How to fix exhaust leak? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

NJ346 · 05-11-2009, 05:17 PM

Ok, well ever since I did the headers on the car last year I've had an exhaust leak. I've found out where it is and spent the past few days using various "fix it" kits from local autoparts stores. The leak is at the collector. There is about an 1/10" gap because the y pipe is not meeting the collector. I went to go take it to a shop to get it welded on Saturday only to find out the place closed earlier than expected. So I know the right way to fix it would be to take it to an exhaust shop and have them cut up the y pipe so that it fits properly, but has anyone ever used any of these "fix it" exhaust kits that actually work?

String · 05-11-2009, 05:57 PM

I think the fix it kits are only good for small cracks, like real small. The putty that is.

NJ346 · 05-11-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by String

I think the fix it kits are only good for small cracks, like real small. The putty that is.

Well I bought some pretty good stuff(I thought) that came in sheets and then wrapped the pipe. After that was done I put the band clamp on the pipe and tightened it down. I think I may have pinched some of the exhaust wrap and popped a hole in it. I guess I'll just take it to an exhaust shop when I get the time....****ing work

String · 05-11-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJNETSFAN

Well I bought some pretty good stuff(I thought) that came in sheets and then wrapped the pipe. After that was done I put the band clamp on the pipe and tightened it down. I think I may have pinched some of the exhaust wrap and popped a hole in it. I guess I'll just take it to an exhaust shop when I get the time....****ing work

know how you feel. work consumes too much time. haha

sweetbmxrider · 05-12-2009, 07:42 AM

ya i mean i would just live with it till you can do it right. they work ok on small holes and the putty isn't that bad when you see carbon streaking on the exhaust.

bubba428 · 05-12-2009, 07:45 AM

I MADE a Y-pipe out of muffler wrap and andvance auto pipe sections

LTb1ow · 05-12-2009, 08:24 AM

3 inch band clamp from Napa. Works awesomely.

BonzoHansen · 05-12-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

3 inch band clamp from Napa. Works awesomely.

that with some kind of exhaust sealer/putty crap can work in a pinch, depending on the pipe/leak. But overall it's all a band aid compared to fixing it right.

sweetbmxrider · 05-12-2009, 09:12 AM

matt, didn't yours break?

LTb1ow · 05-12-2009, 09:14 AM

Ahah no. Just loosen up. But yea, my exhaust and Kirks are both all held together with those band clamps. They work well.

NJ346 · 05-12-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

3 inch band clamp from Napa. Works awesomely.

there already is a band clamp on there that came with the y pipe. It covers the hole by over an inch on each side and still leaks. Lately it's just really been pissing me off. I just tend to ride with the cut out open now so I don't have to hear it.

LTb1ow · 05-12-2009, 01:46 PM

Really?

I use one as a butt splice between my Y pipe and I pipe, and it has no leaks....

KirkEvil · 05-12-2009, 02:02 PM

Open up the band clamp and put weather stripping on either side of it. clamp it down tight then start her up and let that **** melt. makes some smoke the first time but sealed up pretty good after that. Im sure you can find something better to seal than weather stripping, but that was my half ass solution.

sweetbmxrider · 05-12-2009, 03:45 PM

i'd do muffler putty over weather stripping

or a piece of a beer can and a couple hose clamps.

NJ346 · 05-12-2009, 06:26 PM

the can idea actually sounds pretty good. I don't think it'll cover the whole pipe though since it's 3 in OD.

emolineaux · 05-12-2009, 08:53 PM

you should ask dave ls14good how pepboys does it lol.

LTb1ow · 05-13-2009, 05:38 PM

Go get like 10 of these bad boys, and voila, fixed!

NJ346 · 05-13-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Go get like 10 of these bad boys, and voila, fixed!

I already got some of them fool! Anyway, I got back under the car today and made it get 10 times better. I took the band clamp off, filled the whole area with copper rtv(I had it laying around), put a beer can around 3/4 of the pipe, then put the band clamp back on with a 1/4" air gun. After that, the leak didn't get much better. I then had someone stand outside of the car while I put a load on the drivetrain(linelocks ftw!) and we noticed that one of the header bolts on the passenger side all the way in the back wasn't torqued down all the way. I then tightened that and the leak got better. The car has always had a tick in the exhaust since I've owned it, so I guess I'll just have to live with the small tick it has now. It is much better than before though.

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2009, 07:37 PM

was it the passenger side header? thats what it sounded like when i rode in your car.

NJ346 · 05-13-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

was it the passenger side header? thats what it sounded like when i rode in your car.

yep. There was black soot on the header flange it was leaking so bad.

JL8Jeff · 05-14-2009, 07:31 AM

If the beer can doesn't wrap all the way around, you can get some small sheets of thin aluminum at most hardware stores that should wrap all the way around. I used the Stage 8 locking header bolts and none have come loose as long as the clips are lined up properly.

NJ346 · 05-14-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

If the beer can doesn't wrap all the way around, you can get some small sheets of thin aluminum at most hardware stores that should wrap all the way around. I used the Stage 8 locking header bolts and none have come loose as long as the clips are lined up properly.

Yea, the leak is no longer at the collector. I think the ticks I'm hearing now are just a few smaller leaks that are coming from the other collector and pieces of the y. I will probably eventually go with the stage 8 locking header bolts, but I'm tight with money right now since I'm about to drop $800 on a clutch.

LTb1ow · 05-14-2009, 01:16 PM

Just go over all the bolts every once in a while.... no need for locking bolts if you can maintain the bolts...

JL8Jeff · 05-14-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Just go over all the bolts every once in a while.... no need for locking bolts if you can maintain the bolts...

no need for maintaining the bolts if you can get locking bolts...

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NJ346 · 05-15-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

no need for maintaining the bolts if you can get locking bolts...

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true, but I pop the hood atleast once a week, so breaking out a 10mm wrench isn't that much of a pain.