Recommendations for good exhaust shop?

[Lugboot]

My exhaust split this weekend right at the weld where the Y-pipe comes together below the headers. The weld between the two halves of the Y broke.

Don't know if it can be welded or not but does anyone know of a shop they would recommend in the Harrisburg area?

On the positive side, the 80 sounds pretty beefy, now.

 

[CJBury]

If you are gonna do your exhaust check out the 80 section. I got cheap aftermarket stuff that needed to be bent to fit the head. Total head ache. You should be able to get the y and go to a single cat. You will need to weld in a bung for the pre sensor. I also got a borla cat back. sounds nice but is getting beat up on the trails. It you are wheeling you want cheap, its going to get dented.

 

[Lugboot]

I was kinda hoping to just repair or replace up to the cats and not screw with them or the O2 sensors or is that not gonna be possible?

I'll post over yonder in 80's tech, too.

 

[CJBury]

Hard to say without looking at it. Why did it split. Rust? Contact with a large rock?

 

[Lugboot]

I'm guessing a combo of rust and getting hit with cold water when it was hot when driving through a stream. Not a rock, as far as I know. It split right along the weld. I'll have to look at it closer tonight.

 

[CJBury]

If it's rusted I'm not sure you can weld it. May just be easier to replace it from the get go. Probably save you some trouble and money down the road.
Or go getto fab and stuff some JB Weld or exhaust patch in the crack if you don't want to deal with it right now.

 

[Lugboot]

I gotta admit--JB Weld did cross my mind just because I have other things I'm dropping cash on the truck for--like caster correction--and my state inspection isn't out for almost a full year. As long as my o2 sensors don't get pissed off, I may try to ghetto-fab it. Not sure.

 

[jtaco1]

I'm over in Marysville and have a welder, if you want to stop by we can take a look at welding it up. I'll PM you my cell.

 

[Lugboot]

Exhaust pic

Here's a pic with the pen pointing at the seam that broke.

 

[jtaco1]

I think we can weld that up, just give me a call when you want to swing by.

 

[Lugboot]

Good news--the exhaust is sealed up again. JT was kind enough to weld the front and back of the seam but couldn't reach down into the crevice of the Y with the welder. We discussed what to do about the rest of the crack and Stove Cement and JB Weld came up. I got a tube of Stove Cement but was leery about how clean they said the surface had to be (no way I was going to get the pipes that clean in there). And regular JB Weld only recommends temps up to 600 degrees. I have no idea how hot the pipe will get where it cracked, but I wanted to err on the side of overkill.

I swung by Napa and picked up some high temp (2000 degree) metal patch goop by Permatex. Came in a single tube--knead the tube, cut off the tip and smear it on. I worked it into the crevice as good as I could (wearing latex gloves) and let it cure for a day. Started up the truck and let it idle for bit to finish the curing, and so far, it has stayed sealed.

Thanks, JT!

BTW--while the exhaust was leaking, my mileage dropped by at least 3 MPG. The O2 sensors were compensating for a perceived lean condition by dumping more fuel into the system.

 

[jtaco1]

Glad you were able to get that y section closed up, that really mad me mad that I coulnd't get in there to weld it up. Hopefully that last a long time

 

[CJBury]

Nice, glad you got it fixed. See you @ Rausch.