exhaust leak help

[ambrose]

my truck had developed a very annoying ticking noise. I noticed a whistle accompanied it as well. So i listened around and it sounded like it was coming from the cat converter. then i put my hand near the flange that is between the pipe coming from the manifold, and the cat. there is lots of exhaust blowing out. i think the pipes are fine, its just the flange is leaking somehow. the truck is from up north so the bolts look dead, i'm afraid to take them off. my first idea would be to take the bolts off, and then get non rusted ones and tighten the flange up because maybe it just came loose? is there a gasket in the flange? maybe that went bad? 1998 ford ranger, 3.0L, 2wd.

 

[Z3CHYD]

some of them had a "doughnut" style gasket in the flanges, it might of deteriorated and blown out, or like you said, it could just be loose, id try replacing the bolts first an see

 

[ambrose]

they are pretty rusty, should i just hope they dont break off? if they do do i just saw and drill them out. i dont want to make myself worse off

 

[Z3CHYD]

yea if they break off just put in new ones, and use washers an lock washers/locknuts