[sethmo]

I am installing some Raceland downpipes and am having trouble getting the clamp on the rear downpipe. Is it easiest to put the clamp around the downpipe, and then slip it onto the turbo, or vice versa?

Have got about an hour wrapped into trying to get this clamp on and am starting to get frustrated lol

Any tips are appreciated!

[madmanhiker]

open the v-flange (stretch slightly outward), slip on the turbo side first, make sure the bolt hole is in a accessible location once you mate the two together, then slowly work the dp into position. it's a PITA, not gonna lie. good luck.

[e90TiAg335i]

what ^^^^ he said. I would also check the flanges on the DPs to make sure they are straight. I didn't have any problems with mine but others have.

[sethmo]

I eventually got them on, it was a PITA for sure! If only you could halfway see what you were doing, it wouldn't have been so bad!

I checked to make sure they lined up without the Vband clamp and they did. Just took a lot of finangling for me to get them seated properly.

Thanks for the tips guys, now off to do a quick test drive

[maui86]

make sure you unbolt the passenger side of the steering bar thingy. it'll open up A LOT of space!

-lay under the car with your feet pointing towards the rear

-have the clamp on the turbo side(i have it stretched open and propped on the outter rim of the flange of the turbo)

-you can now use one of your arms(right) to hold up the dp(at the bend near the vband) and press it flush to the turbo,make sure you dont have the other end of the dp bolted to the exhaust

-use your other arm(left) to open the clamp and put it over...make sure the hinge part of the clamp is on properly.

-you should be able to squeeze the clamp down with your fingers(~1/2inch or smaller gap between the two ends), twist the dp slightly as you are squeezing the clamp and it will snug up real nice, this will insure you have it set properly so it wont leak before bolting it in.

-if you use the bolt to squeeze it shut(ie..when you stick the bolt in and it barely reaches the nut) you will likely stretch the clamp as its probably not on right and you'll get a small leak.

the third time i took my dp's off i did it like this and the whole job took 90mins. the first install took 8hrs, 3hrs of it was from that stupid rear clamp not going on all the way. so i know what you are going through haha.

goodluck

[soulja620]

I never wanna do this job again..

[z4nhy3uz]

Through many trials and errors, i would say leave the clamp on the turbo than connect the DP. If you leave the clamp on the DP, it will be almost impossible to get it connected to the turbo, IMO.
Good Luck.

[mkiv]

Originally Posted by maui86

make sure you unbolt the passenger side of the steering bar thingy. it'll open up A LOT of space!

-lay under the car with your feet pointing towards the rear

-have the clamp on the turbo side(i have it stretched open and propped on the outter rim of the flange of the turbo)

-you can now use one of your arms(right) to hold up the dp(at the bend near the vband) and press it flush to the turbo,make sure you dont have the other end of the dp bolted to the exhaust

-use your other arm(left) to open the clamp and put it over...make sure the hinge part of the clamp is on properly.

-you should be able to squeeze the clamp down with your fingers(~1/2inch or smaller gap between the two ends), twist the dp slightly as you are squeezing the clamp and it will snug up real nice, this will insure you have it set properly so it wont leak before bolting it in.

-if you use the bolt to squeeze it shut(ie..when you stick the bolt in and it barely reaches the nut) you will likely stretch the clamp as its probably not on right and you'll get a small leak.

the third time i took my dp's off i did it like this and the whole job took 90mins. the first install took 8hrs, 3hrs of it was from that stupid rear clamp not going on all the way. so i know what you are going through haha.

goodluck

great tip! this was what my shop did. they finished the installation in just 1 hour.

[Dmacc]

turning the wheels all the way to the left also opens up some space

[E92_N54_416]

going nuts over here, i cant seem to get the freaking clamp in, i tired every way out there and nothing

[Tzu]

e92_twin shoot me a PM. If you're close to me, I can get it on in a few minutes. I'm a downpipe ninja.

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by soulja620

I never wanna do this job again..

+1, sucks hard!

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Make sure you put the vban clamp on and allow enough clearance for the bolts otherwise they may get in the way of the wastegate actuator arms. Probably top 5 mistake on DP install.

[madmanhiker]

it is a frustrating job no doubt... the hardest part about the job is the clamp, especially if you have big hands. Just be patient - step away - drink a beer or two. Then try again. Make sure that the 2 lips meet up and that the flange is on properly, if it isn't you'll have a leak there and you will have to tear it all apart again and do it all over. Relax and keep at it, you will get it.

[madmanhiker]

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

Make sure you put the vban clamp on and allow enough clearance for the bolts otherwise they may get in the way of the wastegate actuator arms. Probably top 5 mistake on DP install.

^^ so true ^^ +1

[PINeely]

Keep working at it and take breaks. Pretty soon you'll be messing with it and you'll suddenly feel everything snap into place perfectly. Best feeling I've ever had from underneath a car.