Exhaust bolt torque values, gaskets?

[Keyan]

Ok, I got a cat-back exhaust system but for the muffler to fit I would have to cut the bumper and weld a new hanger, so I'm thinking about just installing the mid-pipe to remove the mid-muffler.

The last time I installed an exhaust, it was all hissy cause I don't think I tighted the bolts enough? I'm not really sure, but do I need airtools to get the bolts torqued to the right value?

And someone also told me that I can't reuse the gaskets in the stock system..
can I or can't I?

[sed]

http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6120&highlight=torque+values

[tharptroy]

unless you're just a wiener, you should be able to develop the torque needed to tighten everything up.

invest in some open end box end wrenches to do the exhaust bolts (final tightening)

most things on a car (excluding engine and transmission pieces) can be tightened without using any type of torque wrench.

and using air tools is certainly not going to get something torqued to spec.

from my experience, the stock exhaust gaskets are re-usable, however the new gaskets you get with catbacks tend to be very compressible, and cannot be re used.

[Keyan]

from my experience, the stock exhaust gaskets are re-usable, however the new gaskets you get with catbacks tend to be very compressible, and cannot be re used.

One of the aftermarket gaskets I took of the system originally shattered when I tried to pick it up it was so rusted.

And about performance, since it's a KORE mandrel bent midpipe, wouldn't the diameter be wider than the header and the muffler pipe? So...It would be like a tiny bottleneck at the mufflerpipe. Would that reduce performance below stock because of the turbulance, or increase it cause it widened the tube, even for a little bit?