-back exhaust problem? Factory defect or?
 

Alright, I recently bought a no-brand cat-back exhaust system for my 1996 300ZX. It came in perfect condition, with new gaskets and bolts.

But my issue is with the X-Pipes. The flanges that connect to the catalytic converters on the aftermarket x-pipes face inwards, with the left flange higher than the right.

And on the vehicle itself, the corresponding flanges are completely opposite. Here's what I mean:

This is the picture of the OEM pipes connecting to the cats
Attachment 21826

Picture of the aftermarket pipes flanges

Attachment 21827
Attachment 21828

As you can see, the aftermarket flanges (left higher than right) do not match to the OEM cats. Is this a factory defect from the aftermarket exhaust-manufacturer? Do these x-pipes look normal compared to your guy's aftermarket pipes?

Also, I currently only have the aftermarket mufflers on. Would there be a difference, sound or performance wise if I installed the aftermarket x pipes?

If there is a way to fix this, or if this is normal - Let me know. I was thinking I could take the OEM x-pipes off with the little metal spacer (in between X Pipes and cats [OEM] ) and possibly adjust the height of the cats (place the left above, etc.)

P.S. the previous owner had headers installed, but removed them to sell it to the used-dealership - do you think the previous owner messed up?

ALL FEEDBACK IS WELCOME! Thanks!

Well that sucks. :D

I don't have any experience w/ Z32 exhaust, but I'd say that the exhaust on the car has been tweaked or changed.

Other pics I've found online show the left hole higher than the right. If you chop that spacer / sandwich plate, maybe you'd be able to massage them together, tack the sandwich plate back up, remove, weld up, reinstall?


http://www.kingz32parts.com/images/15320.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...XvsHforZ32.jpg

Just peeked under mine, the aftermarket pipe is correct flanging. The PO must have had stuff custom welded for headers and probably ran no cats etc, but when he put everything back on something got miss-welded. You could go to a shop and get them to cut and rotate the cats maybe? Have they been rewelded on? Ok I see the cats have been flipped upside down, are the shields facing the car? they are suppose to be towards the road.