Down pipe fitment

[mavereq]

I'm installing the 3" full exhaust on my 88 turbocoupe and things aren't lining up well. I've installed prebent kits before and know not to tighten anything until everything is lined up. Two problems: the bend over the axle just won't line up, and the dp doesn't run parallel to the bottom of the car. It points down. I've tried pushing up on it and cinching the bolts. I've tried installing the rest of the exhaust with it completely lose and it won't line up.

I trimmed 2" off the mid pipe to move the muffler forward. Here's how the dp lines up:





It looks like it just needs more bend in the pipe.

[Stinger]

The stock ball/socket flange on the end of the downpipe has almost 20 degrees of adjustment so there is no reason you shouldn't be able to hold it level and tighten it up and have it be where it needs to be.

I can't comment on the tailpipe without seeing what you're working with. I can say it needs to be trimmed to length on the muffler end because it's left a little long to work with different mufflers.

[mavereq]

I definitely don't get 20 degrees of movement. I think the studs keep that from happening. This pic is with the dp moved as far up as I can move it before tightening it.

I did have to hog out the holes on the flange. It fits the T3 elbow I have on the shelf but the ihi studs are spaced farther apart.

[Stinger]

Put the bottom of the downpipe flat on the ground and see if the flange is level as well. It should be parallel to the bottom section or very close to parallel.

The enlarging the holes comment seemed odd as that shouldn't be necessary so I just went and grabbed a downpipe and tested it on an IHI. It appears the flange supplier sent different flanges as normal as the flanges on the new ones have a 4.5" slot width and the old ones were 4.75". The new flanges also fit tighter on the pipe which limits the adjustment range. I have 3 of the old style flanges here and I'll be calling the supplier on Monday to straighten it out.

[mavereq]

The holes are a little close to the edge now but they should be good. I'll try to work them to get a little more adjustment in the morning. I'll check to see if the flange is level. Thanks.

[Stinger]

Yeah, the whole outside dimension of the "new" flange is smaller so it doesn't leave much room to slot it larger. If you can't get it to work we'll need to swap it out for one with the right flange on it.

[mavereq]

I tried hogging out the holes a bit more but it isn't freeing it up. I think that's because of how tight the flange fits the pipe. It's hard to even rotate the flange unless it's positioned just right.

[Stinger]

We'll have to swap it out for one with the older flange. Send it back to the address on our site with a note stating the situation and your name so we can look up your address and such. If you send tracking we'll send the new one before the old one arrives.

[mavereq]

I have the car "drivable" right now. I'd really rather not have it down for that long. I think I'll modify it myself. Thanks for the offer, though.