How to avoid that ... I have the ORP already installed but the axle is scratching the whole surface making a horrible sound .... I need to fix this now ... HELP !

Thanks

Sounds to me like your header is bent, which is puting the ORP at the wrong angle when installed.

I'll check that ... but no spacer is need for the ORP ??? because the OEM have a fix point on top of the heat shield ....

the header is ok ... it might be a error in the manufacture of the ORP cause is so close to the axle and have plenty of space to the other side ... need help !!!

No spacer.
What brand ORP is it?

As low as the header sits, it's all too common to hit it and bend it up, which in turn screws up the alignment of everything that's bolted to it.

Sounds like yours may have hit something when backing up (reverse) which is pulling the ORP towards the front of the car if I'm understanding where it's rubbing.

My mom arrive i will take her camera and show you ... thanks .... is a ebay ORP i will send you the link of the guy

(http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Focus-SVT-Off-Road-Pipe-Exhaust-ORP-2-5_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a05f2df87QQitemZ180488429447QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/9185/p4040079.th.jpg (http://img397.imageshack.us/i/p4040079.jpg/)

<a target='_blank' href='http://img397.imageshack.us/i/p4040079.jpg/'><img src='http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/9185/p4040079.th.jpg' border='0'/></a>

Holy Cripes!
Who made the ORP?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Focus-SVT-Off-Road-Pipe-Exhaust-ORP-2-5_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a05f2df87QQitemZ180488429447QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories ....


What can I do ... ???

Return it and get your money back.
That's seriously poor build quality especially if you're 100% positive your header is OK.

I'd send them that pic and demand my money back, or file a claim with ebay.

If you're dead set on keeping it, you best get down to your local muffler shop and see if they can modify it so it won't rub.

dude ... I'm very disappointed ...there's no any way can I work this out forcing the flex pipe or something ? ....

try the muffler shop and see if they can bend it so it is out of the way

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4561/p4040080k.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/p4040080k.jpg/)

dude ... I'm very disappointed ...there's no any way can I work this out forcing the flex pipe or something ? ....
Modifying the flex pipe won't fix anything, since, it flexes. [;)]

I know ...

See theres 4 way to work the problem:

Have the flex pipe move back enough to have the ORP few inches away to the axle ... How i have no idea, since it will need a fix point ...

Bent the Header ...

Bent the ORP in a muffler shop like our friend said ...

Wage a war with the seller ....

These orps are sold on the buy sell trade on here. My friend Mike bought on of them and the o2 bung was crooked. It looked great weld wise, but wouldn't let the o2 sensor clear the engine. The guy did give him a refund, but wasn't pleasant about it. The guy who made them has sold them on this forum using the same pic as Motrex posted. Good luck!

I will post a video so everyone see how bad the ORP bend is .... it's terrible ...

Naw, we already get the picture. It's taking off material from your header. That is not good at all. A good way to make 100% sure that the header isn't bent is...how far away is the primary O2 from the engine? Get a pic of the front if you please.

I already uninstalled the ORP ... sorry ... but ill measure a approximation of the distance of the first O2 sensor toward a know point ....

I bought that same pipe off ebay, I must have gotten a good one. Mine was close to the axle, but It didn't rub. That would make me have a wtf moment real fast.

Yeah, that's pretty unacceptable. They should be the same every time. That's if your header isn't bent.

the center of the front 02 sensor towards the front lip of the bumper measure 20.5" ... if somebody wants to get under the Focus SVT and check me that ... its pretty rare that the header have been bend cause is really ultra giga strong ...


Anyway tomorrow i will go to a muffler shop and get the ORP bend a little bit more ... and the flex pipe will adjust to the new angle... hopefully a +7whp tomorrow ... thanks everyone for the emotional and charismatic support ...

Someone check the 20.5"

Thanks !

It is *not* rare for the header to bend. There are several accounts of it happening, actually. Sure it's strong, but when you have 2700 lbs. hit something that doesn't move (curb), the force has to go somewhere.

Thats true, but i have never hit something ever, and that event will make a particularly unforgettable sound ... but I'm the second owner hmmm ...

It is *not* rare for the header to bend. There are several accounts of it happening, actually. Sure it's strong, but when you have 2700 lbs. hit something that doesn't move (curb), the force has to go somewhere.

"What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"
-Irresistible force paradox : )

For those thinking about going with a ORP or not ... I will vote for it ... but if i go back in time i will probably buy a cfm orp ... they have great quality product.

The CFM orp is worth the wait. I am very happy with mine. Come to mention it, William hasn't sold me anything that wasn't great. LOL.

CFM is always out of stock. Jay Racing has kept their stock up to date...but you said you're getting yours fixed anyway.

