bad exhaust leak..

[Hondafreak08]

Ok i have an 88 ford ranger 2.9 4x4. On the pass side, right where the exhasut manifod and exhaust bolt together, its leaking like a mother. Like fly a kite leak. The two lflanges where they bolt together is rusted. How do you all suggest i fix this. Its throwing off the 02 sensor due to the leak (or so i think) and its running horrible.. Any help appreciated

[BlackBII]

It may just need to be tightened, You'll need some extensions and an Impact, you can reach the bolts from underneath. Does it look like it's broken or cracked or anything? Try getting a picture and posting it

[87Rangerdude]

i have the same problem with my 87' its really bad and the 2 bolts are so rusty that it would probably break if i try to tighten them, should i just cut the pipe right there and go w/o the cat and just redo my exhaust?

[rangerpimpn84]

yea mine has the ssame problem. My bolt is copletely gone and it used tojust hang there. i live in buffalo , new york and till this crap we call snow is gone i used a c clamp and tightened it done.

[Chic N Stew]

Mine did the same, so i cut off the flang with a torch and smoothed up the edges with an angle grinder and welded new pipes from there to the cat

[87Rangerdude]

i have a quick noob question, sorry to hijack your thread, but if i cut my cat out will my truck run shitty(er)?

[Hondafreak08]

i did.(actually i hollowed it out) I would reccommend not doing it. Looking back i wish i didnt. I believe with a cat, my 3'' exhaust would let the truck run better. Give me the back pressure ( or the tech name) i need. I built my exhaust to big. Leave it in. Its pointless to take out.

[mhughes165]

3" exuast on a ranger is just retarded...you dont ahve nowhere near the exhaust velocity that is required, the bigges i would run is a 2.5 and thats even pushing it for a single pipe

[V8_power428@hotmail.com]

yeah i have the same problem on my 89 my bolts were good but tightening it did nothing. and i dont have a cat on my truck and it runs and works fine the only neg about it is that u wont pass an emmisions test. and as for the 3inch exaust the lower back pressure will reduce your low end torque output a bit but will increase you high end horsepower.

[Exploder_Chick]

I have the same problem with my 93 explorer, buts my fault, haha, i cut the exhaust off half way and stuck a muffler on and so it doesnt have any supports except where it bolts up at the manifold. I bent the flanges outa shape and emits the exhaust leak BAD. Your best bet is to get new down pipes. They are like 106 bucks at autozone.