Muffler to Manifold Issues

drscott

drscott

Member
Purchased this 30 pickup Model A. The delivery company actually tore the muffler off in transit. I didnt think it would be that big of deal. But, I did go ahead and purchase a new muffler and new clamp as well. Where the muffler meets the manifold, it just does not line up correctly. The new clamp will not go around both manifold and muffler flush. It just seems the manifold is warped or something.

This clamp system seems very poor to me, but IM may just be missing somwthing. Any thoghts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
Are you describing this muffler clamp? If so, you'll notice that the clamp has "top" and "bottom" sides. It will not clamp when upside-down. And it takes about three or four hands to get it on anyways. To do it yourself, you may need some support under the muffler, but you can do it without that. It's just harder to juggle everything.

Also, do not tighten too much. It breaks easily!
 

Attachments

  • P1090536.JPG
    P1090536.JPG
    196.5 KB · Views: 124
If the muffler is not lining up correctly then you may have to take a length of pipe that just fits into the muffler and give it a bend. Several wraps of tin-foil [ or asbestos] helps with leaks.
 
Thanks Ray, great picture.........yes that is where Im talking about. It also looks as if someone in the past has maybe used like JB Weld or something like that to maybe secure the old muffler to manifold. Could ne the reason it seems out of round or rough on the manifold. I will keep playing with it. Just trying not to buy new manifold.

I do appreciate your help.
 
You might also try backing off the bolt of the rear exhaust pipe clamp to the frame. It can give you the wiggle room you need. I would also recommend using an exhaust sleeve that slips into the neck of the manifold and exhaust pipe. Place a floor jack under the exhaust pipe at the bend under the manifold to hold it in place for clamp installation.
 
It is super easy to mount if the front floor boards are out so you can see the alignment from all angles. Loosen the rear clamp. You may have to use bend the 90 degree bend to properly alignment it up with the manifold. The repop muffler clamps have to be ground larger and dry fit them to both the manifold then the muffler separately. The clamps should fit together pretty close to each other when the nuts are tightened on the bolts. If you do it right the first time you then won't be bouncing the muffler off every time you hit a hard pot hole.

Some guys put a coat hanger wire catch wire to catch the muffler if it does drop down so it doesn't hit the road leaving behind a trail of sparks....:)
 
I just had the same problem. Take the bolt out of the tailpipe to frame clamp. Put a floor jack under muffler to keep it from falling. Then move it around to get it to fit. After it is propperly in place, I heated the pipe to almost red hot ( with a rodebud tip) were it makes the bend from the manifold to the muffler and easly adjusted the angle to fit. Worked much better than trying to bend the pipe cold, and was able to adjust for a perfect fit. Not saying this is the proper or right way, just how I did it.
 
I used a sleeve and a new copper gasket, rolled up a couple of towels on the floor jack, juggled things around, got it lined up and carefully let the jack do the hard part. Some light hammer taps and a little lubrication and it slid on fine. Now, I won't bore you with the story about the all the smoke that came off things from the "little lubrication". No fire........ lots of smoke !
 
Could also be the flange is not shaped right along with the other suggestions. There are some mufflers out there that the flange needs to be massaged into the correct shape.
 
A few possibilities to consider: Maybe the movers didn't yank it off; may well have been barely put together by the previous owner due to same problems you're now having.

Any or all of the three parts you're dealing with could be the source of your alignment difficulty.

1. Frequently, the manifold is warped by being bent down too far due to weight of muffler pulling on a manifold softened by overheating due to retarded timing or other issues.

2. Cheap repro clamps aren't made correctly.

3. Don't know which new muffler you bought, but unless you paid top dollar for one of the Aries products, you may have one that doesn't have the correct flange geometry.

Here's a picture some good citizen posted years ago that may help.

mufflersdimensions.jpg


The JBWeld type stuff you're seeing may be muffler cement. I've had good luck using such a product. Use of the sleeve inserts is controversial--not a good idea to reduce the internal diameter.


Steve
 
Two things to consider.
1. Does the angle of the muffler inlet match the angle of the manifold?
2. Is the muffler inlet round or oval?

1. If the angle is off, take the muffler off and use a 4 ft long piece of 3/4 in pipe to bend it to line up.
2. I the muffler inlet is oval, use a tailpipe expander tool to massage it. This only works if it is off a little.

I have used the jack to help raise it and insert piece also to keep the joint from leaking.
Vic
Vic
 
if you got an Aries, it will fit unless the manifold is sagging too much. If you got one of the other repops, the most satisfactory solution I have heard is to go to a muffler shop and have the flange made bigger so the clamp will hold it. I have seen several of the less expensive repops with a flange so small it falls through the clamp, not to mention the angle of the exhaust pipe is way off.
 
Finally got it......It was a bugger! Its amazing what I can accomplish by walking out of shop and back to the house for 30 minutes...:~)...Of course I had to ask the good Lord to forgive me for the words I was putting out while I was fixing it.

Thanks for eveyone's help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top