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I'm starting to catch the Mod fever from you guys D*mn it. Been looking at down pipes, but all I can find is 3" for my '97. Is that as big as I can go? Started thinking about what I've seen under the hood and took another look. The down pipe has always looked newer than the rest of the turbo and exhaust. It's 3" but has no flat spot or kinked looking areas in it. I'm thinking this may be an after market downpipe. I would like to go with a 3.5 or a 4", but I don't see enough room. Can I do this?
Your description certainly sounds like an after market. My brother has a 96 F350. The downpipe looks flattened and kinked, even from the small length that is visible from the top of the motor.
I do not know what the largest downpipe you can use is.
Dale I @ tymar performance sells a dp that bells to 4" right after it clears the firewall. Seems to be the best one I have seen.
Dale's downpipe is the best for the OBS trucks, but it sounds like you've already got an aftermarket downpipe. Unless you're going to go ballistic with other mods, I don't think you'd see any improvment by changing over.
Dale's downpipe is the best for the OBS trucks, but it sounds like you've already got an aftermarket downpipe. Unless you're going to go ballistic with other mods, I don't think you'd see any improvment by changing over.
No, I think I will get rid of the cat and probably the muffler and go with a 4" staight pipe setup. Probably won't get into chips and such. But who knows, the longer I'm on this site anything could happen. Any thought on some of the flexible exhaust pipe out there?
I've heard that it's prone to leakage over time, so I went with aluminized 5" pipe on mine. Piecing a system together isn't hard, but use the "measure twice, cut once" approach.
I've heard that it's prone to leakage over time, so I went with aluminized 5" pipe on mine. Piecing a system together isn't hard, but use the "measure twice, cut once" approach.
Since the turbo outlet is 3", and there's so little space between the block and the firewall, having the downpipe at 3" at the top ain't too bad. With major firewall modifications, you can squeeze a 4" downpipe in there, but it would take a ton of horsepower to make it worthwhile. I've got a Hypermax downpipe that starts at 3" at the turbo, then bells to 3.5" once it clears the firewall. For a long time, that was the best available. Now, Dale has one that bells to 3.5", and then again to 4" once space allows. Better for sure, but not enough better for me to change over, and I make decent hp. Anything you do to replace the smashed stock unit is a vast improvement, but you're past that if you've got an aftermarket downpipe already. Besides, if you're catching mod fever, you'd be better off to save that money, and spend it on something that will make more power.