Exhaust problem

[Bugs M400]

Hi all,
My rear downpipe (under the intercooler) parted company with the rear turbo this morning, and I've just limped back home sounding a little like a Massey Ferguson. The usual suspect bottom bracket fractured a few weeks ago, and although I thought I'd caught it pretty quickly (got it welded), I'm guessing it's resulted in the current problem.

I'll look more closely tomorrow, but without knowing how they're put together, it's hard to tell what's happened. I'm guessing the pipe should be welded to the flange, and that's what's failed. It looks like it's parted company very cleanly.

Anybody had a similar experience, and if so, was it fixable? I don't dare even ask how much a new pipe with Cat costs!

Pressure's on as I'm supposed to be on a train to Le Mans this Wednesday....!

Cheers,

[robp]

David - It's common (if not universal) for the bolts between turbos and downpipes to work loose, but it sounds from what you're saying as if the downpipe has actually parted company from the flange. I havn't heard of this before. The bottom bracket is made of chocolate and will also break on a monthly basis unless you get it welded like this:

Since Skippy from NL did this on my car it didn't break once despite many track days, but if you are out of warranty you may want to consider a trouble-free (life -time guarantee); freer-breathing system such as the Roush exhaust. Not cheap, but with an engine that has 2 turbos it has to make sense in terms of engine longevity (as well as performance). Just check out the recent threads on this.

[Bugs M400]

Yes, I trawled through the forum when the bracket broke a few weeks back and found that picture. That's exactly what was done when it got repaired, and is still fine.

Problem now is the whole downpipe has come away from the Turbo!

Have any of you chaps with the Roush exhaust got a spare downpipe (inc cat)? ;-)
Cheers,

[gizard]

Ray west might still have my old bits - although if he took my preference he would have scrapped the old piece sh!t long ago - sorry the old system caused me so much grief!

He is based in thruxton circuit - if no one else nearer has the part let me know and I'll ask if he still has it.

[Bugs M400]

Thanks.
It's now in bits, and looks to be a simple welding job. It's off to the tig man as we speak. Hopefully that will resolve it, but thinking seriously about an alternative. Two exhaust fixes in as many weeks is tedious! Did you go for the Roush system? Cheers,

[gizard]

Yes I did - and Rays recons for the money it's a very good system - as for the old system - completly sh!t. Don't spend any money on the old system (i.e. just fix it temporarily)
- However if you do change to a newer one I would also recomend getting the beefer manifolds - unless you already have them (M400's should do).

[Bugs M400]

Thanks, sounds like good advice.
Killer question - how much!?
Cheers,