down pipe installation

[STILLSTROKIN97]

i have a 1997 powerstroke with the manual 5spd and was wondering how hard it is to put in the two piece down pipe from the turbo im sure there is someone who has already came to this and i have also head that some manufacturers of the downpipe actually fits better than others if thats the case which one is the best company to go with some body point me in the right direction thanks

[najaf4life]

well I installed my exhuast and the best way that I found to get the dp in was to use a ratchet strap on the tranny and pull it to the side... it will slide right down or up...

[d15bfi]

I did the bully dog 3" dp while the tranny was getting rebuilt! I was lucky enough to kill 2 birds one stone! Fitmit was pretty good.

[najaf4life]

well then that should be no problem... mine was a 4''

[gtspowerstroke]

Originally Posted by najaf4life

well then that should be no problem... mine was a 4''

Yeah but you got a super duty. Completely different!

Personally I like the Hypermax down pipes because they go straight to 3.5" at the bottom which makes it quicker and easier to jump to 4".

They are kind of a pain to install. I will typically unbolt it from the top and bottom and from the bottom use a strap to hold it up as high as possible. Then use a 12" sawsall blade and cut the top off as low as you can. Then the bottom should drop right out. Use a 2X4 to bend the firewall prying against the head. It's going to take a little working on the firewall to get it to fit. Especially on the 5 speeds because there is a lug that sticks out that it has to get around. Once it's in it's good but it's just tough to get in. Some say to cut the pinch weld on the firewall but I say DO NOT CUT THE FIREWALL!! Besides the fact that it just looks all hacked up when you do that you open it up to rusting and there is jut no need to.

[taylorking]

installed mine about a month ago. i have the 3" MBRP one. it was a real pain to do, u have to bend the pinch weld on the firewall, mine still hits every now and then

[justafarmtruck]

port a power right agains the bellhouseing and the fire wall to make it fit works great. diesel pro. shops around here will tell ya that to.

[gtspowerstroke]

Originally Posted by justafarmtruck

port a power right agains the bellhouseing and the fire wall to make it fit works great. diesel pro. shops around here will tell ya that to.

This is very true. Only problem is most people don't have one.

[PSD0389]

I had to cut the old one out by cutting the top off the stock one and the bottom of it off with a sawzall then it came right out. Then to put the new one in you have to bend the firewall out a little so I wedged a 2x4 in between the firewall and engine and pulled on it a couple times till it was bent out enough so I slid the top part right down then put the bottom piece in from under the truck them hooked it up to the exhaust housing and bolted the two pieces together