I guess you could say I was using it as tape but i was wrapping the material around the rear section of pipe so it is close to the diameter of the X pipe.
The real important part of using the band clamps is that they should be tightened with an air gun, the same one you would use for removing the wheels lugs, you want the clamp to deform around the fiber wrap so it captures it .
With aluminum on the outside of the glass it will offer more grab and less shredding of the glass fibers

 

Mike...........if you find the material this North side please post............I'm on year 5 with the X pipe and she's starting to slowly make noise.

 

Think it was exhaust sealing tape (from auto parts store) I wrapped around the stock exhaust and then tightened the heck out of the band clamp. Band clamp took on a stepped shape to mimic the change in pipe diameters.
But I haven't had the )( on for that long to notice any leaking.

 

Missed this post earlier - must've been between refreshes. Thanks Roger, that would be great.

I've found something similar to what Stan describes, except it comes flat with velcro sewn onto the edges, designed for protecting wiring looms. The velcro wouldn't work nicely under the band clamp.

For those wondering what issue we've been having - my band clamp deformed nicely along the join between the X-pipe and the "cat-back" part of the exhaust, but after around 200 miles, the fiberglass fabric gets blown out at the top or bottom edge of the clamp and creates a leak.

I've purchased a 30 foot roll of the fiberglass tape and tried different orientations for the fold, number of layers of tape, clamp relative to seams etc. but it still leaks after a while.

I'm suddenly wondering if the issue is to do with mine and Jon's cars being non-cat from factory? Are the pipes the exact same size on S4's that had a mid muffler instead of cats? I have the smaller GT-style of resonators on my '89 manual, and I think Jon's 928 SE does too.

Roger, have there been any leakage issues in the UK? (where all 87-89 S4's are non-cat). I know a lot of the UK guys use a different X-pipe made in stainless by someone over there, so maybe not many Motorsports pipes have been sold there.

 

Hilton,

Mine was the same way. The issue seems to be that the high flow cats that come with the kit are a close but not exact fit with the cat-back pipes.

Some people don't seem to have a problem with setting it up with the fiberglass wrap.

I took mine to a muffler shop and had them weld the back of the cats to the cat-back portion and the front is just clamped on because I couldn't get the damned thing to stay sealed. Apparently there's a lot of restriction at my 2-into-1-into-2 muffler on the '85 so it kept blowing the whole rear section back.

 

another important part is that the center TT exhaust support should be in place if its not then there wont be much to hold the pipes from sliding back and forth

 

Hilton


I have an ott x pipe on my uk GT and that leaks at the joints

 

Any UK or Euro folks got a set of calipers to measure the rear exhaust pipe diameter?

 

I'll go see if I can reach under both cars later once the kids have had breakfast and are dressed.

 

Kids are smaller and can reach under the car more effectively.

 

In the olden days they used small children as chimney sweeps, in modern day Australia they get sent under cars to measure exhaust pipe diameters.

2.305" or 58.57 mm.

Jon pre breakfast and still in dressing gown.

 

Bumping this old thread - as I currently have my X-pipe off my '89 and would like something more robust than the glass fiber wrap that keeps popping out.

Stan - is the product you mentioned above the DEI Heat Sheath? (see link below)

http://www.designengineering.com/cat...nized-sleeving

Which width did you go with and is it too small, big, or just right?

(side note - this stuff is $50 for 3 feet locally.. $US13 is a bargain!)

 

My glass popped out and got that leaky exhaust noise and smell. A mechanic told me I had put the glass in wrong. Said to fold the glass sheet unevenly and install with single layer on big pipe and double layer on smaller pipe, then tighten down the clamps. Hasn't leaked since.

 

I just installed an X-pipe with this aluminized fiberglass a few weeks ago and I have leaks. Maybe didn't use enough? It's not real bad, but while running on the lift, I can hear the leaks when I get near the joints. I have no doubt it will hold up better than the lose fiberglass though.

 

I used 1 inch diameter sheathing,
my 88 doesnt leak with the aluminized wrap
SKU number for reference SKU: 010418

Note the important part of this is that you want the rear duel pipe support fiitted to the pipes ,
if its not fitted then the pipes after the X will move and cause the joint to fail.
The middle support ties the exhaust in with the TT and engine.