Downpipe install without lift? Doable?

[lsiunsuex]

Have an MBRP catted downpipe coming today. I have access to a lift also, but I don't want to use it (at my girl friends parents house and... I don't want to use it, lol...)

Anyone installed a downpipe just on 2 jack stands? Figuring my step son under the car / me in the hood.

How hard could it be? Couple of bolts and finagling it into the engine bay and up under the car?

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[prostovovatt]

Im sure it's doable but a lot more comfortable with a lift. I used my mechanics' lift to get my CP-e downpipe and catback installed. It would be more challenging to do the catback without a lift that the downpipe imho.

 

[Chef jpd]

I installed my MBRP downpipe with a jack and jackstands.
No problem.

 

[Brian V]

Do all proper safety checks and procedures including chocking of wheels if you are using only 2 jack stands . Be safe and then proceed with the teardown . My brother inlaw stayed on my arse when we tore down the rear suspension in his garage . Prep the connecting bolts and nuts with penetrating oil ahead of teardown .

 

[wes936]

I installed my Cobb full turbo back exhaust in my driveway by myself and only using wheel ramps and jack stands. Getting the rear catback off solo is way harder than getting the down pipe off. Put some never seize on those turbo studs incase you want to take it off years down the road.

 

[Juben]

It's not optimal but it can be done. I've done a few of them without a lift. Rhino ramps, or similar, helps out a lot.

 

[RubyRed15]

I did a whole TB by myself on 4 jack stands. It was not easy.

 

[ronemca]

Not difficult. You'll need a universal joint, a deep-well socket and a L-O-N-G extension. I very strongly second the motion to pre-spray the fasteners with p. oil. And I suggest no power-driven tools for initial breaking free of nuts...AND no power tools at all on any of the DP fasteners that are below the cat.

 

[lsiunsuex]

We went and used the lift and got it done on Saturday.

For anyone else planning to do a down pipe -

-- For the 2 O2 sensors - we had to put the pipe in a vice, heat up the O2 sensors with a torch and only then could we crack them loose. It's a 2016 and seen 1 Western NY winter - they were on there
-- 1 of the 2 bolts connecting the pipe to the turbo came out with the pipe. It's threaded into the turbo, the pipe / flange goes on to it and then bolted from there. 1 stayed on the turbo and came off no problem, the other unthreaded itself from the turbo and came out with the pipe. After wasting a half hour trying to get that nut off (again, in the vice with heat) we stripped the nut. Quick trip to the closest Ford dealer - 2 bolts a nuts for $56! As 1 was still on the turbo, I left that one on (and, I couldn't get it off to change it, lol...) and used 1 new one.

Other then struggling with bolts and O2 sensors that were pretty much baked on from the heat of the exhaust and rusted from a winter - the install was pretty simple. Probably doable but the lift definitely made it easier.

All in all, a good buy I think. Definitely helped with building boost in lower RPMs and made the exhaust a bit louder at low RPMs - a bit raspy at higher RPMs.

 

[Brian V]

Not to sound obnoxious , but we experienced mechanics already are waiting for you to chime in with why and how come yer getting smoke out of yer exhaust . A quick search will lead you to the pcv gutting and catch cans . Good luck .

 

[lsiunsuex]

Not to sound obnoxious , but we experienced mechanics already are waiting for you to chime in with why and how come yer getting smoke out of yer exhaust . A quick search will lead you to the pcv gutting and catch cans . Good luck .

The only smoke I saw from the exhaust was when I first got on it after installing it - which I'm gonna chalk up to penetrating oil used to bust the bolts / oils from manufacturing. Put on about 20 miles after the install last night and then another 20 miles into work this morning - so far as I saw / could smell, it was pretty clear and normal and I had a good view with the top down.

 

[ronemca]

I agree that the smoke you saw was what you believe. And - for the record - I got none as a result of installing my BBK w hi-flow cat.

Good work, Mario!

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