Fitting a downpipe on stands

[sibbers 23]

Anyone had a go at this and if so would you do it again?

 

How much is paid to the gods in blood and profanities?

 

Is it just a much better idea to give it to someone with a proper lift, and if so do I have to give it to someone who knows these cars inside out or can any old fart do it?

 

Any comments and advice gratefully appreciated. 
 

EDIT - Just to add, I’ve watched the vids and can there are a couple of ways to do this - disconnect prop to rear, and/or take out heat shields. I think I’m most worried about doing it all solo, and not being able to wriggle it out with limited space (my Jack doesn’t life very high, so 3 stops on 2 stands would be the best I’d get)

[sibbers 23]

Talking to myself here, but this makes it look very doable. Or is that my delusion talking? He has some nice ramp lift thing (looks expensive) and a creeper on a smooth floor.
 

 

[Arryjmc 110]

I think the biggest problem with doing it on stands like you say, is getting the car high enough to have the wiggle room needed to remove the original DP and CAT, you  can see Charles trying to wiggle it out, and he is on ramp at that point, it is a long unit, once removed, replacing is it usually easier because they are generally in two parts.

 

[sibbers 23]

Yeap. Does seem that way doesn't it? I've seen on another forum or two some folk that have done it with GTIs, but then we have Rs and perhaps even with the prop moved its just not so easy without a couple of feet or more below - I can get one foot max, on a brick paved drive that isn't level - yeeehaaaw! 

[Arryjmc 110]

The only other way you could get some more room would be to possibly drop the subframe down a bit, hopefully not all the way, you then may not need such an acute angle to manoeuvre it out, biggest problem is it would need the tracking is checked after.

[SpursMadDave 5,295]

There are some things to do on a drive with a jack and axle stands and other things to just pay someone who has the right gear to do, this is the latter imo

[NRW 3,168]

As @SpursMadDave suggests…..and When the safety concerns start shouting……,time to sigh and dig deep Into your wallet.  Pay a pro for a pro job.

[sibbers 23]

If it takes less time to earn the dosh than it costs to pay someone else to do it, then it seems like a no brainer to give the work away. 
 

But, if you want a job done properly and all that… plus I quite like knowing my way around my own motor.   

 

Anyone know of recommendation worthy specialists in / around west london / surrey?

[gregozedobe 2,219]

6 hours ago, sibbers said:

If it takes less time to earn the dosh than it costs to pay someone else to do it, then it seems like a no brainer to give the work away. 
 

But, if you want a job done properly and all that… plus I quite like knowing my way around my own motor.   

 

Anyone know of recommendation worthy specialists in / around west london / surrey?

Is there anywhere in your area that hires out time on a hoist but lets you do the spannering ?

[SpursMadDave 5,295]

8 hours ago, sibbers said:

If it takes less time to earn the dosh than it costs to pay someone else to do it, then it seems like a no brainer to give the work away. 
 

But, if you want a job done properly and all that… plus I quite like knowing my way around my own motor.   

 

Anyone know of recommendation worthy specialists in / around west london / surrey?

Who is doing the tuning, they should be able to fit the downpipe surely?

[sibbers 23]

6 hours ago, gregozedobe said:

Is there anywhere in your area that hires out time on a hoist but lets you do the spannering ?

Yeah actually that’s not a bad shout. There is a place in walking distance that are pretty friendly and have been good to me that have let me use their gear before - just feels a bit weird knowing I’m using up space and time they could put to work, so I’d have to throw them some dosh and I’d be on the clock which might take the joy out of it. On the drive is harder (maybe not possible) but I can flail around swearing for as long as like

 

I do have a mate with a barn and maybe a spare four poster I could possibly rope in.  And air tools. And spare hands. Actually that sounds like an excellent idea. 
 

Its all academic at the moment as I don’t even have a pipe. I’m just thinking about what happens if I find myself with one so thought it was worth asking for tips. There’s always a couple of things worth knowing - like having at least 3 feet of room and the wiggle to get the cat mount through etc etc.  

 

Otherwise I’ll hand it over to someone who’s done it before and save the hassle. Deffo open to hearing recommendations if anyone has them 👍🏼

[sibbers 23]

All hail this dude. If anyone is in the future finds themselves in this thread looking for wisdom, this video sure seems like help.

 

 

[sibbers 23]

Replying to any other masochists that fancy a pop at this, including possibly future sibbers as this is looking more and more realistic. Although I think it'll be much more enjoyable with helper.

 

 

And another from a dude who used the video above as a guide,

 

 

Not sure why YT seemed not to serve these vids up for me, but I guess despite the definition of madness supposedly being 'doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result', it seems that type of madness works on YT.