MTFCA Forum

I installed a new pressed Steel muffler on my 27 Roadster, the one piece design. I’ve noticed a ton of exhaust leaking all around each end of the muffler. Are there any venders who sell a better made muffler ? I’m sure a muffler shop can weld this one up tight but I figure that will cost as much or more than a new one.

Yup, that's what they do, and probably what they did back in the day. They are made to be taken apart and so are not welded. I eventually welded mine up only because it blew apart during a backfire.

If the front pipe slides into the muffler which it should, might want to put a 180 slice and install a small muffler clamp. Works for me.

Hank

I disagree with Hank. The front pipe is made to move forward to back and rotate side to side with flexing of the chassis as you drive. If it is clamped, it can cause the front flange on the pipe to break at the manifold, or loosen the nut. Or it can cause the muffler to twist and come apart at the seams. It is better to put a few spot welds on the ends of the muffler and leave the pipe to move around in the front of the muffler. I don't think you would need to take it to a shop. Someone in the club or in your neighborhood most likely has a welder.
Norm

I have to agree with Norm. I had my muffler clamped and it broke the hanger. Muffler and exhaust pipe were bouncing on the rear axle and the fuel line. Not a good combination. That is how I met Dallas and he helped me with the repair. When I got home I installed a new muffler and exhaust pipe that were not clamped together.

Before doing anything drastic, try shortening the inner shell a bit. If it is too long it will result in the outer shell not seating tightly on the ends. Then decide if a bit of soot around each end is really worth chasing.

When I make T mufflers, the centre pipe is expanded to accept the tailpipe. The front end then jams on the flare. This means these mufflers fit in the same way as the cast end mufflers. The pipe is free to expand and contract with heat cycles, with no impact on the mountings.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.

Norman is correct, I was referring to an aftermarket muffler not a stock one. Thanks Norman for the adult supervision. You might try after cleaning very well the surfaces red high heat silicone.

All the Best,

Hank

Thanks guys but I don’t think I was describing the problem clear enough. It’s not leaking at the exhaust pipe connection, and I don’t have a clamp at that point. This muffler isn’t made to come apart as someone said in their reply. The end caps are poorly welded on both ends, not a solid weld to stop exhaust from leaking around the diameter. Seems the ends are just spot welded In a few places that causes a black mess under the car and on the spare. Looks like I’ll be finding someone with a welder !

Have run one of these spot welded mufflers, they are just the normal take apart with spot welds to keep from blowing off the end cap on backfires. Most of the exhaust soot comes from the rear opening of the muffler anyway.

The small amount of soot from the seam is just spilling back, onto the muffler. Here is my install, but using the available exhaust deflector, to direct the exhaust down and away from the spare. Works good. Note some soot from the rear cap seam, as this is a std. take apart, not the spot welded muffler.

Thanks Dan, I’ll be ordering one of those deflectors.