Exhaust leak at manifold to pipe bracket

[mgless]

This is the earlier BE-style exhaust bracket. I can see the exhaust under the hood and smell it in the cockpit -- it's pretty bad. I was told that I'm missing the bracket that goes underneath the car that attached the pipe to the underside and that this can contribute to the problem. All I have is the bracket at the manifold and the one at the tailpipe.

I see the Moss diagram, but looking under my car it's not clear to me where this would attach. Does anyone have a picture of theirs?

Also, I can't believe that bracket alone would clear up the leak at the manifold-to-pipe. Are there any tricks for that? It was a pain getting it attached.

 

[Billm]

The bracket does not correct the seal nor help it to seal. Once you have the pipe correctly clamped then the bracket just holds it in place so that it doesn't move and thus have a leak.
I don't bother with the factory bracket but just get a piece of EMT conduit (for house wiring) and a 1 1/2" muffler clamp and secure it. Not factory perfect but has held for years and is cheap.
Go ahead and correct the alignment of the clamp and put something in there to stabilize it and drive!
BillM

 

[Pythias]

One of the tricks when putting the pipe to the manifold is to coat the clamping surface of the clamp with motor oil. Doing that will help it slide into place better, then the oil burns off and Bob's yer Uncle.

 

[nomad]

If everything isn't perfectly aligned you will have a dickens of a time in making it seal. I have a car that is driving me nuts right now and will probably end up changing out the pipe or going to the later exhaust.

Kurt.