Jay Racing is out of stock as of not so long ago.. The guy that makes this ORP can weld in a cat but, with the issues noted here I am a bit concerned. A company would be more willing to refund with ease or correct it than any one person alone.

thing is all you need is a little clearance. that part of the shaft is supported by a hanger bearing and doesn't move so since the orp already has a rub mark it's easily clearanced with a hammer. you don't need much more than an 1/8 of an inch

ive been thinking about getting this ive seen pictures of the guy that makes them's car and everything looked great so maybe he just made a crappy one and said what the heck i'll sell it anyways and others that bought them from him said they were really good

Here is his post: http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220971

For those interested, I posted some pics of the Force Fed Concepts high flow cat here (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3227844#post3227844).

As far as the pipe you've got, I would go back to the seller. That should *not* be touching the axle if your header isn't bent. That' unacceptable.

MotreX, I was just notified of this thread by another member. Why did you not contact me first if you were having this issue? Also how did you not notice this problem upon installation? It does seem that your header could be bent from the previous owner. I have never encountered this problem at all, which leads me to believe it would be your header.

ive been thinking about getting this ive seen pictures of the guy that makes them's car and everything looked great so maybe he just made a crappy one and said what the heck i'll sell it anyways and others that bought them from him said they were really good


I would never send something like that out. Crappy one? Ask anyone who ever got something from me if it was crappy. He is having a fitment issue, there is nothing wrong with the part quality. I take pride in my work, and not one single part I produced was anything but top notch. I will put my stuff against anyone else who fabricates parts for the focus.

Looking at your pics, something definetly could have hit your header and caused it to bend. Its a very common problem on the SVT.

MotreX, I was just notified of this thread by another member. Why did you not contact me first if you were having this issue? Also how did you not notice this problem upon installation?

Sir, I email you at the same time I start the thread ...

1- Its a great quality material, awesome welding job ... great placing of the sensors ect, same as he promote ...

2- How can you said that's is my header for instance and not the ORP ... ? How can we validate a measure ? You might be right because I'm the second owner but you might be wrong.

3- I did not notice because if you buy something you expect like it will fit, when I mount everything with the screws with out the lock nuts seems everything ok with space and i didn't double check. You are telling me that if I buy a "AA" Duracel battery I need to check if have charge ???

I'm very disappointed about all this, it can be my header but what if not ... think about that ...

Sir, I email you at the same time I start the thread ...

1- Its a great quality material, awesome welding job ... great placing of the sensors ect, same as he promote ...

2- How can you said that's is my header for instance and not the ORP ... ? How can we validate a measure ? You might be right because I'm the second owner but you might be wrong.

3- I did not notice because if you buy something you expect like it will fit, when I mount everything with the screws with out the lock nuts seems everything ok with space and i didn't double check. You are telling me that if I buy a "AA" Duracel battery I need to check if have charge ???

I'm very disappointed about all this, it can be my header but what if not ... think about that ...

Every single ORP is made in a fixture. Every single one comes out the same, they all use the same tubing.

I had someone purchase an ORP and install it with a brand new Ford Racing Header. Everything fit perfectly with the brand new header. This would validate that the fixture is spot on.

It is very common for the header to bend towards the rear when hit on a speedbump or something else. However it is possible for it to bend foward as well, if something was hit while reversing.

I have no problem fixing the ORP if you need, I stand by my work. It seems that if the clearance was very minimal, and hard to notice upon installation, that its just barely touching and could be fixed easily.

Yeah, Focus-3xz is the man, his welds are perfect and he uses top quality parts in his builds. My CFM ORP cracked not long after i had it........buyer beware.

as soon as i saw it was dominics work, i realized his header or something must be bent.

his work is flawless and absolutely sexy.

I was the one that bought the 2.5" flex and orp combo from focus_3xz, can't wait to have it! It's going to be great

I have the stock cat installed and my rear o2 sensor rides the axle :( So CEL is my life it's saddening. Eventually I hope to do a ORP with Tom's tune to rid that issue. I hope I don' run into this problem though! I think my header IS bent. I guess I may as well take it off when I remove the cat and see if I can do anything with it/wrap it.

I have the stock cat installed and my rear o2 sensor rides the axle :( So CEL is my life it's saddening. Eventually I hope to do a ORP with Tom's tune to rid that issue. I hope I don' run into this problem though! I think my header IS bent. I guess I may as well take it off when I remove the cat and see if I can do anything with it/wrap it.

Mine was bent too, usually they bend toward the rear, and it would actually give the ORP more clearance to the axle. The whole o2 sensor location problem is terrible on the stock SVT cat. I went through four sensors on my car. Thats why I have better placement for the sensors on my ORP's. It wont happen ever again.

as soon as i saw it was dominics work, i realized his header or something must be bent.

his work is flawless and absolutely sexy.

