This is topic x-pipe wo'es in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Is there some fuckin secret on installing an x pipe on an 89 lx? I can't get the passenger side to seal on the top of where the header meets the x-pipe. In this heat I've removed and re-installed the pipe three times and the same dame thing. Bent? Everything bolts right up easy peasy but major exhaust leak. fuckin rattle can. Don't think this is much of a tech thread maybe more of a vent. How could it be so difficult?

wish I had a lift. 2 1/2 feet to work under sucks nutts

[ July 24, 2006, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Jdub07 ]
 

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Posted by Eddie510 (Member # 2354) on :
 
god i know how your feeling j. ive done it that many times as well. sometimes its the hangers on the pipe(the ones that go into the transmount. There to bent down or to up. try to bent it where you think it needs to be and then put it back on. is it used? i know i always needed to mess with the hangers on the pipe because there were to bent up or down. good luck j!
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Yes used. I'v not messed with the hangers nor looked at them really. Good suggestion considering I have nothing else to go on right now. I assumed that since everything bolted up so easy that it would just seal once tightend. I made sure to tighten each side evenly to prevent one side from pulling the other but shit...you can hear the exhaust leak just at idle. I'll give it another go after work
 

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Posted by TRIXSNK (Member # 2844) on :
 
Don't know much on the 5.0's but is there some sort of stock gasket used?

I know on the newer manifolds they have a stud that has a shoulder that often needs to be replaced to a straight stud or else leaks galore

Just ideas and by the way J what brand X pipe?
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TRIXSNK:
Don't know much on the 5.0's but is there some sort of stock gasket used?

I know on the newer manifolds they have a stud that has a shoulder that often needs to be replaced to a straight stud or else leaks galore

Just ideas and by the way J what brand X pipe?

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BBK
H-pipe I bought brand new long time ago was also BBK and didn't work. fuckers make shitty pipes
 

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Posted by asskickn88 (Member # 4957) on :
 
I always use the high heat RTV on both fittings at the headers and catback. Be sure to clean it, put a small bead around where they meet and use the copper or red colored RTV. It will fill in any gaps and seal really well.... I had an H pipe from hell and this fixed it no problem, now I wont put the pipe in without it.
 

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Posted by J24I (Member # 2598) on :
 
I had the same problem when helping "rjbeliever" with his h-pipe and when putting on my stock h-pipe for smog...most likely have to keep f*ckin around with the hangers, takes F*ckin forever tho! GOOD LUCK!
 

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Posted by blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
it helps to tighten each bolt very slowly and dont tighten one of them all the way before the others.
 

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Posted by MustangNate (Member # 4559) on :
 
This isn't really going to help you, more just a plug for MAC. I bought MAC LT headers, MAC o/r H, and MAC cat-back for my 86GT and everything bolted up with no problems.

Anyways, try messing with the hangers and maybe try tightening the bolts in a criss-cross fashion. The criss-cross thing is what I was always told to do and I've never had problems. Hope it works out for ya.
 

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Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :
 
This won't help you either but it's a little moral support. I had the same problem with my Bassani x-pipe, eventually I had to get rid of it and go with a BBK h-pipe, never had a problem since.
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Thanks for all the suggestions and for letting me know I"m not the only one that has had this issue.

In any case I got home after work and went into the garage. 92.3 deg. in there so I rolled my eyes at the car and went back into the house. Unless I want to wrench on it naked laying on a bed of ice (sorry for the visual) then I wasn't about to attempt the pipe again. I can see myself rushing and busting an O2 or something dumb. Hopefully the heat will subside a little more.
 

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Posted by 91Trunkster (Member # 6598) on :
 
The pipe is bent from the sounds of it (being that it is used), it should not be that difficult to swap an H/X Pipe, I've done many swaps between cats and no cats for smog and yours sounds bent, you need to find a muffler shop that would be willing to cut and reweld a piece in order to fix the bend, maybe SPEC could do it, I know many muffler shops won't touch anything without cats. Good luck!!!

[ July 25, 2006, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: 91Trunkster ]
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by 91Trunkster:
The pipe is bent from the sounds of it (being that it is used), it should not be that difficult to swap an H/X Pipe, I've done many swaps between cats and no cats for smog and yours sounds bent, you need to find a muffler shop that would be willing to cut and reweld a piece in order to fix the bend, maybe SPEC could do it, I know many muffler shops won't touch anything without cats. Good luck!!!

