Anyone ever "bandage" a flex pipe exhaust pipe?

[Monkeyleg]

I have as my rainy day car my old 1991 Saturn, which we bought new. It's ugly, but it runs. I don't drive it often, so I keep the battery disconnected. It sometimes sits for two weeks without being started.

Anywho, today it was raining hard, and I had an errand to run. I connected the battery, got in, started it, and noticed the exhaust was louder. I drove about a block and could hear a pipe dragging on the pavement. I looked under the car, and saw that the exhaust had broken in the middle of the flex pipe.

I know those things are expensive, and the pipe and labor will cost more than what the car is worth. On the last exhaust problem, I had a rusted-through catalytic converter, which I just cut out and replaced with a section of pipe.

Is there anything that can be done with a flex pipe, short of replacing it? I've never had any luck with so-called "muffler bandages", but maybe I never prepped the metal properly or something.

[Boomhauer]

Maybe you could have somebody weld it up for fairly cheap...

[Chuck Dye]

Did that once, years ago.  Was given a "tape" that was specifically for that purpose, seemed to be stainless steel thin enough to flex, with heat curing adhesive.  There was no brand name or application info, the fellow who gave it to me said to use a minimum of three layers, no more than five.  The repair outlasted my ownership of the car.

The search is left to the student as an exercise.

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks, Chuck! I'll search tomorrow.

[Regolith]

Edit: joking aside, this stuff or something similar might work: http://www.shurtape.com/Default.aspx?Tabid=79&Level1=15&Level2=16&ProductID=229

It's rated to 600 degrees. I bought a lower grade made by the same maker at Lowes in the duct section, but it's only rated to 260 degrees. I don't recall if they have the high-temperature stuff there.

[280plus]

nah, don't waste your time. It'll come off in no time. I don't think they are all that expensive at all. The catalytic converter is expensive, the rest is cheap. go to the local muffler shop not meineke etc

[Brad Johnson]

Unless you need an entire system an exhaust shop should be able to weld in a section of replacement pipe for under $50.

Brad

[280plus]

Unless you need an entire system an exhaust shop should be able to weld in a section of replacement pipe for under $50.

Brad

Which reminds me...

[RoadKingLarry]

Tin cans and hose clamps.

[Jim147]

If i'm remembering right, that piece of flex is right under the motor?

If so you can buy that section of exhaust from the manifold flange to the resonator flage for about fifty bucks. Getting the three nuts loose on each end will be the hardest part of the job.

jim

[Hawkmoon]

What I've done to prolong the agony with old cars and failing exhaust systems is to go to a place like Auto Zone or Pep Boys and buy a short section of exhaust pipe that's the next size larger than the pipe I need to patch. Hacksaw it lengthwise to make two halves. Smear some muffler repair putty on the inside, put the two halves around the broken pipe, and clamp with two muffler clamps.

[White Horseradish]

The weld-in flex pipe connector is $28 at Autozone. The whole pipe with flex section is $83 same place.

I don't know what welding costs.  I do know any repair on that flex section is pretty much a waste of time. 

[Monkeyleg]

nah, don't waste your time. It'll come off in no time. I don't think they are all that expensive at all. The catalytic converter is expensive, the rest is cheap. go to the local muffler shop not meineke etc

That's been my experience with quick-fix products in the past. Don't know if any of the current ones are any better.

For some reason, Saturn parts prices are on a par with Porsche and Mercedes. IIRC, the last time we had the flex pipe replaced, the bill came to over $400. I just looked online, and saw a flex pipe for a '91 Saturn SL1 for $179.

[Brad Johnson]

Which reminds me...

Remind me to remind you later.

Brad

[280plus]

Thanks Brad, will do! 

[280plus]

Check autozone?

[White Horseradish]

For some reason, Saturn parts prices are on a par with Porsche and Mercedes. IIRC, the last time we had the flex pipe replaced, the bill came to over $400. I just looked online, and saw a flex pipe for a '91 Saturn SL1 for $179.

Check autozone?

I already did:

The weld-in flex pipe connector is $28 at Autozone. The whole pipe with flex section is $83 same place.

Actually, Autozone lists two different part numbers for the bolt-up pipe, one is $83, and one is $139. Don't know what the difference is. Still, neither is $179, let alone $400.

Dick, if you don't have an Autozone nearby, you can order stuff direct form their website and have it delivered.

[Monkeyleg]

I took a closer look at the exhaust setup, and I'm not sure how this would all work out. I'll have to see what Autozone has on hand. For now I should just get some wire and hang the exhaust up so I can drive the car.

I'm too old to be lying on concrete under a car, and I've always hated exhaust work.

[Scout26]

Always make sure you bring the engine up to normal operating temp before working on the exhaust.





















 

[280plus]

^^^ 

anyhoo, for the down and dirty temporary repair I too suggest a tin can sliced down the side, wrap it as many times as it will go around and hold it in place with hose clamps.