installing downpipe

[dantes5823]

OK quick question. im gonna attempt this tomorrow morning, CP-e catted dp, and i see some people pull out the stud. How do you go about fixing that?

[skeurton]

Originally Posted by dantes5823 OK quick question. im gonna attempt this tomorrow morning, CP-e catted dp, and i see some people pull out the stud. How do you go about fixing that?

Depends if the nuts are seized to the studs, and how badly if they are. Do the prep work tonight and hit them with some PB Blaster. Then hit them again in the morning, run the car up to operating temp, then more PB Blaster. I've installed 2 downpipes and the nuts came off the studs like butter.

[dantes5823]

but arnt the bolts under the heat shield that only comes off after the top O2 sensor is off?

[skeurton]

Ah yeah, you're right. Just run the car up to temp in the morning (this helps in cracking the O2 sensor and downpipe nuts loose). Then...

1) Remove the upper manifold heat shield
2) PB the O2 sensor and remove it
3) Remove the downpipe heat shield
4) Remove the lower mani heat shield

That should expose the nuts on the turbo and allow you to hit them with the PB. Let it set in for a little bit, then remove the nuts.

I downloaded and read through every how-to I could find. The attached guide is the one I ended up using. It worked out perfectly.

[dantes5823]

Hey good deal, thanks. Im hoping the drive to my buddies house just a few min up the road is enough to do the trick. I think im gonna go back out and pb the O2 some more.

Edit: Install is going smooth as hell right now. The top o2 came right off..thank you impact gun Im, done with top side i think just jacked up the car and sitting in class now -_-

[dantes5823]

Well all is said and done. Took about 4 hours or so. Not bad..So much easier than i thought. I read around and saw people making it sound like a damn motor tear down. Wasnt bad at all.

[f-castrillo]

I wish mine was that quick. Shit took ~10 hours IIRC, and that was with TWO people. A lot of time was wasted by trying to maneuver parts out of tight places, taking snack breaks, and not having the right tools available.

[Postulio4joo]

Can someone post up which tools were needed? I am so tempted to attempt this now.

[DISIindahead]

There should be a How-To on here as far as DP install. I've installed/uninstalled my CNT Catted DP several times ( 5 times to be exact). Corksport's installation instructions make it a lot easier since they suggest removing the alternator to get at the studs easier. I might try this on my next install once i get the Corksport Exhaust and DP cleaned out from blown turbo syndrome. It sounds a little more difficult but according to Corksport it doesn't take as long as compared to most other installs. You can find the instructions on their website.

[thatsmrgimp2u]

Originally Posted by DISIindahead There should be a How-To on here as far as DP install. I've installed/uninstalled my CNT Catted DP several times ( 5 times to be exact). Corksport's installation instructions make it a lot easier since they suggest removing the alternator to get at the studs easier. I might try this on my next install once i get the Corksport Exhaust and DP cleaned out from blown turbo syndrome. It sounds a little more difficult but according to Corksport it doesn't take as long as compared to most other installs. You can find the instructions on their website.

There is a pretty thorough product review/DIY from Haltech on the cobb dp.

Cobb DP Review

[dantes5823]

Yea i actually didnt use a whole lot. Granted my car only had i wanna say 4k miles on it... The thing i would say to make sure you have is a swivel head. After that it was a good extension some pb and time. We only stopped for a smoke break like 2, pizza break, a class i had to go to...and it was done. I think i actually had a harder time putting on the dp than taking the stock one off. The pain was the lower right nut on the flange cause of the way the dp was you couldnt get a socket on it to good. The top 02 came of with a few hits from a impact .

Originally Posted by f-castrillo I wish mine was that quick. Shit took ~10 hours IIRC, and that was with TWO people. A lot of time was wasted by trying to maneuver parts out of tight places, taking snack breaks, and not having the right tools available.

Damn 10 hours.. thats a long ass time lol. But from the looks of it, i think everyone has a different experience. Some people back out their studs and other things that delay them. I had no delays and no hick ups. Everything came right off. I was amazed actually.

[Schmitty5]

5 hours.

Downpipe = winning. Why the fuck did I wait this long. Stage 2 has transformed my car

[dantes5823]

Originally Posted by Schmitty5 5 hours. Downpipe = winning. Why the fuck did I wait this long. Stage 2 has transformed my car

Yea i was so close to just having someone do it. But omg how much difference it made to the car. I go like 75% throttle and it feels like i was at WOT from stock.

[Schmitty5]

75% throttle? who does that?

I'm either chillin or WOT baby, I have no traction in 2nd gear. love it

[dantes5823]

2nd gear stays at redline lol.

[Ckmazdaspeed3]

Originally Posted by DISIindahead There should be a How-To on here as far as DP install. I've installed/uninstalled my CNT Catted DP several times ( 5 times to be exact). Corksport's installation instructions make it a lot easier since they suggest removing the alternator to get at the studs easier. I might try this on my next install once i get the Corksport Exhaust and DP cleaned out from blown turbo syndrome. It sounds a little more difficult but according to Corksport it doesn't take as long as compared to most other installs. You can find the instructions on their website.

