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Finding Exhaust Leak

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J

JoshP

Jedi Trainee
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Finally, something besides an overdrive problem! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I was out driving my B with the top up when I noticed the scent of exhaust fumes. This area is chock full of coal trucks belching out black exhaust constantly, so I think nothing of it and keep going. A little while later, I start to feeling woozy, nauseous and sleepy (classic CO symptoms).

I also noticed that I was in an area where the trucks don't typically go, and that the fumes were stronger now. I'm thinking my B has an exhaust leak going on.

As I go to check out my exhaust, I would like to ask if anyone knows any tips/tricks for finding leaks (if there indeed is one) or if there's known locations for those to happen on these cars?

Also, is there any other way that the fumes could creep back into the car without an actual leak in the system? The fumes that I smelled were that of pure exhaust, not raw gas or anything; the car doesn't have a cat converter (probably whacked when it was converted to twin SUs).

Help, please? I like driving my B and all, but I don't wanna go to the ER for it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
May I suggest that you take the car to an exhaust specialist NOW? You could spend a lot of time chasing down the leak, maybe make the aquaintance of a few medics along the way, but asking for expert advice from an exhaust shop seems the best way to go.

Guinn
 
Well if after inspecting the entire exhaust you still don’t see anything obvious start by checking in the engine bay first. You might have a damaged or missing bulkhead (firewall) grommet that is allowing engine bay gasses to enter the passenger compartment. If you find anything fix it.

Next after warming up your car to the point where it is idling smoothly – find a hollow cardboard tube (rapping paper, paper towel or kitchen rap roll works fine). Now use it as a sort of stethoscope. Put one end up to your ear and move it along the manifold and listen for exhaust seepage. This should at least give you an idea where the leak is.

Also if your late model b still retains the original stock Zenith Stromberg carburetor & the single (combo) intake/exhaust manifold you have a number of spots to look at where leaks develop. The first is the most obvious where the Manifold bolts to the head. But another famous one on these setups is where the manifold & the Catalytic converter connect. The next would be the “doughnut” used where the cat & the exhaust down pipe.

Of course you might just need a new exhaust. But you should be able to inspect the exhaust using the method I described for finding manifold leaks.

Good Luck!
 
Find a helper to hold a "shop rag" snugly in place over the tailpipe while you go along the length of the system. Every little leak will make itself evident.
 
If your car has ever ran rich, you'll see the leaks underneath in the form of black stains in the area around the tailpipe. That's part of what clued me in that I was about to need some exhaust work. Then the pipe fell apart suddenly, but that's another story for another day.
 
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