Hey everybody, I was wondering, I had these rings between my exhaust manifolds and my y-pipe. What are they there for exactly? Are they even necessary? And if so, where could I get some? Because mine were already each cracked into two pieces and are a major pain in the behind if not impossible to get on both manifolds with the y-pipe in place, and now they cracked even further because I accidentally let them fall on the ground trying to put them in place, and part of the ring got stuck in the y-pipe. Also wondering if the part that got stuck will get spit out or not? Will it get stuck in the cat or something or will it be okay? Many thanks in advance, guys!

Edit: This is pretty much the only thing still keeping me from taking a short test drive for the very first time in my very own Third Gen, with any decency at least, with all the smoke and noise coming from under the hood as I idle and rev it on the driveway now. Neighbours a few houses down have already said that they thought it was storming outside.. ;P

 

Is it on stock equipment? Picture?

 

I think they might be called donut rings/gaskets?



Look something like that, shape-wise at least, but of course the colour is a lot more like the exhaust.. very brown-ish. Don't know exactly what they are made of, but the stuff sure got weak over the years. Also don't know if it's stock, but I think so, they came with the car when I bought it a while back.

 

They generally tend to blow out and I have never heard of one clogging a cat. I would probably drive it and get some new ones at a store.

 

Sweet, thanks! I'm not really worried anymore now.

http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssem...rimLevel=15260

Part 16 here by the way, would that site perhaps be a good place to get it? Only problem is, and will always be with these type of cars, is shipping time and costs to Europe. Which I'll have to deal with, or are they something more (GM) universal perhaps? That way I might be able to find them here, or with luck I might be able to get some proper used ones that would do the trick for cheap (and not having to wait so long).

 

I crossed the part. You want Fel-Pro 60538, I would call around and ask auto parts shops or have one shipped from the USA on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sa...3D1%26_arr%3D1

 

Sweet, thanks, man! That's not even expensive! Shipping will be more expensive than the gaskets though ;P And it's still more than one week of shipping time, can hardly wait another day to drive around in my Camaro as it is ;P Will see if I can maybe get them here somewhere from some USA parts stores, perhaps I can. But thanks again!

Edit: Sweet, apparently one of the bigger USA parts stores here has them too! They don't always have the specific stuff I need, unfortunately, but this time they seem to do according to they webstore ;]

 

There called donuts, at least thats what I always refered them to. They are nessesary to seal it up good. I see ya found some. If not I had a few sets of them in the garage id sell because ill never have a need for them. Mine (stock ones) are steel and i dont see how they could ever go bad unless they rusted and pitted. Are about 3/8 inch thick on the outer edge rounding in to a point for the inner edge.

 

Sweet, such a shame that you live on the other side of the world however! ;P

 

donuts are kinda dumb, only when made from asbestos did they work "right" sealed shut forever.

one of the many improvements Buick made early on was to ditch them. no gasket, no donut, metal to metal contact.

They are made from metal now, to duplicate what Buick found, metal to metal seals better.

 

lil trick i learned , coat them with antisieze before u install them , it makes them seal up 100%

 

That's some good info on the side, thanks, man!

Hey, it's project89 again, cool ;D will nail polish do anything without giving in? Since unfortunately I do not have any anti-seize, if it's not too expensive I could pick some up though, sounds like the kind of stuff that might come in handy to have around. I hope that one day I'll be able to turbocharge like you, man!

 

since ur over the big pond im not sure how much it would cost u for a bottle but around here its about 12-14$'s for a jar of it

and yes the stuff comes in handy i use it on my wheel studs, ex system bolts , and steel or stinless bolts that are threaded into aluminum etc , i even use it on the back of alloy wheels as it stops them from sticking to the brake drum/rotors

 

can't help but preach the greatness of Buick when I get the chance
[ no donuts to leak or blow out, external oil pumps you can service, front mounted dizzy you can reach, 4 link rears standard ........3 time winner of the Buick V HEMI shootout]

should have a bottle of anti sieze around as is, saves ya work later.
cheap as it last forever. does get everywhere but the silver finger prints all over mean you were working......

a tube of clear 100% silicone will seal up most exhaust leaks, not as durable once cured. ie your exhaust comes lose and is twisting the Y pipe joint, it gonna loosen its grip. Im a slip fit exhaust builder and use it to stick the section together, without using clamps that deform the pipe. [run a bead around end of female, slip male end down, pushes any excess to the outside, two tiny self taping screws and sealed pipe for good]

 

Got them! Was almost a hour drive forth and another back but must be worth it, especially compared to having to wait for it coming from over the big pond. Might be even more difficult getting these in though, they seem to have an extra rim to them that goes into the exhaust manifold, making it even harder to manoeuvre them in between of the y-pipe and manifold on the passenger side. Will see if I can get them to fit properly. Thanks again, guys!