Pacesetters leaking

[Lancer-AM]

I know one fix is buying kooks but let's not go down that route. My headers are leaking at the midpipes from the bands, does anyone know how to stop the leaking short of welding them up?

[MuhThugga]

I forget the company, but someone makes some pretty wide band clamps. You can pick them up at Napa for a reasonable price.

They fixed the problem on my friend's Pacesetters. I would also run a bead of high-temp RTV sealant at the joint before putting the clamp on. Then let the RTV set for 24 hours before running the car again.

[Lancer-AM]

Sweet thanks I think I'll have to give it a go, I can't idle and sit in the car too long, afraid I'll go to sleep and not wake up :p

[schufflerbot]

RTV will hold up to catless midpipe/LT heat?

i did not know that.

[camarochevy1970]

the right RTV certainly will. I used it to help seal a AIR port on a set of 4th gen headers, and it was sealed tight and never leaked

[MuhThugga]

RTV will hold up to catless midpipe/LT heat?

i did not know that.

High temp RTV will.

I used it to seal up my cat-back to mid-pipes.

[E.T.M.C.]

there is a very high temp that will hold up. if you get a good clamp and seal it thats your best bet, other than that you will have to weld it up

[Lancer-AM]

Yeah going to try the RTV. Welding doesn't sound that appealing. When we did the heads I had to disconnect the mid pipe from the header on the driver's side to get some more room to work, so if it needs to happen again I want to be able to do it.

[camarochevy1970]

Yeah going to try the RTV. Welding doesn't sound that appealing. When we did the heads I had to disconnect the mid pipe from the header on the driver's side to get some more room to work, so if it needs to happen again I want to be able to do it.

Reciprocating saw? :)

[Lancer-AM]

Yeah the saw is an option but then I would have to drive it open header to get it welded back up. Fun option but already been pulled over in town before for my exhaust being too loud now. The Aussie Cow farts loud!

[3rdgenfan]

I am assuming MuhThugga is talking about me or Dirk..don't know of anyone else with Pacesetters around here haha

I bought clamps from NAPA that were about 12 bucks a piece or so, they were about 3-4" wide and it crushed itself to fit the connections.

I put RTV around the open areas, Here's a shot of the clamp that I've got on the car right now...just ignore what everything looks like..the car is a DD right now and gets driven thru any weather. It does leak again a little bit, because I never really gave it enough time to cure.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n263/3rdgenfan/headerclamp.jpg

[camarochevy1970]

ah yes, those clamps. You can get those at Summit and a few other places as well, they work well

[3rdgenfan]

ah yes, those clamps. You can get those at Summit and a few other places as well, they work well

Yep..and it's going to be cheaper to get it at the auto parts store, too. Instead of paying Summit's million dollar handling charge. :eek:

[MuhThugga]

Yeah, I was talking about you, Geoff.

You don't remember me being under the car helping you out with the clamps?

[LS1_Impulse]

Yeah, I was talking about you, Geoff.

You don't remember me being under the car helping you out with the clamps?

Hmm I seem to remember this story :D

[Lspwr]

My pacesetters have leaked from that point since day 1 also.
I am looking into a new ball seat similar to what kooks uses. Looking into taking 1" off header, and 1" off mid, and adding a ball seat style connection.
I am in the process of getting parts.

[Lancer-AM]

I prefer the clamp to the ball seat just for ease of install. The leaking does suck. I haven't had a chance to get under mine and try and seal it up with everything else I have been doing.