I have an exhaust question. As I have said before, I have true duals with glasspacks. Unfortunatly, it is a "shadetree mechanic" exhaust system. Everything is bolted or clamped togeather, and nothing is welded. I do not have the money to have a system "professionally" welded. I know about the leaks from the headers and reducers, and I tighten them up whenever they get loose. However, the leak is still there. Could I have some leakage from where the pipes and mufflers are clamped togeather? Could I use "exhaust tape" (saw it at autozone) to block off the suspected leaks from the clamped areas? Or, am I just smelling exhaust because there is no cat and I run with the windows down? Also, my weatherstripping leaves something to be desired. Could that have anything to do with it? My system runs like this: headers with gaskets-reducers with gaskets-pipes clamped on to reducers (with size adaptors thanks to heddman sending me the wrong size pipe)-glasspacks clamped on to pipes UNDER the rear bumper-exhaust tips clamped onto mufflers. Also, it is flex-pipe .
Also, does the placement of the mufflers affect sound/backpressure/anything?

 

A leak will produce a ticking sound, if you don't hear anything, I would say you're smelling the fumes.

 

Haven't heard any ticking, so I guess it is the fumes. So, how do I keep the fumes out of the car? Will it always be a problem with the windows down? Would attaching a cat to each pipe help?

 

happens to me to when im sitting still with the windows down (took out the AC so...) and every connection on mine is welded

 

Chronic problem with thirdgens, then? Oh, well. Guess I'll have to get the a/c fixed.

 

So, is this a chronic problem, or can it be fixed? Will cats at least get rid of the smell?