Are we forced to do a direct drain for tub?

[katep788]

After a week of trying to make a leak free connection to the existing 2" drain tube (which was solidly cemented in and off by 1/2" towards a wall that couldn't be moved) we gave up and jackhammered the slab. Good thing because the existing cast iron p-trap was paper thin on the bottom and leaking.

Anyway... our problem now is that the hub of the remaining drain pipe (which looks in good shape) is pretty much right where the overflow would come down for a normal tub drain.

Are we stuck with a direct drain configuration? This is basement in a slab so there is no access from underneath but the wall is still open to the back long side of the tub and drain side (not completely but there's a 10-inch space where we had to bump put that wall).

The mark on the 2x4 at the top of the picture is the centerline where the tub drain would need to be. We have plenty of space to do a direct drain but isn't that going to be a LOT harder with no access?

 

[katep788]

This is what we removed. There used to be a 32x32 shower over this (which leaked horribly apparently for years and caused all sorts of damage)

 

[MicEd69]

What do you mean when you ask, "Are we stuck with a direct drain configuration?"

 

[katep788]

What do you mean when you ask, "Are we stuck with a direct drain configuration?"

It doesn't look like it would be possible to route the pipes around to have the drain directly under the overflow because the hub is in the way. So we were thinking we'd have to have the drain directly below the bathtub drain hole. I was hoping someone would see a different way to handle this as direct drain in a slab seems daunting.

Red is where a tub drain normally should sit to hook up to a "normal" overflow/drain configuration (ie left picture below). Green is the direct drain configuration where the bathtub drains directly downward.

 

[MicEd69]

It looks like the best was to accomplish what you are trying to do is to break out more of the slab in the "bump out" and replace more of the cast iron drain. I think I see the stack in the background, so you may be able to just replace a small section of horizontal cast iron. A lot more work, but I think it would be worth it, and maybe not that hard to accomplish.