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Installing downpipes

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fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
#1
Hello all, to the folks that have downpipes. I just ordered mine. Do you recommend getting it done at a shop? I'm mechanically inclined. I don't have a lift or anything, climbing under the car n Florida heat doesn't thrill me. I've seen videos on this. I guess my question for people who do it themselves. Was it tough?
 

Cruising68

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#2
Hello all, to the folks that have downpipes. I just ordered mine. Do you recommend getting it done at a shop? I'm mechanically inclined. I don't have a lift or anything, climbing under the car n Florida heat doesn't thrill me. I've seen videos on this. I guess my question for people who do it themselves. Was it tough?
I did mine on a quick jack which only goes up about 2+ feet. Need a couple/few long extensions to get to the nuts. The passenger side is a pita. Can’t see/reach the upper nut without getting the heat shield out of the way. That requires pounding on the spot weld with a chisel. Drivers side was pretty easy.

Took me about 20 min for the drivers side and an hour or two for the passenger side with some thrown tools


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OP
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fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #3
I did mine on a quick jack which only goes up about 2+ feet. Need a couple/few long extensions to get to the nuts. The passenger side is a pita. Can’t see/reach the upper nut without getting the heat shield out of the way. That requires pounding on the spot weld with a chisel. Drivers side was pretty easy.

Took me about 20 min for the drivers side and an hour or two for the passenger side with some thrown tools


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lol, Good to know. Thank you!! I will look at some tools that I will need
 

Cruising68

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#4
lol, Good to know. Thank you!! I will look at some tools that I will need
2-3 feet of socket extensions, a universal joint or a wobbler, hammer, long chisel and PB Blaster. Don’t remember the socket size but iirc it was around 13-15mm or sae equivalent.

I soaked the 4 nuts overnight with blaster. Breaking away the heat shield was the hardest part. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!


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OP
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Messages
105
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Location
fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #5
2-3 feet of socket extensions, a universal joint or a wobbler, hammer, long chisel and PB Blaster. Don’t remember the socket size but iirc it was around 13-15mm or sae equivalent.

I soaked the 4 nuts overnight with blaster. Breaking away the heat shield was the hardest part. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!


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Thanks. Do you happen to have a tune? If so, did it throw any codes or did you have to re tune it?
 

BrooseDaMoose

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2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
#6
It's possible if you have the right tools and equipment for the job. I thought about it but ended up taking it to a shop. I was doing the down pipes and the entire exhaust also. I only have a floor jack and jack stands so it would have been tough. It cost me $320 to everything installed. I think it was worth it.
 

OP
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fort lauderdale
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2021 ford explorer st
Thread Starter #7
It's possible if you have the right tools and equipment for the job. I thought about it but ended up taking it to a shop. I was doing the down pipes and the entire exhaust also. I only have a floor jack and jack stands so it would have been tough. It cost me $320 to everything installed. I think it was worth it.
Yeah I already contacted my shop who also did the tune. I ordered the CVFAB downpipes. Can you tell quite a difference with the downpipes. I know we have a couple different options.
 

Cruising68

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#8
Thanks. Do you happen to have a tune? If so, did it throw any codes or did you have to re tune it?
Yes I’m tuned. No codes. Did get a tiny revision to the tune. I went with SPD downpioes and had them ceramic coated for heat rejection.


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