Ok, so after way too many delays, including a blown head gasket, bad replacement head, and no time to work, I'm finally trying to get my turbo in. The current issue is that the downpipe for the kit doesn't line up with the stock exhaust, it is too long.

I need to chop the exhaust before the cat but can't weld the shorter flange back up, so I'm left with driving to an exhaust shop n/a, doing the turbo install in their parking lot or paying them to do it, and then getting them to cut and weld the shorter pipe.

I'd like to avoid this, so I'm thinking of chopping it myself and then mating the shorter pipe back up with an exhaust clamp. Would this work for a permanent install or should I get it welded back up? it would be nice to leave the clamp so if I ever pull the turbo, I can put the stock pipe length back on. Any particular brand / styles to use? I don't want to have to flare the exhaust pipe for a v-band (no flaring tool). It looks like I'm left with a lap-joint style similar to this:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-33272/

It looks a little suspect but should hold until I get to a weld shop, except I can't find it in small diameter. I believe it's only 1.75" after the flange. Has anone flared a pipe, if the tool is cheap I would be open to going that route .

 

Pics of said idea? I got kinda lost on the notion.

 

Will try to get pics tonight. Basics are that the turbo downpipe is about 3" longer than the stock header, so I need to take about 3" out of the exhaust pipe between the flange where it bolts to the header and the cat. Once I chop this piece out, I wanted to know if there was a way to clamp it rather than having to get the cut welded up.

 

You CAN clamp, but sometimes it's hit or miss in sealing. I'd recommend having it welded because if you incur an exhaust leak there, it can make for poor tuning and such because it can alter boost levels.

 

Is there any easy way to flange the pipe to use a v-band with a hand press or tool? Or should I get a flange welded on? Not even sure where to find a weldable flange. trying to avoid the one-piece weld because if I ever need to go back to stock, it's another trip to the welder. With clamps, I could just re-insert the longer pipe, clamp it, and go.

Edit: I found these, sounds like my ideal would be to weld the flange on and then clamp it for easy removal. If it's good enough for most cat-back aftermarket exhausts hopefully it will work for me. You don't carry these do you? Or is that part of the Vibrant assembly you offer? Didn't say if it was weldable on the Dezod page.

http://www.boostlogic.com/xcart/prod...&cat=32&page=1

 

The v-band flanges are weldable and it's just like this Vibrant:


We can get this for you, no problem.

Ultimately, I would ONLY suggest welding it in place. Clamps can fail or cause leaks. Welding it will be sure fire that you do not have issues, but returning to stock is a whole other ball of wax.

 

i wanna see this lil xa rip around md