03-03-2009, 11:07 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Potomac,
MD
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast, 460 Ford Racing Crate w/ TREMEC TKO 600
Posts: 732
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Not Ranked
Sidepipe Joint Flex- Exhaust Leak Solutions ?
Not sure how many of you have tried to solve sidepipe/header joint leaks but wanted to know what type of connection you are using between the side pipe and the header collectors. My West Coast stainless system has a rigid slip-on interference connection between header collector and the sidepipe. I am concerned that over time, that this will put too much stess/strain on the header flange at the head, and cause future annoying leaks at the header flange gasket.
My sidepipes have one small flexible mount about 6 inches from the turnout, giving me a very large cantilever back to the header flange at the head. I believe I need to replace the slip-on joint with a flanged 4 bolt flexible joint nearest the header collector/sidepipe to avoid the stress on the header flange. The engine will rock side to side in its OEM rubber mounts and fatigue the header flange joint causing leaks or even cracked header flanges. Common sense tells me this engine movement my 460 crate engine will create is a recipe for chronic exhaust leaks if I dont address this by adding a flex joint. I have zero experience with sidepipes but know that all good OEM exhaust mountings have flex joints as close to the engine as possible.
I would like to know how your sidepipe joint to header collectors are designed and what works and what dosen't? Using high temp silicone for an exhaust header gasket is not a solution nor is repeated tightening of the header flange bolts. I am running the SCJ Alum heads and dont want the exhaust flange bolts to loosen and then strip out of the head causing more "head aches", pun intended  l.
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"...some assembly required, ages 8 and up...... well that took longer than expected......
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