My exhaust fell apart. WTF.

[3991v]

Alright guys. I don't think I posted this before, but I got a new car. a '94 Taurus. Anyway, the other week, I drove through a creek to save time. Exhaust got louder, no biggie, I just prob. got water in there or something, is what I told myself.

So today, I went for a drive after work. Went a good 20+ miles, and ended up on some back roads. It was all dirt. Anyway, I hit a bump, and my car started rattleing, and got fucking loud. Fuck me. I knew my exhaust was boned.

It was dark, and couldn't get a pic of the damage, but tomorrow I will.

I could see, and it was the pipe that runs from the cat to my Y-pipe. So could it be a few bolts and good to go, or could I of fucked up my pipe, or cat?

Grrr.:mad:

[Reventon]

Just take everything out and you win.

Seriously though I'd remove all of your pipes up to your cat and check them. Also look at the cat to see if it's damaged.

[PP Mguire]

Why on earth would you drive your car through a creek anyways? And youd have to be flying pretty fast to hit a bump and make your exhaust fall off.

[3991v]

It was a shallow one, a VERY shallow one. It connected a road to the schools parking lot. And I was going like 20 on that road. >_>

[erocker]

You need to find where your exhaust broke as it could be many things. If you're lucky you just knocked a hole in a straight section of pipe. Unless you have something to cut the pipe with, replace with another section of pipe with muffler clamps, try taking it to a shop.

[1Kurgan1]

As long as your headers are fine it shouldn't be a big deal, common exhaust problems with Taurus's are the Doughnut gasket going, which shops will do for under $40 usually.

[Wile E]

Why on earth would you drive your car through a creek anyways? And youd have to be flying pretty fast to hit a bump and make your exhaust fall off.Not if it's rusted to shit and back. Which is quite common here in PA. Shitty, snowy winters, and we use salt on our roads.


And I lol'd at him. :D

[3991v]

Car has no rust. It's been a Virginia car it's whole life. :)

But anyway, I did a little MS paint diagram. My dad and I just clamped it back up, so it'll be good enough for now.
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc224/x3991/exhaust.jpg

[1Kurgan1]

Looks like doughtnut gasket location, dual exhaust? AFAIK in 94 that only came on SHO's.

[DaMulta]

This thread so reminds me of

xZOg8bzVT5s

[3991v]

Looks like doughtnut gasket location, dual exhaust? AFAIK in 94 that only came on SHO's.

Police package taurus. Has factory dual exhaust (toast) I'll check it out ASAP.

[1Kurgan1]

Ah, those are a rarer find, so at least you got the 3.8l then.


This thread so reminds me of

xZOg8bzVT5s

Wow I never realized it back when I watched it.. but did they just say that midsized family sedan Taurus weighs 1600lbs dry, then adding in 4 guys and all their luggage, plus gas, oil, anti freeze and that only adds on 500lbs, so 4 guys, bunch of luggage, full fluids, in a mid sized car weighs 2100lbs... makes stripped out Hondas look like a bus I guess.

[3991v]

Fuck! It happened again. :(

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc224/x3991/0905001554.jpg

[erocker]

Those flanges need to be cut off and new ones welded back on.

[1Kurgan1]

Yep, thats the doughtnut gasket, just bring it in to a shop, it will be like $40 most likely.

That or you can go buy a 2 piece kit from an auto part store, since your flanges still look good.

[Fourstaff]

Duct tape?

[Steevo]

Double the value of your Ford, fill up the gas tank. Sell it.


I hate those connections, they rust and then fall apart on ALL cars, in ALL winter climates. Easiest and longest lasting fix would be a short section of pipe cut out and welded back in there. Cutting the pipe and adding more flanges is only costing more for a set of flanges, another doughnut, and just as much welding.


Really if you have exhaust issues down the road they will just cut it, and rerun the exhaust, making the flanges a waste. I have never seen a shop get them off a older car except by heat wrenching them off, a die grinder cutting the bolts, or a sawzall.

[1Kurgan1]

That section is the for a reason, because if a motor mount goes it will twist the hell out of your exhaust, or possibly break it (trust me I could take a picture of my SHO exhaust, and that was a broken MM while having a donut to flex). I doubt it will need new flanges, his lip on the back part looks fine, and the front piece is extremely thick. Just needs new O clamps (or whatever there name is), which shouldn't be much from a parts store.

Any exhaust shop would want to put a new one on there, you'd have to request them to weld that section, and if thats done, should at least be with flex pipe. But I have taken off numerous donut gasket bolts without heat, just a good ol wrench and some WD-40, and usually all on 20+ year old cars with original exhaust.

[yogurt_21]

. a '94 Taurus. :
there's your problem right there.

[Deusxmachina]

I couldn't help but start laughing a bit in this thread since after reading the, "My dad and I just clamped it back up, so it'll be good enough for now," I immediately was thinking, "It fell for a reason the first time. It's probably just going to fall off again." And so it did.

I can't tell from that pic, but if the diameter of the pipe on the other side of the rear pipe's flange is the same as the hanging pipe, and the gap between the pipes wouldn't be too far, one option would be to cut that flange off and use a stainless-steel band clamp. They look like this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WLK-33278/ You can get them from Napa if you like buying locally.

If the gap is too wide, or the pipes are different diameters, you could slip a cheap exhaust coupler in there to extend one pipe and then use the band clamp.
Or just slip a coupler in there and use regular exhaust clamps to hold it. After six months or so, it might never come off again without cutting, but that's not exactly a problem unless you remove your exhaust a lot for some reason.

All of the above options require cutting the flanges off and making the pipe ends straight. If one of those donut connectors can just be used and bolted on, hey, just do that instead.

For another cheap-and-flexible fix, that thin, "bendable," exhaust fixit pipe with the crinkles in it can last years. And if/when it goes bad, you just replace it with another one. That long piece in the pic might need some support help if using that, though.

The stock donut thing is probably your best bet. I more or less tossed out the other options for future reference in case someone could use one of those tips later. Years from now, someone might need to stick two pipes with no flanges together, and they'll think, "I know! I can just get one of those stainless-steel band clamp things!" (r)

[3991v]

there's your problem right there.

Hey, thanks for the valuable information. If you don't have anything useful to say, GTFO.

kthnxbai

[yogurt_21]

Hey, thanks for the valuable information. If you don't have anything useful to say, GTFO.

kthnxbai

pms much? this is GN

[Wile E]

I'm lol'ing again at your shitty exhaust.

Seriously, take it to a shop that does exhaust work. Most Fords use ball and socket connections with no need for a gasket. It looks like you are missing the flange needed on the rear pipe.

[3991v]

After I get the car paid off I'm taking it to a shop. ;)

[1Kurgan1]

Why paid off, the bill shouldn't be over $50.