Michael Joseph Moynihan
Member
I have a 78 Volare premier with the Super Six and chased a exhaust leak down to the gasket between the intake and the exhaust manifolds where the heat riser is located. Gaskets were gone 1/2 of the way to the inside towards the head. Removed both blasted and all new hardware as well as gasket matched and coated both with KBS cast Iron color coating. My question is about the head pipe connection to the exhaust manifold. The pipe is so rigid that it has no movement at all as it is attached to a clamp prior to the cataltic converter which is attached to a frame conection. I looked at my factory shop manual and this is the way they were assembled. So, does this pipe having no allowable movement when the engine moves due to torque or RPM a contributing factor in the separation of the manifolds at the contact connection causing the leak. Can a ball type joint be used to allow some movement or possibly a flex portion to allow some give and lessen the strain on the joint. Just concerned that after all the work and time to not address this I might soon be back to the same spot. Only good thing is I will have no rusted bolts and know all the trick now to take it off. Thanks in advance for any and all help. Mike
