Exhaust leak

[saltshaker]

Have a exhaust leak where the side pipes slip on over the headers. I have a tang welded on both sides and a bolt holding them as tight as possible but the still leak .... A cloud of exhaust when i start it!
Any suggestions for a cure?
Jon

[blykins]

Well, you can go the quick and easy route and use a lot of high temp sealant, or you can cut the pipes off, flange them, and put a gasket in between.

[Ron61]

On my Cobra the headers went into a flange and the collector also had a flange which fastened to the header flange with 4 bolts, one in each corner. I put in a good gasket and never had a leak the whole time I had the Cobra.

Ron

[Grubby]

You could use an exhaust tube expander to increase the diameter of the leaking pipe.

I have slip fits and not a hint of a leak in 13k miles. They have been apart twice and still not problems.

John

[rodneym]

saltshaker,
On my KMP I have slip fits. On my old motor (and stock KMP mufflers), I would get some exhaust residue from a slight leak but never a cloud like you have from startup. When I got on it, I could even hear a chirp.
With the new motor, Tom Lucas demanded less restrictive pipes. No more issues. In other words, it may not be so much the "fit".

[DanEC]

Walker Muffler sealer is recommended by ERA for slip joints. I found it at NAPA and in first start up it seems my pipes and header slip joints are pretty tight. But, my car isn't on the road yet so I don't know how long it will last.