Rep Power: 262

ok so I have the v3 kit. My downpipe is giving me a hell of a time....First..
My downpipe bolts refuse to stay tight, they loosen up about every 2 weeks on the dot. Thats fine but I cannot for the live of me tighten the bolt/stud under the curve. I can tighten the top 3 just fine, but not the bottom. I have spent hours trying to tighten & even made special tools....no luck. So the downpipe is constantly leaking and making my car run like ****. Only way to tighten is remove the entire turbo assembly.......I'm on my 4th R&R of this kit to fix this problem. I've used ever type of threadlock out there, red & green mix even! Nothing works!

Second....about on my third install the downpipe is now rubbing the subframe something fierce. I have tried clocking the turbo but cannot. The exhaust slug bolts right to the manifold, no movement allowed, same for downpipe to turbo, just 4 bolts! No adjustment.....I tried for 4 hours friday to position the turbo so the dp does not rub. No luck. Only thing I can see is cutting subframe & rewelding. I really don't really want to resort to that!

I just think it's strange how it didn't rub at all to rubbing all the time....anyone got any hints or similiar problem....PLEASE HELP DEZOD. I can live with the headgasket but this noise is so annoying!!!!!!! I just turn the radio up reeeeel loud!

 
Rep Power: 331

pics of rubbing? if it wasnt rubbing before, something has moved, the turbo and manifold dont flex, so your motor mounts might be to blame.

 
Rep Power: 296

Yep front and/or back motor mounts are shot most likely. are you using lockwashers on the DP? if that doesnt work get some studs for the exhaust housing and use serrated (SP?)locknuts. That should do the trick. If not weld a v band flange to the exhaust housing, cut the flange off the DP and weld the other v band onto it. You'd hafta pop the exhaust housing from the turbo but it would be the last time for sure.

 
Rep Power: 424

the heat flattens out lock washers....
ATP turbo sells locking exhaust nuts, they're deformed (intentionally) so they grab onto the threads and hold still. They work marvelously.

 
Rep Power: 262

I did check all motor mounts. I found the front one torn during transmission install last thursday. I replaced the mount friday and no change.

Thanks boiler, I'll look into those arp studs!

 
Rep Power: 424

no.... not ARP... I said ATP.. as in www.atpturbo.com

 
Rep Power: 0

^^^^ Great site. My mandrel bends and flanges from them for my new DP just arrived today.

 
Rep Power: 262

Oh ok atp, ya I ordered a bunch of gaskets & silicone from them awhile ago. Thanks man

 
Rep Power: 0

Have you tried loosening the mounts up, and then jacking the engine up a little to see if that fixes it? Like Justin was saying, the only thing that really could have happened is the motor has shifted. I doubt your subframe has moved.

 
Rep Power: 350

Your engine can't "shift" positions. It can only move with accel and decel. The mounts are supposed to give a little when that happens under normal driving. There may be sagging if the mounts are busted but that would be it. You can't "reposition" the location of the engine or the mounts without fab work.

 
Rep Power: 0

What else could be causing his DP to hit the subframe now though? It just doesn't make sense to me. I understand it's not a matter of jacking the car up, tightening down the mounts and "Presto!" new engine position, I figured this would be a way to tell if another mount is shredded besides the front one he already replaced.

I guess I was thinking that, but didn't type it. Man, I need that "type what you speak" software... This manual input stuff is for the birds!

 
Rep Power: 262

Ya thats the funny thing. The DP never ever rubbed....I took the kit apart one day to reseal the DP bolts and when I reinstalled I noticed it was very close. I took everything back off and looked over everything. Nothing had moved, all motor mounts were good, the turbo had not clocked differen't. So I been driving like this for awhile. I ripped the transmission out last thursday. The subframe was in the correct position, no shifting or loose bolts. I found the front mount broke, replaced that on last friday. During that replacement I also resealed my DP bolts. I spent 3 f**kin hours trying get the turbo in a better position, I checked every frickin bolt mount/subframe wise. I even took the front mount again and jack the motor up and back then forced the front mount in. After I tightened the bolts it went right back.

The turbo cannot be clocked anymore on the exhaust side, it is physically bolted to the manifold in that one position. The cold side clocks just fine.

I think I'll just have to have the DP refabbed or cut a chunk out of the subframe & reweld....

I have checked everything!!!! I've even got together with all my techs at work, none of them can find anything either. Thats 100+ years of experience Thats also when we found my power steering rack shot!

Something has to be out of place.....something caused this, and I have no clue!!!