[fourseasonsandles]

Originally Posted by Super_HKS

This car is t3h awesome. very nice ride man. I cant wait until I get a roof vane on my 05. I absolutly love the roof vanes!!!

Keep up the good work

Ha ha, Thanks. It isnt much t3h awesome right now with a hole in the exhaust, but I hope to have it back to 100% on Sunday! Ill def report back and maybe start working on some other plans after I get that straightened out.

[fourseasonsandles]

I believe I am back in action. I still need to drive it a bit more to be 100% sure, but the car feels so much better.

I ended up swapping out the gasket and replaced all the bolts from the header to the up pipe. I made sure to put never cease on all the bolts and get it back together. I took my time and checked for leaks along the way and I think I am good.

Also, just as a safety, I swapped the spark plugs for a new set. I took the car to drive it a bit and beat on it. 1st gear really rips again and I seem to be at or really close to target boost. I am going to give it about a week to be sure.

I think meth will be on hold until the spring, if I even decide to do it. I have some bigger things that need to be taken care of as far as our home. New furniture etc. So the big stuff on the car may be on hold for a while.

I am going to start looking into a few things for the interior and exterior though. As always I will keep everyone posted.

[Bishop]

congrats man

[fourseasonsandles]

Funny story. Another thread reminded me of this happening last month and I never posted about it. So here it is.

I was also one of the guys that ditched the wing to lose the attention from the police as well as other cars as you guys know. For the last year + I havent had any problems with the police.

This past July I was camping for a week in Allegany state park. It was approx 11pm-12am. We had just been at the Casino on the reservation for a Buffet and to check out the Casino.

On our way back to the cabin there were 3 cars. A 2005 Dodge Charger R/T with an exhaust, then me with my Cobb catted exhaust and a white Dodge Caravan behind us. All traveling together. Going to the speed limit or less as it was in the park and animals like to run out of no where.

I was in 4th gear just putting along when a cop comes from the opposite direction and turns around. I didnt even noticed he turned around, but was later told he did. We drive the 3-4 miles back to our cabin and everyone is pulling in front of the cabin when he hits the spotlight on my car.

At this point I have no idea why he is coming after me as I was sandwiched between 2 other cars and we were going the speed limit. Turns out he was pulling me for my exhaust. He asked me if it was modified..... flash back to 1 1/2 years ago where I came straight out and told the cop it was after market and got a ticket....... back to the present, I decided to try something and told him it was stock. He pulled out his flashlight and went back to look at it. Note that my car was still running and I hadnt turned it off. He comes back and asks me if I am sure it is stock. I say yes. He then says to me AND I QUOTE: "Usually cars like this have a modified exhaust and that is why I pulled you over. They usually have the angled cans." ...............Now I am thinking to myself, you effing SOB. You didnt know for sure if I was even modified, but decided to stop me anyway fishing for something to be wrong. Not a damn thing about my exhaust is stock. Headers, up pipe, down pipe and catback are all after market.

He also asked me if I had been drinking, which I hadn't and responded "no." He then comes back in a stern voice and says "I would rather you just be honest with me as people always drink at the casino." I said "No, I havent had anything to drink" again and that "I was going to be driving." I also had my girlfriend in the car and her 5 year old niece in the back seat.

Now dont get me wrong. I know full well that my exhaust is illegal in NYS. Although it is catted, any exhaust that is louder than stock is illegal. But I decided to chance it as I didnt think this guy new anything about cars.

So to make this a bit shorter he let me off and said to me "must be just the STIs that come with that kind of exhaust." I told him yes and the engine set up (boxer) is the reason that it rumbles. He went on his way.

Now here is another kicker, the Charger in front of me has blackout headlight covers that make his lights super dim, which is illegal and also has headers and a full exhaust and is just as loud, if not louder than my Cobb TBE. Although this is the first time I was pulled over while being wingless.. It is a sure sign of profiling.

That said, with this one incident being an exception, I am not bothered by the police or other cars since going wingless.

[SCOOBYTRAP]

I'm sooo on the fence about ditching the wing because of cops. Good to hear someone gets a break once in a while, sure hasn't been me.

[fourseasonsandles]

Got under the car again today and this time I had my dad block the exhaust pipe with a piece of wood. Checked the engine bay around the turbo for leaks and found nothing. Got under the car and the same effing gasket is still leaking.

I bought some Permatex Copper Spray-A-Gasket Hi Temp Sealant from Autozone yesterday Amazon.com: Permatex 80697 Copper Spray-A-Gasket Hi Temp Sealant, 12 oz. Aerosol Can: Automotive



I am going to pull the headers off today and use the sealer on the block to manifold gaskets and redo the collector to UP gasket. If that doesnt work, I may just send the old gasket to Remflex and have them make me a set. I havent read good reviews, but if that is the only thing that works, then so be it.

This would make sense that my logs are reading 90% WGDC in the upper RPM because the turbo is not getting enough gas to hit target boost. The WG is trying to make up for that by being almost completely closed.

Ill report back once I get the gaskets in with the sealant.

