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exhaust leak... headers? (non Z)


Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

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Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

I have another exhaust leak, this time it is not in my Z, but I am sure plenty of people here might be able to offer some advice. :-D

 

I have an exhaust leak on my truck that I cant seem to find where it is coming from. I thought it was somewhere after the headers (pipes were all held together by clamps) so I pulled the pipes off from the headers back and welded everything up nice and good. (great learning experience for beginning welding). I put the exhaust all back on and I still have the leak sound, just not as much. Oh ya, I replaced the collector gaskets too.

 

The sound is very distinct, sounds like a "psshhh" "psshhh" "psshhh" sound that pulse with the exhaust pulses, seems to be from one side and not the other, but not sure.

 

The next thing I am thinking is the header itself, possibly around the collector. Anyone know if a cracked weld on the header would sound like this? Are there any common spots that a cheap header might be more likely to crack open?

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A good way to isolate the noise is take a piece of fuel line, and stick one end in your ear. Pass the other end slowly over any suspect areas, and you will hear the exhaust "whoosh" in your air. Definately unmistakable. Trick works good for intake leaks, too.

 

Bill

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what kinda truck?

 

id do what labrat suggessted...ive never heard of anyone doing that but it sounds logical.

 

another thing to do is have someone put some rags on the exit of the exhaust and hold them on, so you increase backpressure, making the exhaust come out of the leak at a greater velocity, increaseing the noise and flow, so that you can hear it better and possibly feel it very easily.

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Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

a 1965 GMC with a 350

 

I'm about to just start over with the exhaust. I am suspecting problems with the headers. I have been having trouble with what I thought was pinging too, but now I am suspecting that that might actually be an exhaust leak.

 

Anyone want a cheap set of SBC 350 headers designed to fit in a first gen camaro? :lol:

 

I will try stuffing a rag in there too, I didnt think of that, but that should help make it a little easier to find.

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Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

Ok, I'm SOL...

 

I found the leak, and it is in the center of where the four pipes enter the collector. :evil:

 

I'm trying my best to weld it, but I cant get in there. I almost set my hair on fire though!

I'm thinking about just welding another ring around the four pipes at a point that I can reach, and then weld down the sides connecting the new ring to the weld ring at the collector. Anyone have any ideas?

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Guest Nic-Rebel450CA

Yay! I fixed it. I pulled the exhaust off, and stuck my flashlight on the outside of the collector down into where the four pipes merge together and looked inside the collector for where the light was peaking through. It was a little tricky because all I could see was deflected light, but then I took my welder and let out about 4 inches of wire so I could reach the hole and then zapped it!

 

Strangely enough, after welding up that hole, I still heard a leak! But then I found it, I apparently had another leak at the gasket connecting the flange to the head.

 

Two holes in the collector, and a blown flange gasket. Hmm.. I think my mufflers arent flowing very well. :?

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