Downpipe question - Clearance on 3" vs 3.5"

[Justa6MB]

Well I am hoping to get rid of my POS 3" downpipe that's been nothing but trouble since I got it. To start with it hit practically everything except the schfinkter bearings lol... It rubbed the upper control arm, frame, a/c heat shield, floor... And after severe over boost conditions I found the following picture when I cut the wastegate off.. So I know it's a cheap POS - but the question is do they all fit this bad? Or does a good one from say TA Performance or G Body Parts clear typically? Also I'd like to consider a 3.5" - but if I couldn't get a 3" to fit without major sectioning and welding???

 

[buickGN3:16]

Has the car been lowered in the front any? That will deffinately cause clearence probs. i use a GN1 performance 3" w/ 46mm external gate. cleared pretty good. U should get rid of the heat wrap


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[Bescurred]

Terry Houston is what I have...I love it very good piece...where did you get yours? The 2 piece ones kinda suck...

 

[1fastcobra]

Ck your body mount bushings
Looking at the surface rust on your frame may be why its hitting the a/c box
Ck the mount aswell
If u don't want the pipe u have
Ill take it
I'm doing a s10 blazer with a gn motor


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[Justa6MB]

No the car hasn't been lowered. I put the heat wrap on it to try to keep it from melting my a/c box and starting a fire But does he heat wrap cause issues? I bought it from a vendor on here that refused to do anything for me about it. But I'll take the high road and they'll remain nameless in this thread.

 

[Heisenberg]

That clearance at the A/C box is a little/lot tighter than normal.
Something isn't sitting right - either the body is too low or the pipe is too high...
But it's a little tough to actually see in that one angled shot.

And the lower minimal clearance or rubbing on the A-Arm, while semi-typical - isn't good / normal - since it is probably a PS; DS or both motor mount.
It looks ok in the picture, but chances are high your motor is rocking around under load.

 

[coach]

Has the car been lowered in the front any? That will deffinately cause clearence probs. i use a GN1 performance 3" w/ 46mm external gate. cleared pretty good. U should get rid of the heat wrap


Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

I can tell by the pic that the pipe he has...with the f'd up hole...IS a GN1 pipe. Sorry but I've seen several pics of that same deal. I currently run a Terry Houston 3.5 but had a nice 3 inch RJC until I built my stroker. Look into an RJC.


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[Justa6MB]

I did put in tubular control arms to get clearance there. And I did have solid HR motor mounts but went back to factory mounts last spring. I didn't feel the juice was worth the squeeze - too much comfort sacrifice. The body mounts - well I gotta accept that one. I've never changed them and likely should. Realistically how much would new mounts lift the body? 1/2"? So again, my question is this. With good motor mounts, new body bushings, heat and ice cold AC intact, what dp's typically fit? And in 3" or 3.5"? Who sells Terry Houston? And I'll look into the RJC. Any others?

 

[we4Mateo]

Agreed with Coach, RJC fits very well and is good into the 9's. It'll fit the bill for most on this board. Fit is exceptional and I've seen them on numerous different cars and they all fit well.

 

[Jay J]

Another vote for RJC.