tips for a leak free exhaust?

[ronstang94]

My bassani x pipe is almost done getting the new cats welded in, so ill be reinstalling it soon. What do i have to do so i wont have any exhaust leaks? Are there any special tips or tricks to do this? My new header gaskets came with collector gaskets and rings, should I use these? I didnt even know there were such things, my stock exhaust did not have these between the pipes? but maybe someone had already removed them .
Thanks

 

[Zero Signal]

They don't normally come with those. The ball and cup joint is supposed to seal completely but often times it's really hard to accomplish. I'm pretty sure imports use exhaust gaskets more than we do. Use them if you can. I really wish I had some, as I could never get the joints to seal up on mine and I looked forever to find some generic asbestos exhaust gaskets that would fit.

Some people claim to have used Permatex Ultra Copper to seal up the exhaust but I don't buy it . . .

 

[Venom351R]

Weld it

 

[Pokageek]

Weld. No leaks here.

 

[ronstang94]

Weld. No leaks here.

im confused. weld what? how do you take it off/apart?

 

[Pokageek]

cut.


I have a muffler shop not far from me that basically are artists at it. They can do anything and don't charge much. The whole thing is welded but for where it connects to the headers.

 

[95five-oh]

ive got no gasket between my collectors and x-pipe and have never had a problem. i think the key to new exhaust pieces is to put them on and then tighten them back up every week or so till they break in.

 

[fastgtfairlane]

the best i can say is to just take your time. dont tighten anything until you have everything where you want it. also tighten the bolts evenly on each side. when i put my headers on, i had a leak on the passenger side collector and finally got around to fixing it. i had to take the x-pipe back off and remount it. no leaks anymore.

 

[final5-0]

Here are some things that have always worked for me

Like was said above with the flanges
Be sure to tighten them evenly and with the same amount of tightness
and
BE SURE to use lock washers

Always remember the e system does the hot and cold thing over and over

You MUST find a way to keep the heat cycles from causing the fasteners to
loosen over time :Word:

Another thing that causes e systems to leak is if they are not PROPERLY
secured with hangers or if something else is constantly banging against
it thus causing it to loosen and leak over time.

Header bolts can be easily and cheaply secured with SS lock washers

I built the combo you see in the sig over the Christmas holidays back in
2002 and have had NO issues to speak of concerning e system leaks.

I mean ... I'm still using the same header gasket

Good Luck

Grady