UHF

Has anyone got any info on changing the downpipe yourself, I've just realised that my MOT is due now and i've been putting off getting the downpipe until after my MOT, so its downpipe time for me

I was hoping to pop over to Scoobysport but I reckon they'll be booked solid for the next month or so I reckon, I've got this Friday off (I'll ring them in the morning but its a long shot right). Is this something my local garage can do or is this a specialist part to fit? Cos i was just thinking of ordering it via post if I cant go down there Friday

M0NEY

Garage should be able to do it. Check how much they charge though cause they usually take a couple of hourse but when the bolts seize (which they normally do) some garages charge 4 hour labour!

UHF

ah ic, my local garage charge a reasonable £20 an hour cos they are just a building with 5 mechs and a couple of vehicle lifts, I'm thinking that SS will charge a hell of a lot more anyway, any idea how booked they usually are, I wish I knew my MOT was due so soon cos i'd have got it booked in and timed everything to perfection I'm also going to visit a friend with a Civic Type R on the weekend so the downpipe will make for an impressive impression

M0NEY

Dony know how expensive they are. I ordered mine and got mine fitted at the garage no problems

UHF

at the local garage?

M0NEY

Yep

Was by a Subaru mechanic though

UHF

ahhh, thats different

M0NEY

Where abouts in London are you?

UHF

North London, Enfield, but with Friday off i'm prepared to travel around to get this done, i'll have all the parts by then, maybe even Thursday

M0NEY

My uncles garage could do it. They are in Park Royal though

UHF

Thats not bad, its 45mins round the A406, can you get me a price tomorrow! I take it he does Subaru work

M0NEY

Dad said they charge £40 an hour. It should take 3 hours but they will probably charge you for 2.5. If you want, ill give you their number and my dads name and you can give him a call.

Yeah they do anything for Subaru

UHF

Ouch, thats a big bill, suppose its to be expected on this kinda car ;(

ozzy

UHF,

The biggest hassle is with getting the heatshield off and undoing the bolts (2 at the top) and studs (3 @ the bottom IIRC) on the Turbo.

To get at the heatshield screws, you need to remove the IC. Well I did anyway.

To be honest, I can't see why it would take a professional mechanic with a proper ramp 3hrs to remove and replace a downpipe

Even a total amateur like me had the IC and heatshield off in 45mins. I stopped when it was obvious that having some trolley jacks, axle stands and no garage weren't ideal for this job.

The garage told me the two top bolts siezed, but they can be easily replaced. You don't want to strip the studs along the bottom since they are part of the Turbo.

Stefan

UHF

Sounds like a job for a decent garage if things can break, my local garage wouldnt foot the bill for a new turbo if they stuffed it!!!

M0NEY

Ozzy, it does take a professional garage this long as it takes time to get the turbo nuts off! With mine, they were all seized up and you can get most of them off but the top one i think is a real bitch to get off! It took us an hour and a half just to get the downpipe off! Putting a downpipe on is easy.

It depends on the downpipe. Mine was a pain i nthe **** but there has been other ones that take about 30 minutes to get them off!

All depends if the nuts are seized!

Wible has a ramp and knows what he is doing and it took him 4 hours! His nuts were completely seized! lmao

Pete Croney

UHF

We have a fixed price of £70+vat for this job and this includes the new gasket at the back of the turbo.

MelTypeR

iTrader: (4)

UHF i'm also from Enfield wot car u got.

I have a STI5 Type R in cool grey.

Mel.

UHF

not seen ya about, i've got a 99 turbo in royal silver, sounds and a sti 5 spoiler and soon an exhaust note! I hang about in Edmonton and Enfield Chase and A10 most mornings and evenings

UHF

Actually I remember seeing a nice cool grey sti in the shell garage in chase side about 3 months ago, i kinda nodded but got no response!

Mickle

Takes me about 2 hours now to strip the strut brace, intercooler, heatshield, downpipe and the same in reverse to build it back up.

All I've got is two jacks and two axel stands. It's an easy job when you get it down to a fine art

Think I'm on my 5th time in 1 year

Forgot to say a warmish downpipe and lots of penitrating spray on the downpipe bolts seem to help, spray the bolts and go and get a cup of tea.


[Edited by Mickle - 2/4/2003 10:49:01 AM]

MelTypeR

iTrader: (4)

Don't remember seeing u mate but do use that petrol station quite often.

I will keep a look out for you, use the A10 nearly everyday as i live just off it.


Mel.

UHF

I told you in the other thread m8!

btw pete, Knowlsy (spelling?) told me it would be extra for the gasket, anyway, i'm all booked in cya friday

ozzy

M0NEY,

I don't doubt that if the nuts are seized it would take time to get them off. If they are all seized, what's the solution? soak them and wait 3hrs, brute force, ????

Like I said before, I struggled to get the two top ones undone on my DP, but I just need the right tool. Yes, I spent 20mins here and there trying to get them undone, but once I had a big enough spanner (I used an 18" extension bar for extra leverage) they only took 10mins to loosen.

I'm not denying it can be a real barsteward, but just pointing out there are different ways of tackiling the job. If I had to do it again, I'd ask a m8 with a garage (or even bung a local garage £20 to use their tools) and try to just loosen them first. Once the nuts are loose, I'd just do the job in a couple of hours at a later time.

Of course, if you just hand the car over to your Dealer if (and when) they have problems the meter keeps running and you can kiss goodbye to £150

Pete's solution is ideal; fixed cost for the job and the garage takes the hit if takes longer than expected.

Stefan

M0NEY

lol at Ozzy. We did have all the parts but the nuts just didnt want to come off! We tried everything. Finally got them off but they will a real pain. Most dealers dont want to do them cause they are a pain in the **** and it means they have to work for their money! They prefer doing services where they charge a few hours and only work for about 20 minutes! lol