Technical Exhaust crack?

[karlbown]

Drove Flavia today for first timer in a week and i heard a metallic grinding sound, which seemed to be engine speed dependent. When I got home I had a look in the engine bay and saw the exhaust looked like this.

I'm no engineer but this doesn't look right. Could it be causing the grinding sound? The exhaust was new from Ricambio less than 100 miles ago.

Thanks for any help in advance

 

[BambinoClassic]

Yes it does look like a crack there where it joins the muffler - I can't see any exhaust mount brackets there? They offer support for the weight of the exhaust so that it isn't bouncing around on the manifolds.

These ones
http://www.passione500.it/impianto-di-scarico/kit-staffe-fissaggio-marmitta-fiat-500-n-d-f-l

 

[karlbown]

Thanks Bambino, I'll look into getting some, and a new exhaust!

Yes it does look like a crack there where it joins the muffler - I can't see any exhaust mount brackets there? They offer support for the weight of the exhaust so that it isn't bouncing around on the manifolds.

These ones
http://www.passione500.it/impianto-di-scarico/kit-staffe-fissaggio-marmitta-fiat-500-n-d-f-l

 

[Toshi 975]

Some exhausts are a better fit than others but you have not done yourself any favours by running it with no brackets apart from invalidating any warranty you may have had. In your position I would buy a new set of brackets and try this. Loosen a little but not remove all nuts & bolts on the exhaust elbows. Fit the new brackets loosely. Tighten the exhaust flanges to the exhaust elbows. Tighten the nuts and bolts on the brackets bringing each one in a little at a time when they start to nip up. Finally tighten the exhaust elbows to the cylinder head. In this way you should have the least residual stress in the exhaust. Finally you need to find a competent local welder to repair that crack in situ. Should be a very small job and the car will be driveable.

 

[fiat500]

I would add; tighten the lower brackets to the crankcase first...they have to be fully tightened anyway and better that they determine the way the silencer sits right at the start of the procedure before doing so can put a strain on the exhaust.

 

[BambinoClassic]

I would also add this was probably one of The worst jobs I had to do on mine!
The brackets didn’t fit well at all and getting everything secured is as indicated by Toshi a real process. Thought it would be straightforward but has to Bend the brackets a little and shape them just to get them to fasten around the muffler.

Argh traumatic memories flooding back

 

[karlbown]

Thanks for all the help guys