Just wondering, di you guys normally weld your slip fit exhaust joints or just use clamps. All the cars I have ever worked on usually I just see clamps, but thought i would ask since i recently heard of someone welding them.

The reason i ask is that i just put a magnaflow cat on (direct fit) and there is a slip fit joint on the front. It is not the greatest fit and even with a clamp it appears to be leaking a bit. The asked the guy at the rent-a-bay if it should be welded and he said "no no, just clamp er down tight and carbon will plug up any leak". I thought that was a bit hokey so i thought i would ask here (since i don't do a lot of exhaust work).

thanks.

 

I'd weld it. Leave some joints on your exhaust, so you can remove it , but weld most joints.

 

Weld everything, clamps suck.

 

So what would I do if i ever needed to remove or replace the y pipe? I wouldn't want to have to buy another cat since this is a nice stainless one.

 

Hack saw, Sawzall, exhaust chain cutter, etc... If youre like me and you do all your exhaust work yourself it takes a little effort but atleast you did it yourself

It's just metal..It can always be re-welded

 

won't it just rust out at the weld though? That seems to be where exhaust goes first since it is bare.

 

Ceremic coat it.

Hey how do you guys weld the top of your exaust tubing....kinda hard to get the gun between the floorboards and exaust tubing.

 

Do what I did... Weld the catback all together, but weld a 3-bolt header flange on the end of the catback and the Y-pipe, where they meet up. If you need to drop the exhaust or Y-pipe, they easily come apart. Those flanges, with good gaskets, don't leak like clamps will.