I could use some advice in installing the helix uppipe, i tried following the perrin instructions from scoobymod, and was able to unbolt the uppipe no probs but couldnt get the thing out of there by raising the engine a couple inches. the service manual says to remove the turbo in order to get the uppipe out, which seems possible but i just wanted to see if there is a way to remove the uppipe w/o removing the turbo. the reason i dont want to do that is i just spent 3 hours installing my new dp, and in order to get the turbo out i have to remove the downpipe... again. any words of wisdom? thanks.

carlos

 

another thought, if i do need to remove the turbo i would prefer to wait until i am ready to put in a new turbo (prob vf22) to do the install, to save a few hours of my life. would i have any problems if i installed a vf22 with a dp & up but no ic or fuel mods as long as i keep the stock psi? then when i save up another $2000 i will install the ic and injectors+pump and go crazy.

carlos

 

First off, regardless of how you do it (top or bottom), the downpipe has to come off to get to the bolts for the uppipe.

I don't want to assume anything, so first the obvious - you did remove the passenger side of the exhaust manifold right? Two bolts from it to the crossover pipe, three nuts from the passenger side engine block, two bolts to the uppipe. Before you even get to this point you have to have removed the O2 sensor and shielding over the manifold.

Once you have the manifold off, remove the passenger side motor mount nut and loosen the driver side. Put a jack with a block of wood under the oil pan right where the drain plug is and lift the motor up about 2". If you have already removed the 5 nuts at the turbo/uppipe connection, the uppipe will just be lying in the opening. A little wiggling and twisting and you'll have the pipe out. Make sure you don't get too violent with the wiggling and damage the EGT sensor.

 

I had the dp off at the time, cause i removed the original dp, then started removing the up, didnt have time to complete it, so put the original up back on, put the new dp on, and drove home. But I must have missed a step because I did not remove the exhaust manifold, I only unbolted the uppipe (after removing the O2 sensor & heat shield). Thanks for the pointers, I will try to finish it off this weekend.