FM lower down pipe problem
 

I recently removed my FM turbo and lower down pipe from my car, I noticed that the flange weld on the lower down pipe had split (the 4 bold flange that attaches to the cast upper down pipe).

I have had it welded but when input a straight edge across the flange it is not perfectly flat, I assume it was before I had it welded. What is my best option:

Try to grind/ file the flange flat
Try to find a gasket to fit (I'm in the UK and can't seem to find one)
Buy a new lower down pipe?

Any advice would be welcome.....

Barry

Grind it flat.

use Copper RTV and make your own gasket...after you've tried to beltsand the flange flat.

bolt it together as is and see if the tick-tick exhaust leak bothers you. If so, then do what is said above.

Cheers guys, I have just had a go at draw filing it in different directions and it is taking away the hig spot in the middle so I think that will work.

I have some MAG RTV red (650 degrees F) will that suffice?

Thanks again for the replies.....

Barry

yeah, copper ultra is rated at 700°F; that's what i use.

That pipe is going to get WAY hotter then 700*, don't know of anything that well last in that spot. Needs to mate up tight flange to flange.

I'm using that stuff on my cat. it's fine bro. dont knock it till youve tried it.

Get some sand paper, put it on a flat surface and just grind away. It will take some time but most people dont have a big flat wheel or a surface grinder.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1342460993

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...DSCF0002-1.jpg

You get the point.

Had my down pipe crack all the way through there. My replacement downpipe from FM had a slight dome; right over the little braces on the sides. Just sand it down. I mounted mine in a vise and used an orbital sander for most of it.

First off I ain't your bro, second I wasn't knocking anything. If the temp is good to 700* it ain't going to hold up at the temp that down pipe gets to bro. Copper ultra is mainly for head gaskets.

but it will, and does. Would I use it on the turbo, hell no. anywhere else on the exhaust, hell yes.

Just to close this thread, I tried most things to get this flat but in the end I took it to a fabricator to get it milled flat. Due to the shape of the flange it couldn't be gripped securely in the vice so he tac welded a lump of box steel to the exhaust - job done

Cost me £15 ($10 ish)

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1343369244

Thanks for all the advice though.

Barry