Pipe from Cat to Muffler Broke/Snapped '97 FR HELP

[ToxicSteve]

Well this happened back in September in the middle of nowhere on the interstate. The only fix I could come up with was a soup can I had (was driving home from camping) and some duct tape (I knew it would melt but I didn't have much else). $1 fix.... Well that actually worked until the middle of October when the soup can was completely shredded.

Since it worked so well I thought hell lets do it again but a little more structured. So I wrapped some thin aluminum sheeting around it a couple times and some bolt on clamps. And as a back up a wire hanger (unwound) attached to the frame above the muffler. $9 fix... I noticed today as I was walking to my truck that my aluminum is shredded and I'm hanging on by that wire hanger. So I'm guessing I got about two days before that breaks off.

The whole problem that it keeps shredding is because the pipe from the cat is about a 1/4" larger than the pipe leading into the muffler (or other way around can't seem to remember at the moment) So they welded the larger pipe over the smaller one.

What would be a more permanent way to keep those two pipes together? Besides welding, because I have know tools or skill to do that. And I'm looking for CHEAP!!! Like preferably under $50, but obviously if I have to go higher I would do it. I have a 97 Ranger

 

[nate09]

just bring it to an exhaust shop and see how much itd be for them to weld it.

 

[Yellowsplash]

You shouldnt butt two different sized pipes together without some sort of adapter. Filling it in with weld or anything of that sort is not the correct way.

There should be a flange there unless your exhaust was modified. In this case, you need an adapter. Any parts store or muffler shop can get you the correct adapter.