CGT downpipe/cat joint, need flex?

[auditude at cox.net]

Hi Javad,

Thanks for the reply.  The scariest part about it is I think that transmission bracket is not present on my car.  Furthermore, I know the drive side motor mount is torn, probably the passenger one too.

What a PITA.  If I was going to spend bucks on the downpipe area, I would swap in the 4kq EM and downpipe that I have queued.  I was going to install it onto another n/a head and swap heads to get it on.  Maybe I'll go in and complain to them, and make some arrangement to come back in with the new setup for them to do over.  I'm not excited about going from my garage to the muffler shop without anything connected after the downpipe tho'.

Thanks,

Ken

JShadzi at aol.com wrote:
>
> Ken, I'd say you're on the right track, have them put in a simple flex pipe in there somewhere, and also have them put some flanges back in front of the cat, what do they expect you to do God forbid you ever want to pull your downpipe?  That kind of install may work for econo-commuter cars but not cars like these.
>
> Overall I'd say ensure that the downpipe is securely mounted to the tranny and you won't have too many problems with head studs. but the flex piece will definitely help, I'm not currently using one on my 3" pipe but its mounted well to the tranny and the rear of the exh. is also solidly mounted to the rear subframe (isolated with a poly bushing).
>
> Javad
>
> >Hey List,
> >
> >So I bite the bullet so to speak and decide to take the Coupe GT into a muffler shop to have them tend to the leak it had, since I don't want to mess with exhaust work myself in this 105f degree heat.
> >
> >They charge me $30 to put a "fuse" in, their name for a short piece of pipe welded in place.  They end up welding my downpipe to the front of the cat, solid.  They removed the two flanges, metal sealing donut, and three spring-loaded bolts.  It fixed the leak sound, but I don't think I'm happy with how they did it.
> >
> >I'm concerned that engine movement will now put stress on the exhaust manifold instead of allowing some flex at that joint.  Am I being overly cautious, or should I take the Bentley into the muffler shop and ask them to add something there that flexes like it needs?
> >
> >Is the stock sealing donut intended to allow some flex there?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Ken