CT Downpipe Installer?

[chrisriker]

Howdy folks,

I got my car all jacked up to install my AA downpipe and noped out pretty quickly. Yeah, I'm a scaredy cat. I have high quality jack stands and it's probably fine, but my brain had a visceral reaction to being under that little thing. I also couldn't get the v-band off, which is the bigger problem.

I wanted to bring it to ECS in Windsor, but they explicitly and loudly don't do downpipes.

Anyone know an installer that will do it? I'm happy to go anywhere in the state or close enough in NY/VT/NH/MA and would prefer to not spend $1k on the install. I'm also happy to borrow someone's lift and a set of hands in exchange for a 6-pack of your choice.

Sponsored

 

[razorlab]

Where in CT are you? I'm in Poughkeepsie NY and happy to help. Have a heated garage with quickjacks and I think I have done the downpipe 10x at this point.

 

[rottmore]

I get it, but then there’s the other side of me that says… hell no. It’s not worth wasting money paying a shop to install it. Downpipes are stupid easy. Find a reasonably level spot in the garage and you’ll be fine.
For what it’s worth, while I was draining coolant for an intake manifold install, I realized my garage floor wasn’t perfectly level. My foot bumped one of the jack stands, noticed it was completely unloaded yet the car stayed stable. These cars have one hell of a rigid chassis.
You can find a DIY garage near you with a 4-post lift if you’re really concerned about safety but the
best option is probably to head over to razorlabs place. You’ll learn more in an afternoon than most do in a year and if you show up with enough beer, you'll leave with a free tune lol.

 

[Timmy_Jones]

Must be able to find someone local, up in NH and I would be happy to help if you were closer. Its not too bad one you dig into it...hardest part is separating the catback from the stock downpipe.

 

[Fuji808]

you'll need to give the v-band a little whack to break it free.

but if razorlab is offering to help, i would take him up on the offer.

 

[razorlab]

hardest part is separating the catback from the stock downpipe.

Agreed. I really wish they made that a v-band like the OPF equipped cars have it.

 

[Timmy_Jones]

Agreed. I really wish they made that a v-band like the OPF equipped cars have it.

I end up loosening some of the catback hangers and twisting/pulling for leverage. Does the OPF stuff look like this? Never seen it before

 

[razorlab]

Does the OPF stuff look like this? Never seen it before

Yup exactly, they use a V-band at the catback, just like at the turbo.

 

[chrisriker]

Where in CT are you? I'm in Poughkeepsie NY and happy to help. Have a heated garage with quickjacks and I think I have done the downpipe 10x at this point.

Central CT, between Waterbury and Hartford. In-laws are in Somers so I'm happy to make the trek out to Poughkeepsie. Heading to Japan in about a month through the beginning of April, so it wouldn't be until after then.

you'll need to give the v-band a little whack to break it free.

but if razorlab is offering to help, i would take him up on the offer.

I tried much whacking, spraying it with PBlaster while warm, the works. At one point I'd resolved to chucking the v-band and replacing it and tried just prying the thing off but no dice.

 

[Brolee]

I dont blame you, I did mine all alone under jack stands and with very little room between myself and the car. At one point, I noticed my creeper had pushed against the jackstand as I was trying to break some bolts loose. I chocked the wheels, E brake on, jack stands with pins and left the jack raised touching the front center lift point. The worst part of it all was burning my hand on the Turbo because apparently it got, and stayed, pretty hot in the time it took to get it on the ramps to get my jack under it

 

[Timmy_Jones]

I tried much whacking, spraying it with PBlaster while warm, the works. At one point I'd resolved to chucking the v-band and replacing it and tried just prying the thing off but no dice.

Stock catback? unbolt some of the Catback hangers and twist the entire system, while pulling. It’s the only way.

happy to help, if you’re up in NH

 

[Fuji808]

I tried much whacking, spraying it with PBlaster while warm, the works. At one point I'd resolved to chucking the v-band and replacing it and tried just prying the thing off but no dice.

op, are you talking about the upper v-band that connects the downpipe and turbo housing?.....or the band clamp holding the downpipe and midpipe together? if it's the latter, there's a slit in the end of the midpipe that you can pry apart slightly with a large flathead screwdriver.

 

[ky.supra]

I did a couple of DP installs, in my experience you don't need to undo any of the stock exhaust hangers if you're doing this on jack stands. You just need to undo this nut and push on the bracket with your foot - there's enough flex for the stock catback to slide off the stock DP. After that, you can proceed to take off the stock DP.

 

[Fuji808]

i would still recommend the trek out to Poughkeepsie.

 

[razorlab]

Central CT, between Waterbury and Hartford. In-laws are in Somers so I'm happy to make the trek out to Poughkeepsie. Heading to Japan in about a month through the beginning of April, so it wouldn't be until after then.

Sounds good. Just DM me when you get back. It will be warmer then anyway.

Sponsored