Exhaust woes

[Kevsta]

My exhaust has cracked where the pipe enters the cat/exhaust. Can't afford to go buying a new one especially as i will hopefully do an upgrade in this department next year or so. 😬

 

My question is: Can i just go and buy an exhaust from someone (like custom chrome) and fit it onto the pipe until i want to upgrade? My problem is that I have a cat and I'm not sure what the rules are for MOT. The car is a 95 on an N plate with a VVC engine (being fitted at the mo). Do i have to have a Cat? And so should i just try and weld up the crack (its cracked all the way round)? Or should i try and buy a s/hand? - don't really wnat to as i've been offered one at it was too expensive really.

 

What is the concensus?

 

Kev

[Frying Pan]

Kevsta

 

You're not alone - here

 

Guy

 

See some pictures of the build here. 4000 miles completed!

[Sheds Moderator]

(whisper mode)

I had a cracked cat on an old Cav. I got it migged back together. It wasn't too pretty but went through another 3 MoTs in my possession and 2 years being abused by my best mate, to whom I sold the heap. The car was sold for £50 at 190k miles with a snapped speedo cable, still running the original cat.

 

I know what I'd do

[blade_runner]

I second that... go to a small independant garage, and I bet they wont charge more than about £30 to weld the crack up...

 

'Pinky Pics' here

[Shaun_E]

Is your car kit built or factory built? If it was kit built then you can bin the cat as for MOT emissions purposes your car will be considered as first used before 1975. See here.

 

Yellow SL #32

[shn7]

Kev,

 

Indeed you are not alone. I've just dropped mine off at a local welding specialist who can do TIG welding on the stainless steel. Expecting to pay £20 - £30 when I pick it up tomorrow.

 

Was yours supported at the from? I've figure the reason for mine failing was the lack of support bracket at the front of the silencer. I shall of course be rectifying this on re-fitting.

 

I'm also considering the upgrade options.

 

Steve.

[Kevsta]

Cheers for the info guys! Will check the weld method for sure...

 

Steve, one of the brackets (front i think) had snapped/was not working which led to the pipe being given extra torsion stress which i think led to the cracking...it was funny that when cold it was ok but after a blat on track the exhaust separated with the heat and was blowing like mad 😬 . Gonna check all my options before commiting, thanks again everyone.

 

Kev