The Flood Survivor - 82 X1/9 Build

[rx1900]

MWB has a sports header muffler combo that I was trying to not justify for myself but here we go!

Yeah...well....that is up to your pocketbook......

If you have any questions about the stock exhaust system...or what it should be like if a previous owner had messed with it....just ask...

But....I can give you one good word of advice...IF...your exhaust is still stock....there should be this piece between the cat and the muffler:

Exhaust Flange Slip Joint Assembly at Converter (Fiat Bertone X1/9 1980-88) - U8.5

Exhaust Flange Slip Joint Assembly at Converter (Fiat Bertone X1/9 1980-88) - U8.5

www.midwest-bayless.com

Sadly....if that joint has not been apart since the 80's....there is a good chance it will not like coming apart.....I highly suggest you drop off the entire cat and muffler assembly in one piece....disconnect it on the car by unbolting the front pipe to cat joint...

Then ...with the cat-muffler combo on the floor or workbench.....do your very best to avoid going all caveman and breaking off any of those 7 studs...you will cry later if that happens.....so use lots of penetrant....or better still apply lots of heat to each nut. Even a cheap plumber's propane torch will usually work....although it may require 2 heating cycles.....and the nuts will undo...

Yes..that will take some time and care.....but nothing like the agony of dealing with broken studs....

 

[halr75]

@rx1900 i had been hoping to avoid the pocket book bruising. The original exhaust looked great before I got into cleaning it up. Said slip joint and all associated bolts were in awesome condition. Unfortunately during storage a rodent had made his home inside and filled things up with uric acid. Things from the outside look awesome but there is a rattly loose baffle and some pinholes.

It all was taken apart by the PO in the 80s and never went back together. Don’t have good photos of muffler but here is what the cat looked like after a bit of elbow grease…

 

[halr75]

And just because she’s easily accessible here are some snaps as she stands!

 

[rx1900]

Hmmm....okay......sorry I did not realize your situation.....

At this point...might be best to just order a new proper muffler from Obert.....or place a "wanted" ad here. Maybe someone has a decent used EFI muffler from a parts car...or leftover from a K20 swap.....

 

[Rupunzell]

Don't forget the anti-seize on the threaded bits and more on the exhaust system. Future wrencher will thank you much.
BTW, those tall M8 nuts on the exhaust should be made of bronze. Bronze nuts hold up good at exhaust heat. Similar is used
on small piston engine aircraft exhaust systems.

Bernice

 

[halr75]

Don't forget the anti-seize on the threaded bits and more on the exhaust system. Future wrencher will thank you much.
BTW, those tall M8 nuts on the exhaust should be made of bronze. Bronze nuts hold up good at exhaust heat. Similar is used
on small piston engine aircraft exhaust systems.

Bernice

Thanks Bernice, i do believe these are the bronze nuts but in my efforts to clean everything up i sprayed everything down with SLIP Plate graphite lubricant hence the color. Will go and confirm.

 

[Clatter]

Man!
Just can't get over how CLEAN everything is on this car!!

Is it the muffler or the cat that has loose bits?
If just the cat,
It's a known issue that the core matrix will break down when exposed to rat urine.


FWIW,
Chiseling out all of the little bits of broken matrix didn't hinder my passing smog in the least.
I'm sure it added at least 40-60HP in the process as well.

 

[TonyK]

Man!
Just can't get over how CLEAN everything is on this car!!

Is it the muffler or the cat that has loose bits?
If just the cat,
It's a known issue that the core matrix will break down when exposed to rat urine.


FWIW,
Chiseling out all of the little bits of broken matrix didn't hinder my passing smog in the least.
I'm sure it added at least 40-60HP in the process as well.

The last comment may be a bit of a s t r e t c h !

Just saying.

TonyK

Grimsby Ontario Canada.

 

[halr75]

PO reached regarding a stack of documents he found from when he owned the car, he was good enough to ship them down to me.