Exhaust leak issue

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Mar 26, 2004 | 11:15 PM

87vette

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Safety Car

Joined: Aug 1999

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

Exhaust leak issue

I installed my bypass kit for the air pump and capped everything off. The car ran fine and had no trouble for the several times I let her warm up. Until tonite when I went out to start her up there was lots of exhaust smoke coming out from the manifold area. Any ideas on a fix like this ? Thanks in advance.

Mar 27, 2004 | 04:02 AM

86PACER

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jan 2003

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From: Santa Maria CA

Re: Exhaust leak issue (87vette)

Can you tell if the leak is coming from where you capped stuff off? If it's from between the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head, a set of Fel-Pro resuable aluminum gaskets can help. I have found them to seal very well with my headers.

Mar 27, 2004 | 07:00 AM

87vette

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

Re: Exhaust leak issue (86PACER)

Its coming from near the firewall area on both sides. Not where its been capped off. I find this odd though because this has never happened before. And the car has been sitting for some time since winter started on and off. Seems like everytime I finish something, another problem comes along ! :banghead:

Mar 27, 2004 | 08:40 AM

87vette

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

Re: Exhaust leak issue (86PACER)

Also how easy of a job is this if I were to take on the job myself? Is it time consuming ?

Mar 27, 2004 | 09:02 AM

Nathan Plemons

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Re: Exhaust leak issue (87vette)

Quote:

Seems like everytime I finish something, another problem comes along ! :banghead:

Well that's just part of it! That's very strange though. If it was the manifold to head gasket I wouldn't think you would be seeing the exhaust from the firewall area. Maybe your y-pipe is leaking somewhere. If you rev it any does it pop and crackle really bad? Thats the dead giveaway of an exhaust leak.

Mar 27, 2004 | 09:13 AM

87vette

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From: Fort Lauderdale FL

Re: Exhaust leak issue (Nathan Plemons)

No it doesnt pop or crackle. I turned her over today and I don't see any exhuast smoke coming out anymore. Last night was humid and raining and hte car was in a garage. However the moisture in the air seemed pretty thick. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it ?

Mar 27, 2004 | 09:31 AM

efweber

Racer

Joined: Oct 2002

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From: Union ME

Re: Exhaust leak issue (87vette)

You are describing the exact same symptoms I see on my 1984 each spring after several months of sitting in a cold garage. I find that after warming to operating temperature for about 20 minutes, the smoke (or steam) stops. I have attributed this to condensation burning off, rather than an exhaust leak. On my car, the smoke only appears the first time I start her up after winter. Also, it does not appear to be under pressure. When I run my hand through it, there is no feel of pressure, just heat, like steam coming out of a pot boiling on the stove.

Mar 27, 2004 | 09:36 AM

Nathan Plemons

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Re: Exhaust leak issue (87vette)

Could just be a fluke. The most my car ever sits without being driven is like 2 days. It's very possible that you just had some condensation or dust buildup on the pipes. Just be careful and drive it around and see what happens.