[fourseasonsandles]

I am still having problems with my leak. The above sealer made the leak smaller, but still didnt eliminate it. Since then I have considered Remflex, but I am hesitant as I know a lot of people have had them fail. I was looking into making my own gasket when a member of Nasioc tossed me this link and I ordered a sheet.

Mr Gasket 5961, Mr Gasket 5961 :: MR GASKET :: Performance Parts :: www.AutoPartsFaster.com

It is steel reinforced carbon fiber from Mr. Gasket. I ordered a sheet and I am going to make my own gasket, using the old one as a template. If that doesnt work, I might check the flanges to see if they are straight and if not I will be sanding them.

I also had my tuner look at my datalogs from EcuExplorer:

If you have an uppipe leak that's a very serious problem which will
cause knock, lower than normal boost, abuse the turbo, and put hotter
than normal air into the engine. Do not boost over it until this is
fixed. Getting up to 5-7 psi at part throttle is fine.

I can see it knocking in log number 2.

I have to know what the mapping looks like to determine if it's
knocking, because in that log it's minor knock. In a certain area where the dynamic advance should be 5 it was lower than that.

Here is the log he was referring to:
4THGEA~2.XLS

So until I get my gasket fixed, I wont be driving the car very often..

Also, so I can keep an eye on things a little better I ordered some Maddad gauges. I have boost and oil pressure on its way with an A-Pillar bezel. This way I can watch my boost to make sure it is always where it is supposed to be and oil pressure is just a good idea.

I assume they will all be here sometime this week. I will keep this thread updated with my results from the gasket. I hope it works out..

[Wolverine 250R]

What is the best way to check for an exhaust leak?

[Fyffediggy]

"fourseasonsandles" how do you like the cobb exhuast system, i was thinking of getting it but i heard it is to low and isnt that far from the stock exhaust?

[uncle lewie]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 250R

What is the best way to check for an exhaust leak?

Smoke machine.

[fourseasonsandles]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 250R

What is the best way to check for an exhaust leak?

I have done it 3 ways so far, and I am no expert. I was just going with what I already knew.

My first check was just getting under the car when it was cold. First start the car and just put my had around where each gasket was and where I felt air, there was a leak.

Another way was taking a spray bottle and filling it with water and dish detergent. Again when the car is cooled off. Start it and get underneath and start spraying on the gaskets. If it starts to bubble up, you know you have a leak there. If you do this when the car is too hot the water will just evaporate right away.

Lastly I had someone take a piece of wood and put it on the exhaust tip with a bit of pressure. Then get under the car and look to see where the smoke is coming out. You can also use the methods described above.

If there is another way to check, I dont know about it and would appreciate anyones info.

Originally Posted by Fyffediggy

"fourseasonsandles" how do you like the cobb exhuast system, i was thinking of getting it but i heard it is to low and isnt that far from the stock exhaust?

I dont know what you mean buy "low." Do you mean volume? Then yes, it is one of the quieter exhausts, but it is definitely louder than stock. I bought it for its stock like appearance and the fact that it wasnt super loud. I enjoy the sound of it. Fits my bill quite nicely.

If you want volume, the Cobb isnt the way to go as there are much louder exhausts out there.

[fourseasonsandles]

I just got an email confirmation from Daddsscp that my gauges are on their way.

[SCOOBYTRAP]

There is a specific torque sequence when installing header, up-pipe,etc. was this followed? I believe it is:
1)Uppipe to turbo
2) uppipe to manifold
3)manifold to heads
Also not sure if you are able but if you can get up in there while its hot and try tightening things up. you could possibly double up gaskets?

Beyond that: Check flatness of the flanges, replace?, sand/grind as needed. sorry just throwing anything out to help. Exhaust leaks suck, especially with upgrades.

[fourseasonsandles]

I got my sheet of exhaust gasket material from Mr. Gasket today. Will be making a custom gasket for the headers this weekend. It is a steel mesh with the gasket material layered on either side of it. I hope that the more faberic type material will seal better than the old metal gasket.

Also got these today. May or may not go in this weekend. Depends on how the gasket repair goes and if I have time. I might wait until I can start doing my black headliner and pillars. We'll see.





Maddad Clarity V2Ti Oil Pressure and Boost.

[fourseasonsandles]

Originally Posted by SCOOBYTRAP

There is a specific torque sequence when installing header, up-pipe,etc. was this followed? I believe it is:
1)Uppipe to turbo
2) uppipe to manifold
3)manifold to heads
Also not sure if you are able but if you can get up in there while its hot and try tightening things up. you could possibly double up gaskets?

Beyond that: Check flatness of the flanges, replace?, sand/grind as needed. sorry just throwing anything out to help. Exhaust leaks suck, especially with upgrades.

I did initially install them in that order as it made the most sense to me. When putting the new gasket in I did not follow that order exactly. I did take the headers off to spray the flanges, but I will def do them in that order this time.

Also we may try doubling up on the gasket. I have an idea for modifying it a bit to see if something works.

I will def update with my findings because as I am finding out, I am not the only one with this problem on the Maddad V2 UEL headers.

Edit: If the single gasket doesnt work. I am going to try something like this.