Crucial Downpipe install!

OK, so I got my Crucial Downpipe in the mail today- thanks Russ!

 

Here's what it looks like:

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe001.jpg

 

Here's a couple of shots of the flanges:

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe002.jpg

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe003.jpg

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe004.jpg

 

Soooo much better looking in person- a real shame to have to put it on the car and get it dirty!

 

OK, so now to the install part:

 

This is the stock setup with upper heatshield removed:

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe005.jpg

 

Basically, you remove the 5 bolts holding the downpipe to the turbo, along with one that bolts the downpipe to the transmission and the two that bolt the downpipe to the midpipe.

 

That's a total of 8 bolts- should be easy, but with 9600 miles on the car along with the typical Subaru 500 pound gorillas putting our cars together, a couple shots of WD40 were necessary to get the dern things loose.

 

Here's a shot of the stock and Crucial downpipes together- notice that the Crucial is teh Sexay!

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe006.jpg

 

Here they are side by side again- notice that the stocker has a blank plate, whereas the Crucial has not only the plate not as a blank, but also a divorced wastegate!

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe007.jpg

 

Here's the real culprit on the stocker, the catalytic convertor- very restricive!

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe008.jpg

Here's our stock turbo with downpipe removed:

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe009.jpg

 

This is what the turbocharger looks like on the outlet side, for anyone who hasn't seen this before. It was a blast getting my camera in there to take this shot

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe010.jpg

 

The new hardware goes on sooo much easier than the stock stuff comes off- here it is installed:

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe011.jpg

 

And here it is with the engine cover back on and all reassembelled. Yeah, I messed that spelling up

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe012.jpg

 

Besides the look of this piece, I love the way that it sounds! Eliminating one cat gives it a deeper, more raspy (in a pleasant way) sound. I actually put my mufflers back on (for those who have been to the NE meets, I usually run without them) and the sound is just about perfect! You can also hear the turbo spool up now- before I couldn't make it out unless I listened really hard.

 

Of course I flashed to stage 2 as well and with that and this pipe the car is a beast! Next years' project will have to be brakes and suspension because I have reached my Stage 2 goal. Anyway, hope you enjoyed my pic-whoring

love the pics... hopefully mine will go in as easily as your pictures make it look

Nice. Awesome walkthrough...looks really good. Hope you have fun with the NEW & IMPROVED BEAST!

 

Later,

i

As always, nice write up Jim. That deserves two :dm:

 

I wish I would have gotten my Cobb coated before I installed it. Can't hurt, right??

sweet mang!!

this thread is worthless w/o sound clips!

nice lookin piece,, looks like is was very well done,, nice flanges,, look smooth.. my old txs downpipe looked like crap compared to this

Install fest at Jedi's house! Do you still have the stock up-pipe? Which gaskets did you use?

I didn't touch the uppipe- for the money, it's not worth it IMO *ducks as people throw vegatables and tell me how much quicker it'll spool*

 

I will keep the stock dp in case of, I don't know losing my mind and selling this beast. The dp came with a really nice copper gasket and another gasket to mate to the midpipe.

 

As far as an installfest, I'd be glad to host and participate if anyone wants to trek all the way to Middletown.

Man I may attempt to install this. Looks easier than I thought.

 

So, are you gonna leave the heatshield off of there? I will probably go with the same setup (just the downpipe) for now.

No heatshield- it's coated in and out so no need

 

BTW, this was my first downpipe install that I did myself. All it takes is a little muscle and some WD40 (and a Crucial Downpipe! ). Anyone in my area is welcome to stop by and use my yard if they need help.

Thanks for the great write up and pics. Can't wait for mine to arrive...

Congrats, Jedi. Glad it turned out as you expected.

Great install pics. It'll help a mod noob like me, one question though, since you flashed to stage 2 aren't you concern about the uppipe cat and higher EGTs? I keep reading that its best to change the catted uppipe first, or is this not really necessary as long as the temps aren't too high. I'm just trying to find out, the PITA uppipe removal as others have said, kind of makes me want to skip it and go your route. I know its double the work if I decide to remove it later. I have a STI uppipe, but I'm not sure if I want to, since I'd be doing most of the install by myself.

How long did it take you to do install?? Guess I could do this install myself if I reuse my turbo/downpipe gasket till I have time to do uppipe install too,..

 

btw,..looks similiar to Stromung shorty without the coating,...looks real nice and it came with copper gasket too for turbo,..Maybe I should post pics of my shorty with before and after pics,...going to get it coated sometime next week,..

The bad news on the install is this: it took me close to three hours from getting my tools out to putting them away. Before you guys laugh, I had interruptions and I had to go very slowly because of a recent and no so recent back injury. Frankly, I probably should have been lying flat, but I wanted to get this pipe on. Actual wrenching on the pipe time was about 30 minutes, including letting the bolts soak in WD40. Getting the Crucial back on was about 10 minutes.

Glad you like it Jim!

 

Retorquet thos bolts straight away so the embossment crushes and the gasket gets a good seal.

 

 

This pic shows why there is no divider plate between the WG and the main exahsut pipe.

 

http://premium1.uploadit.org/cultofthejedi//crucialdownpipe010.jpg

Jedi,

 

First of all, great pics and great write up!!!!!!

 

Quick question, out of curiosity, why did you choose Crucial over the others???

 

I was also thinking about it, once it's pre-coated and really sexier compared to others....

 

Flavio Zanetti

Boston, MA

It's really the best quality shorty dp out there. From the quality of the steel, the flanges and the heat coating inside and outside. I'll be putting mine in as soon as I decide on which gauges I'm going with and how I'm mounting them. I have the crucial up and downpipes.

Hey jedi, great goin!

 

Now you've got me really itchin' for that beautiful sucker to come in the mail!

 

Ugh...I won't be able to do my install for another week or so after I receive my DP. Goin' on a long road-trip with the wifey and what's-in-her-belly, and I don't want to have to worry about a CEL in case my weekend-shadetree greasmonkeying fouls-up the install.

 

Speaking of which....

 

What CEL defeat method did you choose?

 

Lookin' great, my Zombie-hunting buddy!

No heatshield- it's coated in and out so no need

 

I really hope you reconsider this as the heatshield is there for the turbo, not for the DP which has it's own heat shield. This was tested out on a WRX and an STi which don't have a plastic cover covering the air coming from the hood scoop.

 

The turbo get's red hot and transfers that heat to the IC so unless you coat the turbo, I would modify the stock turbo heat shield or install the Cusco one.

 

I will do this install as soon as I can send the money to Crucial. This in conjunction with my up-pipe and Lachute mufflers should give it a mean ass growl.

 

So, I really hope you reconsider about the heatshield.

Hey guys. I used the COBB AP to defeat the CEL. Russ, I was wondering if I should retorque those bolts after a few heat and cool cycles. I'll be sure to get in there after the car cools off tonight! Thanks for the advice- and thanks for a truly beautiful and functional product!

 

Flavio- I went back and forth on downpipes for a long time. I was initially sold on COBB, then liked the Stromung. But when i saw that Crucial was coming out with one I had to get it. Crucial is pretty well known in the WRX community and I knew it would be the right decision.

 

As far as the heatshield, I see what you mean about the turbo getting hot. I may just put a turbo blanket in there instead.

But the Cusco is Teh Sexay!

So how do you like it? I can't do Stage II for another week still. Was supposed to be this Sunday but got deferred to following weekend.

 

I will have uppie in there too with cooling kit. How does the stage II feel to you OVER the stage II? Is it Crazyyyy?