I just installed a used catless X-pipe. But after firing her up it was apparent I had an exhaust leak. It is leaking where the X-Pipe bolts to the headers. I think it is due to the flange being bent from over torquing of the bolts by the previous owner, preventing a good seal. Any ideas for solutions? I was thinking some kind of thick exhaust gasket or something? Otherwise it would be impossible to flatten out that flange. Here's a pic....you can see it will not tighten any more because of the lip on the header stud.
Exhaust leak with X-Pipe
- Thread starter thapr3dat0r
- Start date
Unbolt it. Put a little muffler mud in the flange. Bolt it up.
bj
bj
copper rtv!
The donut doesn't work too well. What you'll need to do is weld the flange a little lower on the X so that it actually snugs the X up to the header when tightened.
Rtv the ****er
Holy crap the car is LOUD, btw. I like it, though. I have FRPP 5GT mufflers (Borla Stingers). WOT is stupid loud, ha ha :banana:
Yeah, that's kinda what I had in mind. Off topic but I couldn't get the stock over-axle pipes off using floor jacks. Not enough room :cuss: Gonna go to a lift soon.
Yup, Lethal. Didn't wanna mention their name but it's the truth. How did headers help? Did you get a full headers and mid-pipe setup?
Muffler sealer?
That's a clever idea. I was also thinking about replacing the headers studs with some that don't have that lip so I can tighten them down further.
Yeah, that's kinda what I had in mind. Off topic but I couldn't get the stock over-axle pipes off using floor jacks. Not enough room :cuss: Gonna go to a lift soon.
Yup, Lethal. Didn't wanna mention their name but it's the truth. How did headers help? Did you get a full headers and mid-pipe setup?
Muffler sealer?
That's a clever idea. I was also thinking about replacing the headers studs with some that don't have that lip so I can tighten them down further.
Did the prevous owner include the slip in's that go inside the manifold to cat pipe for the 07-09's?
My lethal pipe (brand new) needed alot of TLC to get rid of all the leaks its contantly made. After finally getting it all fixed up i'd rather have stayed catted. Quite the pita
My lethal pipe (brand new) needed alot of TLC to get rid of all the leaks its contantly made. After finally getting it all fixed up i'd rather have stayed catted. Quite the pita
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It's not worth the hassle on the header studs. It is worth a trip to a muffler shop and a couple of bucks, however. Trust me on this. I had consistent problems until we welded the flange to the pipe and have had no further problems. BTW, I know the guy who makes these pipes for Lethal and he didn't even realize the problem when I had my car at his shop. It took a trip to another muffler shop.
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Yep, not abnormal apparently. I went through the same thing.
Took it off and put a Magnaflow on. No leaks.
Lethal uses those reducer pieces in there, I question that they don't make the sealing situation worse and they rattle. But I didn't try taking them out because it appeared the shape of the ball socket was incorrect and I wasn't willing to deal with it.
Took it off and put a Magnaflow on. No leaks.
Lethal uses those reducer pieces in there, I question that they don't make the sealing situation worse and they rattle. But I didn't try taking them out because it appeared the shape of the ball socket was incorrect and I wasn't willing to deal with it.
I'll go this route if the muffler cement doesn't work.
Slip ins? No, I guess not. What are they?
Damn, I guess I should have expected problems cheaping out with these....used, no less.
Reducers? Are you talking about the flared pipe ends? Or some kind of insert like Proto mentioned?
+1 Can't remember what I used, but I think it "was" the copper rtv which is has a higher temp level than the red. Worked great.
The pipe should have come with like some 2.25" "reducers" that slip into the inlet side of the pipe @ the manifolds.
They go into the ball/socket joint and help seal against the manifolds because the main pipe 'socket' shape is incorrect to seal properly (as you've found).
Nope, definitely didn't get anything like that. That explains a lot. I wonder if I can get them from Lethal
Bump for update:
So I guess this is the piece I am missing?
(Stolen from South Florida Stangs)
Got a message from Lethal, they will sell them separately. Gonna get one from them for $10. I'm going to use some copper rtv also just to be sure. Hope this works, car sounds like a freakin' dump truck right now :whine: Hopefully with no leaks and the resonators it will sound better.
So I guess this is the piece I am missing?
(Stolen from South Florida Stangs)
Got a message from Lethal, they will sell them separately. Gonna get one from them for $10. I'm going to use some copper rtv also just to be sure. Hope this works, car sounds like a freakin' dump truck right now :whine: Hopefully with no leaks and the resonators it will sound better.
Yeah I was wondering about that. From what I've seen they come with only one for the driver side. That kinda makes sense to me because the driver side of the x-pipe is actually shorter than the passenger. and that's the side that's leaking for me. I'll ask Lethal before I order to make sure.
After reading this I'm so glad I decided to gut my factory H pipe.
Lucky you newer GT500s have H-pipes. I wanted one but the options for us suck ass and I got this x for cheap. :shrug: Ah well, I'll make it work
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