exhaust Y piece removal

[ssc1]

as i have now found the exhaust leak to be a failed weld on the Y piece has anyone removed this before and is it a pig to do bearing in mind that i take engines out of Concorde on a daily basis( well weekly) for a living, also as there is a little bit of rust on it and it does look quite original is it made of mild steel or stainless, as i intend to weld it myself ( dont see the point of getting somone else to do a job that i have all the tools for just sitting here)

[thornogson]

Yes! The exhaust manifold is difficult to get off due to lack of clearance for sockets etc, but is even more difficult to get back. Took two of us 3hrs just to get the studs in on the drivers side. One under the car putting the studs in, me jiggling side to side and wiggling up and down ( the manifold that is The new type studs with "funny heads "are easier to get in than the hex ones. David Gerald can supply these along with the new gaskets. The clamps on the Y piece are just tight but go back alright.

[victormeldrew]

You can get the Y piece out with the manifolds still in place, but you'll have to drop the exhaust. Trust me, its easier than taking the manifolds off!

6 bolts on the exhaust mounting tray (under the diff) plus the little hanger aft of that, then the clamp at the front. Swing the exhaust down and back (easier with the rear jacked and/or over a pit). You just need a few inches to clear the tail of the Y piece, then you can unclamp the flange clamps and wiggle it clear. You may need to prise the manifolds (carefully) outwards a few mill to get clearance, but it will come out.

Edited to add: AFAIK, its stainless (though a rusty grade thereof!).

>> Edited by victormeldrew on Sunday 13th July 21:29

[ssc1]

thanks victor ,i managed to take the Y piece out after dropping the exhaust system , and found a split under the Y piece next to the main cat and managed to weld it ok , but after refitting the whole thing again there is still a leak up front somwhere , ive heard quite a few chims with this noise , i remember the last one i had was ok when i wrapped the manifolds with heat wrap so it may just be a small leak where the four pipes join together on the manifold, i think they should be dead quiet up the front, oh well i'll have to do it on my next weekend off , pity i cant pressure test it in position...

[victormeldrew]

I wouldn't notice if there was a leak, mine is decatted and sounds like there's a cat of a different sort trapped in there!