2G Problem w/2g AWD Punishment Racing 3 inch downpipe

[thewraith]

I took the stock dp off my car yesterday hoping that this would be a simple install. Note that my turbo is stock. I bolted the 3" punishment dp on and it was pure hell. There was absolutely no room to spin either of the nuts to the o2 housing. After 1 hour I finally go it on. This dp replaces the catalytic, so I put my 3" magnaflow catback on starting from the exhaust hangers and lo and behold.

1. the piping does not reduce so no way to install it
2. even if i had a bolt on reducer- there is no way it would line up because of the bolts are spun the wrong way.

Now my question is this- I think it is my fault and maybe I ordered the wrong part. On my last 2g awd i ordered a mild steel dp from punishment that retained the catalytic and it bolted fine to this exhaust. I'm a little confused here. Did I order something wrong?? Please assist!

 

[me612]

The first issue dealing with the nuts and the O2 housing, I've ran into that also. Some of the vendors "dimple" the pipe right where those nuts go on, which IMO is what every vendor should do. If it's not dimpled, and the nuts can't spin, then what good is it.

If I were you, I'd take the pipe, and put it in a little vice and just dimple it yourself (be careful not to damage any welds). That should take care of that issue.


As for your other issue, I don't really follow what your getting at. The downpipe doesn't reduce to a smaller size where it meets the catback? If that's the issue, well then that was just poorly matched parts. Ideally it should not reduce back there. You want it smooth all the way. 3" downpipe and 3" catback, with no neck downs. If your catback necks down, well then that's what you should be looking to correct. Get rid of the neck down and just put a 3" flange on there so it'll mate with the downpipe.

 

[Dsmj89]

I had a similar problem on my PR 2g gst downpipe, although right now im running the downpipe on my factory o2 housing, it bolted up fine on that side, but the cat-back side was a pain to get it on.
I managed to somewhat tighten it enough without my exhuast flanges cause they forgot to send them in so i had to wait a week for those (still not installed).
I would suggest using the open end tools 3/4". Much easier with those.

 

[thewraith]

Yeah, I ended up using open end tools but it took about an hour to do because there is no clearance down there. What an f'n pain. I'm waiting on punishment to get back to me for reducer and fitment to the exhaust.

 

[siceclipse]

a simple solution is to used different nuts.

I read on the GVR4 forum that those guys use the Auto Zone lug nuts that use a key to screw on. this way you are not trying to grab the nut and spin it, you are inserting the key into the middle and have all the clearance in the world.