The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Possibly stupid exhaust question

You guys and gals that do exhaust at home, are you welding the pipe all around the muffler, or just tacking it? I want to replace the muffler on my car, and the old one is just tacked in place. I'm wondering if thats wrong. Should I tack it, then pull it down and weld all around it? I suspect mine is tacked, as the shop that did it 25 years ago didn't want to mess with all those rusty nuts, and neither do I really .

Thanks for your input.

if you don't weld it all the way it's likely to leak - you could always use a clamp instead, that's common, especially with replacements - either way will rot in our climate, but neither necessarily lasts longer

Bill

I have had good luck welding all the way around than spraying high heat paint on it when cooled off.

I clamp the mufflers with Riker band clamps that way I can easily remove the muffler and replace 2-3 times before the pipes rust out.

I have only welded one exhaust system and the muffler rusted out and I had cutting and welding rusty exhaust.

Scott, Thats something I hadn't really thought of. I picked up the glass pack and clamps. The pipes that are on the car are 1 3/4. I suspect they've been there for a while! That does explain the high exhaust velocity at the rear of the car. I'm going to clamp it, as some day I'm thinking of splitting the exhaust, but thats a long way down the road.

I like them welded all the way around myself.

ooh good info,

Hadn't thought about the replacement issue,and with a truck sitting ,that does tend to rot the muffler.

Maybe I should the race car trick with springs holding the pipes together.