Forgot to document the last pieces ...

So, Mitsu doesn't sell the exhaust down pipe for the '99 3.5L FED driver side. They DO still sell the 3.5L FED passenger side - the side with the flex joint built in. The early '99 3.5L FED version did NOT come with CATs in the down pipes, but the late '99 FED did as did the CAL version.

Mitsu's parts database is kinda screwed up. They have the listings and diagrams for the 3.0L and 3.5L CAL and FED all mixed up. It was a real PITA finally getting the correct PN for the passenger side pipe.

So, what I ended up doing is getting the 3.5L down pipe for the passenger side and getting the 3.0L down pipe for the driver side. We removed the bracket on the driver side down pipe that bolts to the bell housing - never could figure out what the point of that was - because it wasn't possible to bolt it back where it's supposed to go and dimpled the pipe just a tad to clear the bottom bell housing bolt.

On the passenger side down pipe, we cut the driver side leg of the Y off about 3" back from the flange, extended it just a tad more than 1" and welded everything back up. The passenger side down pipe fit perfectly and came out under the vehicle exactly where the 3.0L did so all the exhaust hangers, etc. all remain in the factory locations with factory hardware.

So, AFAIKT, there is a width difference between the 3.0L SOHC and the 3.5L SOHC. Not much, but some. We chopped the crap out of original 3.0L exhaust to get it to fit - a lot more than just extending one pipe 1". This was very near just a bolt it and as long as one had a welder it could be done at home easy.

The dimple of the driver side down pipe and removing the bracket would not be necessary on a A/T model. These were to address minor differences underneath between the M/T and A/T.

BTW, the OEM pipes come with all the heat shielding. Which I was REALLY missing there towards the end of the life of the 3.0L. Also cuts down some on vehicle noise.

Walker - in theory - is supposed to sell both sides. Both for the 3.0L and the 3.5L. I've been around and around with them for almost two years on this. In reality, though they list PNs for the 3.5L, what they actually sell you is the 3.0L pipes and they are NOT the same thing. The last go-around they admitted that they DO NOT sell the 3.5L down pipes and that is in fact an error in the catalogs.

So, OEM is only option short of having a custom setup from the manifolds down. I did check into this and it was going to cost at least twice what the OEM pipes were going to cost including the $75 the shop charged to extend the Y leg.

The exhaust is back to factory parts all the way to (and including) the elbow that the rear O2 sensor screws into. Runs a lot better with the stock CAT, too, for whatever reason.

I changed to the Flowmaster 'SUV' muffler (52455) from the original 50 Series. The 455 is 1" thicker but otherwise the same in dimension. 2.25" in/out. Flows just as well but is considerably quieter than the 50 Series I was running. Very nice on the highway and off road. Anyway, everything from the elbow back is custom 2.25".

Edward