engine and drivetrain IE Downpipe hitting steering (idler arm)

[jgerry2002]

See the pic... I have maybe 1/2 of clearance here. The motor ends up hitting the exhaust under moderate-heavy acceleration.

Any thoughts as to what I might do about it?

My engine mounts are new and I am running that stop/spacer on the passenger side mount. IE is suggesting I add another spacer, but I am still not sure it would be enough clearance.

I even tried to lower the driver side mount a little. It helped a little, but is still not enough.

Is it possible that the idler arm is not quite adjusted to where it should be?

The whole exhaust consists of a 02 again header, and the rest is all IE. The factory downpipe fits without any issues. The rest of the IE exhaust fits perfectly after several rounds of adjustment (just moving things around a little).

[bmw1602.com]

how about using a hammer and denting the pipe a bit to help clear it?

not to most elegant solution but It might work, shouldn't affect flow much....

[Tommy]

Yea, something like Pedro above suggests or adjust motor/tranny mounts. Raising the rear tranny mount a bit should help. It's not possible to adjust idler arm in any way that would help.

[peteinjp]

My supersprint headers had the same problem. I just dented them- but in your case I'd pop the original manifold back on to figure out if one or the other of the compnents is out of whack. If so I might contact the maker to get it worked out right.

[Kidasters]

You could remove the new SS downpipe, and compare the two. Might be able to do some bending after a side by side comparison and get everything to fit better.

Just a thought. Good Luck.

Ken

[MAD02]

It says on thier web site that it was copied from an automatic's downpipe to clear 5 speed transmissions. Maybe thats why it fits so tight?

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=ireland&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=670040309&Count2=587180733&CategoryID=1&Target=products.asp

[jgerry2002]

The new one is modeled after the automatic downpipe, the old one is a standard downpipe which is a different shape.. but I will compare the clearances.

I'll see if maybe the shim will work, but I might have to slightly modify that lower piece (I hate to do that) like everyone is saying, and that will probably work. I don't need that much more to make it work.

I'll look at the tranny mounts, but its a 2002haus kit, so everything is brand new, along with everything else in the car.

[Mike Self]

you don't want to get the guibo out of alignment or its life will be very short...it shouldn't flex at all as it rotates.

mike

[SM02]

I have the same set-up and same problem. When I removed the 02 Again manifold and used the IE downpipe and stock manifold clearance problems. When I used the 02 Again manifold and stock downpipe no clearance problems. Still trying to figure out a solution.

[jgerry2002]

Interesting, so there is someone else out there who has the same combo with a '02 again header and IE Downpipe.

Now that I think about it, I am wondering if it has to do with the thickness of the flange. Both the '02 again header and the IE piece has a much thicker base on it.... maybe that would push the pipe down enough to touch the idler arm?

Or is the bend ever so slightly off in the '02again piece or the IE piece?

Not sure...

Especially now that I've seen that IE exhaust is built to very very exacting specs (less room for worn components like the stock stuff) I'd lean toward a slight issue with the 02 again piece... but I can't really prove that.

Either I "reshape" the IE downpipe or perhaps swap over to that IE shorty header (out very soon) at some point. I'd bet the IE shorty and the IE downpipe would have zero clearance issues...

[SM02]

Would love to believe that the flange thickness is the problem, but that doesn't account for the clearance problems when the 02 Again manifold is swapped with the stock manifold and the IE downpipe. My unfounded belief is that since the IE downpipe is crafted after the automatic's downpipe the clearance problem arises there.

[vinceinIL]

Justin,

I recall Michel telling me that the car had an issue with guibos coming apart often and needing to be replaced. Yale took the car to Beaconwood Motors, whom he had an agreement with where he did their ads for the Roundel and they did some work on the car.

Having replaced some guibos myself, it's pretty easy to line them up correctly, so this may not be an issue if you've worked on the trans/driveshaft already.

vince

[peteinjp]

From the lic it seems that as long as your not going straight you'll be fine! guess you'll just have to seek out all the curvy roads!

[jgerry2002]

Justin,

I recall Michel telling me that the car had an issue with guibos coming apart often and needing to be replaced. Yale took the car to Beaconwood Motors, whom he had an agreement with where he did their ads for the Roundel and they did some work on the car.

Having replaced some guibos myself, it's pretty easy to line them up correctly, so this may not be an issue if you've worked on the trans/driveshaft already.

vince

The car has a 320i 5-speed, 2002haus mounts, and a shortened driveshaft from Aardvarc. All new mounts everywhere else too. So far I have had no issues with driveline vibration and the car seems to be smooth (minus a slight wobble from one of the rear wheels at around 70ish) through 80+ mph.

I will take a look at the exhaust this weekend, but yes if I had all curvy roads I'd never have an issue. Unfortunately, NYC has a lot of straight roads

[76duece]

Was this car Parked next to doug's at lime rock? If so, I remember seeing that first hand(you actaully pointed it out) If the dia. of the IE part and the stock OEM downpipe are the same, why don't you just use the stock part? No perfomance should be lost or gained, and it should bolt up the same. That would seem to me the easiest fix for the problem, unless you really want that SS part in there. Also, I just installed a new downpipe about 2 months ago and it was a really nice piece with a pretty thick flange. No issues as of yet. Got it from autohuaz and it was a (GASP!!) ANSA part! Go figure.

Larry