LAracer

****. I couldn't wait and ordered it anyway. Oh well. At least I know what to look forward to. Good to hear that rxplicit and rxotic are being helpful. No doubt I'll be back on this thread asking for help when it arrives.



Thanks for the update.

r_xplicit

sinful,



sorry about the bolt mix up, i just got off of the phone with brian this morning and he reminded me that the dp + mp come as a combo and only one set of bolts comes in it, and as for that, i do not kow why....



but, you did the right thing, and replaced those oem studs. the hex bolt is the only way to go...it makes removal and reinstallation, if necessary, more easy...



lou

9BASE3

What size are the hex replacements... And where do I get them? I wanna replace mine...

r_xplicit

m10x1.5 hex... like sinful said/////

Sinful7

What size are the hex replacements... And where do I get them? I wanna replace mine... [/quote]

Okay - they're "Hex Socket Bolts" - the type with the allen wrench head.. I picked them up @ ace hardware for ~$2 each.. M10 diameter x 1.50 thread pitch. You should be able to get them at any "hardware" type store, but not Home Depot. They don't stock metric threads.



New problem arises - the lower half of the DP is curved up quite high - it will not meet the main-cat flange properly.. let's see if I can describe the problem like this:



(DP Flange)-----\ |----- (Main Cat Flange)



Whereas the main cat flange is level (or perpendicular to horizontal), the DP flange is tipped ever so slightly up.. When it is all said and done, there is a >1mm gap at the TOP of the DP flange, and it's very, very tight at the bottom.. I am going to see if I can pull out some slack from the turbo flange bolts (loosen them to gain 1mm rotation downward).



Although still tainted about the difficulties this has posed, I am starting to wonder if my ineptitude is causing my woes, and not the DP itself.



Also, to the credit of the DP, it is extremely stout and well made.. Impossible to bend

LAracer

Ok, here's my input on rxotic's dp. I installed it this weekend.



Basically, I had the same two problems as sinful7: there is a slight fitment problem and it's hard to find bolts that clear the pipe (the stock studs definitely won't work and at least some of them need to be removed - I would recommend removing all of them even if they look fine). I solved the bolt problem the same way as sinful7 - with allen head bolts and spacers (10mm lock-washers with one side ground down). I had a hard time finding metric allen head bolts because I live in a small town. Luckily I have other cars so travelling to other towns to find them was possible, if slightly inconvenient. Tip to rxotic: include some bolts & spacers with the pipe, and you'll have much happier customers. I think the fitment issue won't be a big problem for me since I could move the cat around enough to make it fit (it's REAL tight). I haven't started the car to check for leaks yet (waiting for some gaskets for my y-pipe install), but if I see leaks, I'm gonna have to do like sinful7 and re-install my exhaust from the dp back. Another tip to rxotic: let people know that with the stock cat, fitment is very tight, and probably too tight on some cars (of course, this is probably not an issue if you install both the dp and mp).



These issues I had are fairly small, but I'm not a very experienced mechanic, so for me they lead to other problems (broke off a stud, etc, blah blah, long story that makes me look stupid ). My point is that if you're pretty inexperienced like me, and if you can afford it, you might want to go with a brand name pipe like the M2. If you know your way around the garage a little, then installing this pipe won't be that big of a deal and it will save you some cash.



To rxotic and r_xplicit: I suggest you let future customers know that at least two people have had small issues with the installation of the dp, and I strongly suggest you include some bolts that fit. Even with these issues, it's a good dp for the price. Just let people know what they are getting into.

Sinful7

Well put!

r_xplicit

ok, well put, and heard. however, i have never seen a DP "drop right in place". the way that the pipe bends down and to the rear of the car makes it more difficult to get the bolt in, but that is in the design of the pipe itself. you could have gone with the one like the HKS which has a flattened and rough looking square head area on it where it bolts up to the manifold, and is much easier to get new bolts in...now, i am no mechanic, but have done all of my mods, and when i switched from a mild steel pettit pipe, i put in the mirror finished stainless steel top speed pipe, i noticed no issues. on take in mind that i have the MP and cat back, and i have installed all of my dp's with catbacks at the same time. BUT rxotic/brian, put his on after he took the hks pipe off, and he still had a cat on it and there were no *real* problems incurred. there is always going to ba a certain degree of difficulty and that is ok, but let's not try to discredit the product, when it is perfectly fine...and remember, the kit we order, is a DP + MP combo, and for some unknown reason, it only comes with one set of bolts. i guess that they figure that you will use the original manifold studs, which in my opinion, are a problem area, and should be replaced.....i am glad that you guys got the stuff installed at a relatively difficult rate, and am glad that there were no real issues with the service or the product. if you have lingering issues with these pieces, please contact me, and i will assist you in any way possible...



thanks again,



louis

Sinful7

No, the pipe installed with minor fittment adjustments. One key is to leave all the bolts (turbo and cat) until everything is in place, then tighten everything down.



r xotic, you could send a hardware package for another $15 or so.. I would have sprung for it! With only $8 in bolts/spacers required, that should yeild a profit as well!

r_xplicit

ohhhweeee.....mo money.....you know the shitty thing is i do not get a dime for selling these parts for brian/rxotic......oh well, i'll just have to keep settling for the discount......