factory exhaust repair. Size info needed
 

Hey y'all. It seems I've developed a crack in the tailpipe. Right were it goes over the axle. The crack is pretty much all the way around the pipe. As silly as it may sound, I need to "repair" this crack rather than "replace" the exhaust. I'm thinking that I'll get some flex pipe and some saddle clamps at the local parts house. Cut the pipe through slide the flex pipe on, then clamp it down on both sides.

Does that sound reasonable?

Does anyone know whether the tailpipe is 2.5" or 3" on a 1999?

Thanks guys,
Andy

should be 3"

if the crack isnt that big you can put a band clamp around it and it will do the same job with out the flex pipe

Thanks for the size info.

The problem is that it's in the curve over the axle. I don't think a band clamp would seal there. Great tip though.

yeah it wouldnt work there. flex is the only way to go on this one

you could, depending on how much your truck smokes, just cut the pipe off at the muffler and clamp/weld on a turndown.

you really need to get it welded....wire feed will do the best job here

if you wanna come up here I can do it in 10 minutes....free :w2:

band clamp will do it

Good suggestion on the turndown... but not sure that'll work for me. Truck's not a heavy smoker, but keeping the tip that's on there clean is has proved to be quite the task. Don't want my rear quarters, bumper and tailgate to be the same cleaning pain.


Good tip on the wire feed welder. I've only got a stick welder... WAAAAY too thin of metal to weld with that. I'd just make a bigger hole.

I may ask around and see if I can find a wire feed deal.

As long as you got DC on that stick welder it should do fine, just not as clean a weld.

I WISH it was DC... sadly... no. :y:

If it were me in the situation I would close the split up as much as possible and JB Weld it just to buy some time.

duct tape it

an AC welder and some 6010 will stich weld it up if ya know what yer doin

Just turn it down and keep the stick close to your work. The wider your arc gap the more likely you will be to blow thru.

i've welded16 gauge with an arc. my best success was achieved by welding a little on one side, then the other, then back to the other side before the cherry dims. takes some patience but it worked for me. filled in about 1/8" wide split about 1/2 long. don't know if it was the best or most productive way to do it but i got it done.