Should it be this hard to fit the 2 pieces together? Or should the bigger just slip over the smaller pipe, w/ ease?

It looks like the piping isn't truly round on one end.

Any tips?

 

Mine was a true bitch to slip together, prob better solutions, but...

I GENTLY wedged something, and applied forced between the 2 divorced pieces on 1 half of the DP until they lined up properly with the 2 pieces on the other side. Then pushed together.

I installed on the car like that, and then tightened the nut on the bolt that keeps the 2 halves together.

 

+1 ^^^

 

I'm having a hard time visualizing this. Edit: I think I get it now.

I have the 2 pieces slipped together. I just can't push them down. Seems like something is binding the smaller pipe from going down into the larger pipe.

 

I got my longer section bolted to the tial first, then put my top section on. I just used moderate force with some back and forth motions to slip it in. lol

Seems like alot of people have a hard time with this DP.

 

Isn't yours an FM3 with an external wastegate?

 

You just need to wiggle it until it's lined up. They are a bitch to get together.

 

I thought they were somewhat the same kind of design. As far as the wiggling and pushing concept goes anyway.

 

Rubber mallet once you get the parts started. Or a hammer and a block of wood.

Frank

 

+1 on the rubber mallet. that's what i used.

 

I used the Force.

 

I had the opposite problem. Mine was too loose that to get it to stop rattling I had to tighten the bolt up so much it brought the bottom section too close and it rattled against the transmission. I had an exhaust pipe expanded I used to make the fit much tighter. I also welded one end of the bolt to the DP, made tightening that bolt a little easier. They would have been better off with a band clamp.

 

My FM3 downpipe was a bitch to slip together.

+1 on the brute force.

 

Same thing applies, get somethign in there to wedge, otherwise it'll still be a bitch. Wiggle, TAPPING with rubber mallet, and I even used some wd40, but dont think it did too much.

But use the wedging technique even while your tryign to push them together. Mine were kinda too close together, and even after slipping it on, still wasn't going without wedging to line it up

 

Mine lined up fine, but I couldn't push it in all the way. I had to put a longer bolt in and tighten it down to pull the pieces together.

 

I used a rubber malet on mine. Also, where the locking bolt goes...it was hitting the frame of the car so I just used a cheap exhaust clamp instead...

 

With Ease? No. Get them lined up and GENTLY use a rubber mallet.
Stephanie