Downpipe drama!!!!

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:43 pm

Aaaaagghhhh, i knew this would happen, my fiorst track in two days time and i have found a crack in the down pipe.......about 4 inches from the turbo outlet.

I appreciate this needs to be fixed but my question is, will driving it like this cause any serious problems? (it doesn't appear to have yet...)

Can anyone suggest a company that is experienced enough to resolve this problem?

Cheers
Mark

punkoutnz · Post by **punkoutnz** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:49 pm

It'll make a lot of noise, and possibly leak a bit of gas into the cabin (though at speed I doubt this will be a problem). So long as it's not venting near anything flamable or meltable I don't foresee any problems.

Keith Jones · Post by **Keith Jones** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:30 pm

Hi Mark

It could open up pretty quickly on the track.
However, other than sounding like a tractor, you may be OK. As it's downstream from the turbo you're not going to lose boost.

Any competent exhaust shop or tube fabricator should be able to patch it.
I use Al's Mufflers in Target Road, Glenfield for my exhaust work.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:12 pm

Is your downpipe clamped to the bell housing as it is intended to be?

Your exhaust from this point on is held by rubber rings which can cause the exhaust to crack if its not clamped, as you may be getting too much movement along its length.

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:39 pm

Thanks guys, much appreciate the advice.

Just dropped it in to Takapuna Mufflers who did the mid pipe and back for me recently.

Oddly enough the guy there, Carl, said he suspected it might have a leak/crack at the time. But it wasn't readily apparent and I was loath to pull off the meters of fibregalss heat tape....it was only today giving it the once over I recognised the tell tale soot accumulating on the cloth tape.....

What he did find back then was the mid bracket for the exhaust had broken so the whole system was probably swinging on the downpipe to muffler mount, until he fixed it.

Today he said that was the most likely cause......

He is a good guy and thinks he can weld the crack up in place. Fingers crossed.

I will look in to the bell housing mount as suggested. Although in thinking about it, that is probably the repaired mid point mount he was refferring to....

Cheers,
Mark

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 8:10 pm

I have also read that its not a good idea to wrap stainless steel headers as this can cause cracking too!

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 8:12 pm

Carl is good,
Works hard and knows his stuff

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 11:47 pm

I am very anti the heat wrapping stuff. Caused me more problems than it was worth. May as well invest in the HPC ceramic coating since it looks good, lasts and works significantly better than the heat wrapping stuff does.

Downpipe drama!!!!

Downpipe drama!!!!

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