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That is an option I was hoping to avoid but know it may be something I need to do. I know of only one place in Fremont, but only know them through someone that knows someone which makes it kinda hard. I'll dick with the pipe once more then go from there.
 

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Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :
 
In this heat the metal might be soft enough you can bend it with your hands...
 

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Posted by o6 ford (Member # 6717) on :
 
use a mini torch with gloves and make that shit fit.

more heat! lol sorry.
 

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Posted by Eddie510 (Member # 2354) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jdub07:

quote:

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Originally posted by 91Trunkster:
The pipe is bent from the sounds of it (being that it is used), it should not be that difficult to swap an H/X Pipe, I've done many swaps between cats and no cats for smog and yours sounds bent, you need to find a muffler shop that would be willing to cut and reweld a piece in order to fix the bend, maybe SPEC could do it, I know many muffler shops won't touch anything without cats. Good luck!!!

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That is an option I was hoping to avoid but know it may be something I need to do. I know of only one place in Fremont, but only know them through someone that knows someone which makes it kinda hard. I'll dick with the pipe once more then go from there.

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umm, well if no luck and you do want to take it to a shop i know a owner of 2 shops J so just let me know, but i hope you get it so you dont have to go to a shop and pay.
 

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Posted by SydeWayzSix (Member # 2222) on :
 
Jeremy..sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time with that X-pipe I'm almost certain its not bent because when the guys at Midas removed it and installed my H-pipe, they looked at it and said it was in really good condition still. I've heard stories about how hard it is to make BBK's seal, but it is possible. Good luck bro
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by SydeWayzSix:
Jeremy..sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time with that X-pipe I'm almost certain its not bent because when the guys at Midas removed it and installed my H-pipe, they looked at it and said it was in really good condition still. I've heard stories about how hard it is to make BBK's seal, but it is possible. Good luck bro

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No problem... I bought knowing it was used. I hear horror stories about BBK pipes for some reason. The darn heat isn't letting up so I've not even messed with it for 3 days now. I don't think the pipe is bent but I do thinh each car is different from each other making it hard sometimes to get a seal. I'll get it to work eventually....thanks sydewayz
 

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Posted by TRIXSNK (Member # 2844) on :
 
J

How's the pipe situation???

Been nice outside the past weekend did you get it bolted up yet
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TRIXSNK:
J

How's the pipe situation???

Been nice outside the past weekend did you get it bolted up yet

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NO! I had it bolted up and sealed good for about 2 miles then started leaking again. I pulled the fuckin thing off again last night and found the passenger side where the x-pipe meets the header is ovaled. So either me or someone at another time tightened it wrong and ovaled the x-pipe. That must be why it leaks. For the short time it did not leak it sounded and felt awesome.

Now the pipe sits on the garage floor and I"m at a loss of what to do next. I don't know how to Un'oval it. lol SOB! I'm not bringing my car to the show with any exahust leak thats for sure. May have to pull up in the Audi.

I'll give someone a new in box FMS A/C delete kit if they come over and put this POS on without it leaking before this weekend. Weather has been great as TRIX said and I'm putin around in a v6 automatic audi

[ August 01, 2006, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: Jdub07 ]
 

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Posted by BCINGUU (Member # 2397) on :
 
Take it to Joe's Muffler over behind Apex, he'll fix you up.
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by BCINGUU:
Take it to Joe's Muffler over behind Apex, he'll fix you up.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jdub07:
FINALLY got the X-pipe hooked up with no leaks. Turns out not only was the x-pipe ovaled where it meets the header on the passenger side but the whole x-pipe itself was bent some.

Well its on now and car feels good and sounds good. Just need to get some tailpipes again.

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Good to hear J.

It must have been you i saw cruising through the "Freak" the other day.

Were you by chance stuck in traffic yesterday near Decoto and Fremnt Blvd?

Didn't know since i saw no tailpipes but maybe that explains it
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TRIXSNK:

quote:

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Originally posted by Jdub07:
FINALLY got the X-pipe hooked up with no leaks. Turns out not only was the x-pipe ovaled where it meets the header on the passenger side but the whole x-pipe itself was bent some.

Well its on now and car feels good and sounds good. Just need to get some tailpipes again.

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Good to hear J.

It must have been you i saw cruising through the "Freak" the other day.

Were you by chance stuck in traffic yesterday near Decoto and Fremnt Blvd?

Didn't know since i saw no tailpipes but maybe that explains it

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