Side pipe sealant...

brainbugnj · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 09:24 PM

Hey folks - couple questions have done my homework and there doesn't seem to be a conclusive answer on the RTV versus exhaust sealer (whiteish paste) for sealing the side pipes on these babies...

my sidepipes have gotten worse and worse the more I drove the car... as I have been hunting down my exhaust leaks I have replaced the exhaust header gasket with Earls which I don't beleive are leaking and now its time for the header to sidepipes which I know are leaking just by sight and soot build up...

RTV (I was thinking of using Ultra Copper RTV)

or

the Exhuast Sealant Paste?

The pipes are slip joint not flange so no flat surface for a gasket.

what you guys think!!

Thanks in advance.

mikiec · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2004, 11:07 PM

My pipes are not a slip joint, but are flanged. I use the Copper RTV with great success. The pipes have been on for about 6 months. No leaking.

Mike

Rick Parker · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 04:35 AM

As long as the tube(s) bottomed out in the expanded section the leakage should be minimal. I believe you are speaking of your sidepipe but the theory still holds. The High Temp copper RTV may work for your application.

[IMG]http://[/IMG] http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...re_190__2_.jpg

Rick

cobrajeff · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2004, 04:58 AM

Your side-pipe slip-joint may need a little more than just some sealant. It probably would help if you massage the fitment of the pipes a little.

I used a tailpipe expander (about $12.00 at an auto parts store) and a couple short pieces of exhaust adapters (2" on one end, 2.25" on the other) to tailor the fit of my pipes. Using the soot pattern on your pipes as a guide, you can determine which pipes have the worst fit. Using the exhaust adapter piece with a small block of wood and a rubber mallet, you can pound the adapter onto your individual pipes to "resize" them slightly. You can tighten them slightly by forcing the adapter on one way, enlarge them slightly by forcing it on the other direction. For more extreme adjustments, use the tailpipe expander tool.

After massaging the individual fit, the copper RTV should be able to seal them up tight (they WILL be more difficult to R&R, though, as the interference fit gets tightened up).

regards,

cobrajeff