It only counts the first time when you remove the stocker, after that, the shit is so easy to get off that you don't even think about it... I bet now I could get it off the car in under 30 minutes.

And to the people talking about getting the nuts to come off without the studs, who cares if the stud comes out too? Some of mine do, and most others that I've seen as well... Never really seems to matter.

[DISIindahead]

Originally Posted by Ckmazdaspeed3 It only counts the first time when you remove the stocker, after that, the shit is so easy to get off that you don't even think about it... I bet now I could get it off the car in under 30 minutes.

If your talking about just taking off an aftermarket downpipe, then yes i can believe that. But going from the stocker to an aftermarket and vice versa, its going to take longer than that, even with power tools. Most of the guys on here are using basic tools (like myself) and still pull it off in less than 4 hours. Plus I like to take my time and make sure everything is done correctly so there are no problems in the future. But like i said, that's just me.

[breakfasteatre]

I found mine was easier when all the studs backed out copared to my buddy who had 2 studs left in, and it was a bitch manoeuvring the cpe downpipe over the studs

[Ckmazdaspeed3]

I wasnt really trying to brag, I was just saying that once the stocker is off the first time, it is simple... I'm sure anybody could do it that quick. The only tough thing about the stocker is that all of the bolts and o2 sensor are on super tight... I guess the cumbersome size is a bit of a pita too.

It's not so much a how to that is needed, just a collection of tips for stuck bolts, not stripping the o2 sensor and that 1 bitch of the bolt on the bottom left of the turbo.

[DISIindahead]

thats the one that pisses me off the most. But with some caressing and a couple beers, it can be done at ease. I really need to put my DP and exhaust back on, problem being I must burn all the dry oil out of both. Sucks bc my plan was to pour gas in the exhaust, yet a friend reminded me gas burns black as hell and I dont think the neighbors will approve and call the Fire Department on me. But o well, im always looking to bust the neighbors balls

[f-castrillo]

Originally Posted by dantes5823 Damn 10 hours.. thats a long ass time lol. But from the looks of it, i think everyone has a different experience. Some people back out their studs and other things that delay them. I had no delays and no hick ups. Everything came right off. I was amazed actually.

For us, taking the stock DP out proved to be the hassle. Putting the CNT piece on took a fraction of the time lol

[dantes5823]

Originally Posted by f-castrillo For us, taking the stock DP out proved to be the hassle. Putting the CNT piece on took a fraction of the time lol

I think it was harder for us to install lol. But for that I have my wiggle master. My boy can wiggle shit around somehow and get it in.

[adlpb]

Originally Posted by dantes5823 My boy can wiggle shit around somehow and get it in.

I think you know what's coming.

[dantes5823]

Originally Posted by adlpb I think you know what's coming.

This should be good

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by dantes5823 My boy can wiggle shit around somehow and get it in.

Master packer of the fudge?

[xb2ms3]

failed at my attempt to install dp today. lost daylight and my vagina succumbed to the cold.

do you remove the mounting bracket for the dp in there or leave it in there?

[SLOWHATCH]

I think you should remove it. I'll be removing mine.

Right after I figure out how to remove this rounded off bolt head. On the lower manifold heat shield right against the firewall one of the 10mm bolts just refused to come out and I ended up rounding it off.

Any suggestions?

[NinjaT1985]

Originally Posted by SLOWHATCH I think you should remove it. I'll be removing mine. Right after I figure out how to remove this rounded off bolt head. On the lower manifold heat shield right against the firewall one of the 10mm bolts just refused to come out and I ended up rounding it off. Any suggestions?

Get my help lol...

[xb2ms3]

Originally Posted by Schmitty5 5 hours. Downpipe = winning. Why the fuck did I wait this long. Stage 2 has transformed my car

wish I had one of those

or at least a ratcheting breaker bar that would have cut down my install to about 4 hours instead of 8.

did my install on ramps and it wasnt difficult at all removing or installing the new dp. Wiggling out the stock dp and hooking on the cobb dp took me probably 15 minutes total.

Just those damn hard to reach bolts that you have to get at with the right angle while trying different combinations of extensions, u joint and breaker bar, were time consuming.

[Schmitty5]

Yea, its just that 1 bolt. When I put the new DP on, I had to use a tiny ass manual wrench and wrench it on from underneath the car. 1/10 of a rotation at a time...

[xb2ms3]

Originally Posted by Schmitty5 Yea, its just that 1 bolt. When I put the new DP on, I had to use a tiny ass manual wrench and wrench it on from underneath the car. 1/10 of a rotation at a time...

Lol I remember that bolt

Gonna retorque the bolts soon

How the hell do u torque that one?
Just tight as possible with man strength?

[Schmitty5]

Strong dick it