New MBRP is delivered and waiting for me to put in this weekend. Been awhile since I played mechanic, any suggestions or things to watch for while installing. Looks as if should not be to difficult but thought I would solicit suggestions from the pros here.

I do have the cooler/adult beverages ready and my 26 year old to help (he does not know it yet)

Hoping for good results/improvements as I will be removing cat and muffler (truck has both, I think it was headed for California when dealer found for me).

Thanks for suggestions

p.s. I know to be careful not to bump head but being 6'6'' can be difficult

 

Use penatrating oil on the flage bolts and let it sit. You can reach them from the top. Lube all the rubber hangers. Cut the old pipe in front of the cross member and behind the muffler. These things will make the removal easier. Put new one on snug only so you can move any thing you need to. Put anti- sieze on flange bolts. Tighten every thing up.

I'm not a pro but just did mine last week. Would have been easier if I used all the advise I just gave you.

Rich

 

If you've got a long extension, gettin getting the down pipe flange bolts from under the truck is a snap.

 

Heres how I did mine:

Just put my 4" on last night and am all
I have an '02 quad cab, shortbed 4x4.
To remove the old system, you need a 13 mm socket to get the down pipe bolts out. I used about every extension in my tool box and came at them from the bottom, seemed easier than from the top (plus you don't have room for a breaker bar from the top, I needed one to get them loose). Next, I used sawzall and cut the system in two places, one between the muffler and the tail pipe and another between the down pipe and the muffler. Take a bunch of WD-40 and spray on the rubber hangers, this makes getting the stock pieces out much easier. Next up, put the new down pipe in. I lubed it up with every cuss word I knew. It will only go in one way, but it will go. I bolted it up loosely to get an idea of where it would be. After that, I hung the muffler and the new tailpipe. I then measured from the end of the down pipe to the input of the muffler and cut the remaining piece of pipe to length (the kit is for all cab configurations/wheel bases). I cut about 16 1/2" off for my truck (see above). I then unloosened the downpipe bolts and put the cut pipe inbetween the muffler and dowwpipe. This was the hardest part. The next hard part was getting the hanger that is on the down pipe in place (the one that slides in next to the tranny). The whole assembley had to be pulled back a bit to let the hanger slide in. A ratchet strap on the frame and the hanger helped pull it back far enough so that the hanger could be put into place. Next, I bolted up the downpipe (used a swivel joint on the socket this time) and installed the clamps. You will need a 9/16" deep-well socket for the the clamps.
Fired it up, checked for leaks and took it for a spin

Tools needed:
13 mm socket
9/16" deep-well socket
Lots of extensions
breaker bar
Sawzall
WD-40
Liberal amount of cuss words


From a thread awhile ago: Click Here

~Rob

 

If you can find it Kroil is some of the best penetrating lube I have come across.

 

the downpipe WILL fit in there, ya just have to get it juuuust right. It'll drive ya nuts.