I think I hit a curb... (Page 2/3)
Cliff Pennock OCT 13, 05:15 PM
Well like I said, I remember backing up into a curb days before I brought the car to them. I didn't check for damage then (like I usually do).
jpeeler OCT 13, 06:09 PM
I wonder why the shop that did all this work for you apparently noticed something like that and didn't just go ahead and fix it as a courtesy. Or at the very least ask if you wanted it addressed.

[This message has been edited by jpeeler (edited 10-13-2024).]

Mike in Sydney OCT 13, 06:14 PM
Cliff, at least it's an easy fix. Suggest you put the car on a lift and use an oxy-acetylene torch to heat tthe pipe in the bent area to a medium glow then pull the exhaust tip around to where it should be. You can put a broomstick or pipe in the exhaust if you need attional leverage.

I seriously doubt that you have enough of a ding to affect performance but if the dent doesn't come out enough for you, you can use a spot weld dent puller to tease out the dent. If your exhaust pipe is not too compromised by rust it should come out. I've used this method to pull out dents on crushed coolant pipes .
Cliff Pennock OCT 13, 07:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by jpeeler:

I wonder why the shop that did all this work for you apparently noticed something like that and didn't just go ahead and fix it as a courtesy. Or at the very least ask if you wanted it addressed.




They actually did quite a bit of extra work as a courtesy already. They didn't mention it because they thought I already knew it was dent.
Patrick OCT 13, 07:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

Well like I said, I remember backing up into a curb days before I brought the car to them.



Oh... I missed that part.


quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

They didn't mention it because they thought I already knew it was dent.



The actual "dent" in the pipe is inconsequential. It's the fact that the exhaust tip is pointing way off to the side that is of concern. Besides the fact that it looks awful, you don't want a hot exhaust tip melting the bumper skin. I'm surprised the shop didn't just straighten it out, as it would've been pretty simple to do with the cradle dropped.
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 14, 03:26 PM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:

Probably like you said, hit a curb. I'd try laying under the car and put a C-Clamp on the wide ends and squeeze it back into shape. It's not restricting it much, but the hot tip might be burning the bumper.




Cliff, my opinion (having seen how they do this in body shops for frames), tie a ratchet strap to the other side of the exhaust, and snug it down, and then do exactly as RWDPLZ says. As you clamp it down tighten the strap some more to kind of force the metal back in place. It should not affect the other side of the exhaust pipe, just keep an eye on it. At least you'll be able to get it back more or less into spec.
Cliff Pennock NOV 03, 01:50 PM
So I think I figured out with which part I hit the curb. It wasn't the exhaust tips that caught the curb, but the exhaust clamp (tail pipe hanger). I had straightened the tips by inserting a pipe and bending it back but when I did, I noticed I could move the tip up and down without any effort. I saw that one of the clamp's bolt was bent, so I probably hit the curb with the bolt.

Problem is, that prevents me from tightening the clamp. Or loosen it for that matter. I don't have spare clamps so until I do, how can I fasten it? I don't have any room for another clamp (without hanger) I think.
Patrick NOV 03, 03:17 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

It wasn't the exhaust tips that caught the curb, but the exhaust clamp (tail pipe hanger).



...which is exactly the reason why exhaust clamps should never be tightened in place with the bolts pointed down. I either install them pointed straight up, or if tightening them positioned that way is an issue, I then position the bolts parallel to the ground.

Cliff, I was trying to find the images I posted years ago of where I located the hangers (and clamps) near the exhaust tips on two of my Fieros... but of course, they're among the tens of thousands of missing images.
Cliff Pennock NOV 03, 03:30 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

...which is exactly the reason why exhaust clamps should never be tightened in place with the bolts pointed down.



Yes, but these are the "official" clamps so you can't point them with the bolts up...
Patrick NOV 03, 03:51 PM

quote
Originally posted by Cliff Pennock:

Yes, but these are the "official" clamps so you can't point them with the bolts up...



Good point... but that's one of the reasons why I relocated the exhaust tip hangers on my Fieros.

I searched my hard drive and found one of the "lost" uploaded images. This is the driver's side of my '86 GT, with the plastic wheelwell liner removed, looking towards the rear of the car. You'll notice the original factory hanger has been removed. However, due to the pipe being crushed by the original clamp, the joint is still tight.