It wasn't his, the op was talking about the el cheapo ebay orp............

It wasn't his, the op was talking about the el cheapo ebay orp............
It's not an el cheap ebay one, the guy that sales them here is selling them on ebay too.

My bad.............

Ok, so what is the verdict? I am/was thisclose to buying this ORP, the only thing holding me back WAS procrastination. Now what do I do? I had been skipping over this thread for days, I'm sooo glad I finally read it!!

And has anyone ever tried to bend the header back to it's original position?

It'll take a hell of a lot of heat to bend the header back into shape, given it's thickness.

Bending the header requires getting the header red hot, or you'll risk cracking the hell out of it. It's certainly possible.

And I'll put money on the table that the OP's header is bent after seeing that this is Dominic's ORP. When he builds an exhaust or parts thereof, he builds them right. [thumb]

I got one of his orp, and it is nice.

Ok, I'm going to trust you guys. Now I just need to get off my ass and get some money in my PayPal account.

That will be a long day since I am going to wrap both the header and ORP. I have already been spraying down the bolts, lol...

Status Report:

The ORP have been installed.

I think it was a header bent but I cannot be 100% sure ... but if Dominic says that every single ORP is made in a fixture then it might be the header ...




So, the solution to the thread that is the main purpose of the thread "ORP too close to the axle" ...

I chose- Bending the header:

1- install the ORP to the header section just that section. Very tight.

2- Find a 2" by 2" piece of wood and use the Archimedes lever principle using the side of the transmission as a pivot and placing the other level side between the ORP and the transmission.

3- Get a jack tool... and rise the wood who pivot in the transmission and the orp lowers... I did a 1" of distance, I insert between the axle and the orp something to hold for a long time, trying to get that shape and get as far as possible from the axle.

NOTE: That the ORP need to be very tight cause is forcing the header to bent.


I did this 3 times and i reach 1/4" of clearance ... enough I hope...



I recommend for future ORP the first section thats is horizontal be a little longer like 1/2"- 1" ... because theres a lot of space behind the axle ...

Final thought :
The funny thing is that the OEM part wasn't rubbing with the axle ... just the ORP ... so if the OEM back angle is replicated to the ORP it will be the same clearance that the OEM part ... so this thread would never happend.

Stock cat is flat while the ORP is round = huge difference.

Ok, so what is the verdict? I am/was thisclose to buying this ORP, the only thing holding me back WAS procrastination. Now what do I do? I had been skipping over this thread for days, I'm sooo glad I finally read it!!

And has anyone ever tried to bend the header back to it's original position?


I bent the hell out of my header hitting a raised manhole cover. It was pushed so far back the stock cat was smashed into the steering rack. I bent it back into place with a bottle jack and it worked just fine. I know someone else tried and it actually cracked the tubing, but I guess I got lucky.

Stock cat is flat while the ORP is round = huge difference.

I was just going to say that. The stock cat is an oval shape, so there is more clearance in that spot. With a round pipe, there will be less.

I was just going to say that. The stock cat is an oval shape, so there is more clearance in that spot. With a round pipe, there will be less.

Seems that you did not understand my explanation ... is not about the shape ... I'm talking about the close it point in the OEM ... if you use the same dimension and change the shape it will hit ... but if you take the same distance that the OEM have of clearance it will never the ORP be danger close to the axle ...

If you don't understand any of this is OK ... I would not make a blue print ...

I understand what you are saying, but what about the other side? You dont want the pipe close to the rack, it will increase the temp of the power steering fluid. That is why there is more clearance on that side, even on a stock cat. The heat coming off it wont affect a steel axle shaft, but it sure will affect PS fluid temps. The SVT is bad enough already with the PS line running directly over the header, why make it worse?

May be another half an inch would not be that bad ... but I dont know it was just a thought ...


Before the ORP I had the rear 02 sensor deffective, do I have to replace the sensor even if I have now a ORP ????

just saw this thread, and thought I'd also add that I too have an ORP from Dominic. welds are FLAWLESS and I have no clearance issues at all. relocated o2 bungs are awesome.

I know it sounds like a broken record, but +1 for your header being bent dude.

my god that is absolutely unacceptable. but id get a shop to bend it

Has anyone seen Focus_3XZ's pics of all his fab work? fabbing god.... Im having him make me a 3inch one.

I'm starting a new thread. I'll show some pics of the orp and flex pipe I bought from him

Yep just installed one of his ORP's on my svtf and i am gonna tell ya, absolutely perfect. Gotta hand it to the man he knows his stuff. Oh great o2 relocation too! As my stock o2 smacked my axle and cost me 120 big ones.