I'm trying to find anyone who's had a catback system from Clear Image Automotive installed on a Fleetwood.We're running into a little issue figuring out where to add the extra length. Dan said that he has sold his catback systems to a few Fleetwood owners, but never heard of any issues installing it. I am aware that an additional 6" needs to be added to accommodate the extra length of the D-body, but not sure where to add it.
It sounds like the ones he's sold to Fleetwood owners were his standard Impala catback, and then I assume whatever shop actually installed them just cut the intermediate pipes apart and added in the extra length and possibly a bend or two to make everything come out correctly. As I understand it, the exhaust system between the B and D body is exactly identical, except for the intermediate pipe (ignoring wagons, different tail pipes on those I think).
My initial thought was to just add the extra length at the end of the intermediate pipe before the muffler, but Dan said that would create an issue because his system is a little different than stock, and the mufflers are mounted at an angle, so adding extra length straight at the end of the intermediates would throw off the location of the mufflers.
His suggestion was to add the extra length to the hookup pipes, and because he wasn't certain of the exact length to add, was going to make them as two piece units with more length than I needed, and then the shop could figure out exactly what was needed and trim them back to fit perfectly.
At first I thought that would work, but I later realized that adding extra length to the hookup pipes would throw off the starting location of the intermediate pipes, losing access to the factory mounting points, and potentially also causing interference issues with the transmission cross-member, particularly on the drivers side.
So I'm hoping I can find someone who has had Dan's catback installed on a Fleetwood and can help us out or get us some pictures. Although I suppose worst case, I just have him leave the system alone and make it the same as he would for a B-body and then just have the shop that installs it deal with it.
As always, any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
It sounds like the ones he's sold to Fleetwood owners were his standard Impala catback, and then I assume whatever shop actually installed them just cut the intermediate pipes apart and added in the extra length and possibly a bend or two to make everything come out correctly. As I understand it, the exhaust system between the B and D body is exactly identical, except for the intermediate pipe (ignoring wagons, different tail pipes on those I think).
My initial thought was to just add the extra length at the end of the intermediate pipe before the muffler, but Dan said that would create an issue because his system is a little different than stock, and the mufflers are mounted at an angle, so adding extra length straight at the end of the intermediates would throw off the location of the mufflers.
His suggestion was to add the extra length to the hookup pipes, and because he wasn't certain of the exact length to add, was going to make them as two piece units with more length than I needed, and then the shop could figure out exactly what was needed and trim them back to fit perfectly.
At first I thought that would work, but I later realized that adding extra length to the hookup pipes would throw off the starting location of the intermediate pipes, losing access to the factory mounting points, and potentially also causing interference issues with the transmission cross-member, particularly on the drivers side.
So I'm hoping I can find someone who has had Dan's catback installed on a Fleetwood and can help us out or get us some pictures. Although I suppose worst case, I just have him leave the system alone and make it the same as he would for a B-body and then just have the shop that installs it deal with it.
As always, any info would be appreciated. Thank you.