torch the thing

[ssc1]

if i dont sort this out i'm going to torch the bloody thing. Its this exhaust leak around the front of the engine that is producing the clicking tinkling sharpe chuffing noise that has got right up my back. had both manifolds off checked for leaks by filling them with hot water( LEAKS FIXED BY WELDING and rechecked ) and have refaced the manifold to head join with a flat plate and checked the head joins as well , fitted new gaskets as recommended by "TVR power" ,refitted them and cleaned up the clamp area where the manifolds join to the Y peice , have had the Y peice off and checked visually for cracks and repaired one and also checked further down the exhaust for leaks and found none and fitted a new large clamp further down the system as the old one was knackered. so what have i missed and why do they leak like this as i have heard a few now with the same sound on them and i find it off putting as it dont sound at all right when going through town with this thing ticking away , and no its not tappets , only heard at low revs with light throttle openings as above that exhaust noise and normal engine noise takes over, my last car also did it but not quite so bad and it went when i wrapped the exhausts ...

[simpo one]

Apologies if I've missed any history to this, but can you actually *smell* leaking exhaust gas? I also think that a joint could be water-tight but not gas tight, ie it could pass your test but fail in situ.

Just a thought, I may be totally wrong.

[spnracing]

Sounds very much like the manifolds haven't sealed against the head properly. There's no chance that one of them is slightly warped or something?

My chimaera had leaky manifolds for a while, it certainly spoils the otherwise splendid soundtrack.

[jigs]

Problem with the heads?

[ssc1]

checked the manifolds against a straight edge and cleaned them up so they were dead flat and checked the face of the heads ,all were nice clean with no marks at all so they should seal ok and looking at the joints when they are bolted up they seem nice and tight up against the heads, so its either the manifolds somewhere or the Y peice with the cat in it , the noise sounds like its coming from the Y peice area , but then i know that sounds travel ...could it be a leaking head gasket ,as the car runs very hot but does not leak any water and does not pump out coolant at all, it just runs very hot ie 110c( and i have changed everything there but the rad) , yes there are a few probs but i will get to the bottom of it ....would a leaking head gasket give me this leaky exhaust sound without blowing the water overboard, bloody cars giving me knightmares.

[HarryW]

Are you sure its not just the cat ratttling in the Y piece sounds like a metalic tinging noise , my Y piece does this to a certain extent, even the Omega's cat's do it to a lesser degree.

Harry

[ssc1]

thanks harry i suppose i could take the thing off and give it a shake , as i have it down to a fine art now removing the exhaust and all the other bits , or a could take it to work and get it crack checked just to check the welds as a new one costs abit of dosh.