I thought these pics might help for anyone preparing to install a new downpipe. My buddy down the street and I did both of our trucks at the same time. The learning curve made a big difference. The first one took 3 hours because of fighting the cat. It just wouldn't come off. The second one took about an hour because it was already straight piped. I haven't noticed better gas mileage yet. Probably for two reasons:

1. It's colder right now
2. The first thing I noticed after doing this mod was that the engine revved up much faster(less turbo lag) so it's easier to stomp on the pedal. Little by little, I have been trying to lay off, because it's just sooo much easier to push those RPM's up.

Hope this helps

Cutting off the Cobra head - I recommend a good blade like a Lennox. I cut off two pipes with one of these blades. A lesser blade would have struggled.



Finishing off the cut:



The old flat pipe is gone!



Checking the fit after the pinch weld is bent back. After notching it with the sawzall I used a 2x4 against the engine block. It bent very easily. I just bent back the heat shield instead of cutting it off completely and I haven't had any problems with it making any rattling. I figured that was better than mangling the sheet metal trying to cut it off in that tight little space.



It's tight in here after the clamp goes on. I know a lot of guys recommend using the other type of clamp, but I just used the one that came with the pipe. It hasn't leaked after 2 months.



My engine seemed to be mounted a little farther forward than my buddy's down the street. You can see how mush space is left between the cab and the pipe.About 1/2".



The pipe installed from the top:



The new cat delete pipe:



What a difference from the old one:

 

Nice pics. STEVO !!

 

rep points sent

 

X 2 with cOOn, rep sent. you are a good photographer (spel?)

 

Ditto on the pics. Looks good man.

 

Ditto on the ditto. Rep points sent. Now I might even want to try this myself. Looks like I "need" to get a sawzall.

 

Thanks, guys. I'm not a photographer, but I did have to take it as a class in Architecture school. I noticed for the longest time no one has posted pics of the downpipe install so I thought it would help since everybody asks the same questions about it. Seems logical, since it's the first mod everybody recommends.

Mooseman, I have had that "need" so many times that I have a pretty good collection of tools. I can buy and feel good about those purchases. I mean in the long run they save money, right?

 

Awsome job, rep sent.

 

Great job with the pics! Reps on the way. I just wish i had seen this last week when i was throwin mine in, it would have made life a lot easier.

 

Nice man, very nice.... My 02 for anybody wanting to do this mod would be to wrap the dp w exhaust wrap like I did b4 I slid into place that way even if it looks good on the clearence side you wont have to contend w a rattle if she torques at any point ....

 

I am going to be buying a downpipe and installing in a week or so. You saved me a lot of stress and time. Thanks for the pics.

 

Great pics man...this will help out when i install my exhaust. Off topic a bit...do these trucks sound and perform better with the stock dp and straights?

 

Smo&Stro, thats a big NO, that 444 loves to exhale, the first mod I ever did was the 3" dp to a 4"- 4' strait section to a 45 turn down. Big difference especially up on the top 85-90 mph and still good torque. Cobra out Boa in....

 

Nice write up, reps sent. It's n my fav's folder. Good job.

 

very nice pics!
Is that Seriously what my downpipe looks like?
that looks like it was hit flat with a sledgehammer...
that needs to be fixed!