I'm going to fit my scoobysport downpipe on Saturday and was wondering are there any tricky bits i should be aware of.How do i remove the heatshield and will it go back on? I will be doing the job lying on my back so it will be awkward enough without any unexpected surprises.Any advice will be appreciated.

 

Plenty of Plus Gas (release oil, ask for it by name) on all the bolts including Turbo to D/P nuts, I found the heat shield ones were not too bad although some of them are a bit of a bu66er to get at. The heat shield will need cutting to refit but it is worth getting it back on. I have done a few D/p now and the last one took about 2 hours, that was laying on my back, like you. Enjoy

 

2 hours

Thanks for the advice and frightening me lol.

 

Oh, forgot to add, it's best to remove the intercooler, just the inlet and outlet, that way you can move it out the way, when that's off remove the intercooler bracket that is bolted to the block on the turbo side (2x12mm headed bolts). When replacing the I/C warm the inlet pipe (one that goes onto Turbo) with a hairdrier, this allows it to slip on easier. Plenty of good quality anti sieze on all the threads when you put it all back together, you may want to take it off one day and you'll thank yourself.

 

As Glen said, make sure you've got loads of release oil! If you can, take the heat shield off the night before you do the work and drown the nuts in the stuff it should make life alot easier for you...... you don't wanna get any of the nuts cross threaded on the turbo stud..... thats when things get hard!! We got one cross threaded and it took hours to get it off with a hammer and chissel... NIGHTMARE!!!

It should only take about 45 minutes or so to change the DP if the nuts come off fine, really not hard at all!

You may not have to chop the heat shield up.. it all depends on the DP you have bought.... I fitted a 3" HKS DP and the heat shield went straight back on again.

Have fun!!

 

have a look here for instructions on fitting and how to cut the heatshield

Dewi

 

Thanks for all the tips.Can i get the heat shield off from above the car or do i need to get underneath it?

 

The heat shield can be taken off rom above, it is held on by four 10mm bolts. The down pipe is held on by three 14mm nuts on studs (one on the side near the drivers suspension turret and two underneath) and two 17mm nuts with bolts. The two underneath are very tricky to get to with the standard exhaust cause of the cat.
Once they are loose it is just a matter of wiggling the down pipe out from the bottom and puttin the new one in place.

You may want to get a gasket depending on the state of the old one. Try Mill auto of Autopart rather than Subaru cause they will be cheaper.

 

Guys,
Can you confirm that it was 2 hours for a DIY job. Just been charged 3 hours labour at £40 per hour.
PS not mentioned before I think but if you have problems removing the Lambda sensor you will need to have one spare to fit, garage also were unable to remove mine.
Cheers hope for info

 

John
Yeah mine was a DIY job, normally takes me about 2 hours to do one, I usually use drive on car ramps, however stealth reckons 45 minutes to do the D/p, he must wear his underpants on the outside of his trousers

 

Having now done enough to lose count, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 5 hours. Not wishing to scare you.

It all depends on the nuts and bolts willingness to come free tbh.

My car jhad only done 80 miles, but it still took more than 3 hours to do, due to having to cut some of the bolts off! Then i did one last weekend that took less than 15 minutes to get the damn thing off!!

Steven

 

Ive changed my DP 4 times now, in my garage.

first time took 3 1/2 hrs, last time took me 45 mins

hardest bit/most time consuming was the heatshield & as always getting the intercooler inlet pipe back on.

i second P20SPD's comment, can take 20 mins or can take 5hrs. depends on the car

chris

 

John P my car is a MY93 so my lamda sensor is in the manifold so at least i dont have to worry about that.

 

Yep, reckon I could do it in 10 minutes

 

Should take no more than 1 to 2 hours taking your time provided the turbo to dp nuts arent seized! Might take a bit longer the first time though if you are cutting down the heatshield.

 

Cheeseboy did his just before christmas by himslef, on a MY00

he soaked the turbo bolts in wd40 the night before and then another shot before attacking the bolts.

Whipped of the intercooler and started, he used a ring spanner and a ratchet to remove all the bolts with no trouble at all, it then took about half an hour to complete the refit of the new one, then refit the intercooler job done.

 

Make sure you use a decent wrench to undo the bolts. I tried with my 6" one and couldn't budge them. Then got a nice long 18" bar for some better leverage and they came off in no time.

Good luck,

Stefan

 

you must soak the d/p bolts with duck oil the night before ...
what a diffrence it makes

 

Done and dusted,it took an hour and half without moving the i/c but trimming and refitting the heat shield.I was dead lucky that all the nuts came off by hand once the were cracked but i can see how it could take a lot longer if the nuts were binding.

The car sounds absolutely awesome now with the full scoobysport system and i cant stop grinning.

Thanks for the advice everyone

 

I will gladly give anyone my scoob if they can change a standard downpipe to a decat in 30 mins. Glen4 did mine, and doesn't hand around, and must be about 1 1/2 hrs minumum. Ill even let you **** my missus and shes fit

MB

 

get a 14mm ratchet spanner for DP nuts, and a 10mm ratcher spanner for heatshield bolts. this makes life a lot easier.

Paul

 

whats the small sensor in the bottom of the MY93 catted downpipe?

 

cat-fire sensor.

 

Is it worth changing the turbo / downpipe gasket?