Holey Order of the One and Three Quarters

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Join the Benevolent Holey Order of the One and Three Quarters!

(originally penned by member Brian "DownTime", reprinted with permission) 

Bet you wish you had slightly louder pipes, don't you? But the thought of coughing up $300 or $400 for aftermarket pipes doesn't seem too appealing, does it? How about just modifying your stock pipes to give you a nice deep rumble? And what if I told you it would cost you about $20 and an hour of your time? Sound good? Thought so! Just follow along here.

First off, how about a materials needed list? You need a 1 3/4" bi-metal holesaw, the arbor for the saw, and arbor extension (not absolutely necessary, but it makes the job a lot easier!), a good, corded electric drill, and a large can of WD40 or cutting oil.

The Step-by-Step "How To" - - -

  • Got everything in one place? Good! You're ready to start.
  • Chuck the holesaw into the drill, and remove the center bit (it'll just get in your way).
  • Next, spray the rear of the upper pipe (where the openings are) liberally with WD40.
  • Put the saw up to the rear of the pipes. Note that it just fits inside the chrome part.
  • Start cutting the black part, just inside the chrome ring. Continue cutting until you get through the first layer.
  • Keep applying the WD40 all during the cutting process. You can't use too much!
  • After you feel the saw go through the first layer, continue on through the second layer.
  • When you get through the second layer, the saw will be inside the pipe by about 1/4" or so.
  • Remove the holesaw, and let the drill cool down!
  • Grab a big pair of Vise-Grips and latch onto the baffle, giving it a good yank while twisting it.
  • Repeat on the lower pipe, using the arbor extension to get easier access.

If you don't have, or can't find an arbor extension, you can loosen all the mounting bolts on the lower pipe and move it just enough to gain the clearance you need. You can also simply remove the pipes completely. This adds a step or two, but it makes it easy to do the drilling!

Here's a diagram to give you a little better idea of what you're about to do:

Well, you're done now! Sit back, have a cold one, and revel in the fact that you did it yourself! But not for too long. Now that you're done, you need to start looking around for bridges and overpasses to rumble through!

Here's a picture of the baffles after removal so you'll know you took out the right thing: