re welding headers

[sic86]

hi just want to know if its a good idea to re weld headers? i notice a crack on mine where the welds join the pipes. i just want to know if its worth doing?

[--Redwork--]

Why wouldn't it be a good idea.
You think driving around with it cracked is going to be better..??
Just get it welded... Mush cheaper than replacing them..

[sic86]

kool thanks mate! just a small hair line crack, i didnt want to do more damage to the extractors especially when they are stainless steel jap header

[--Redwork--]

Ahh well you didn't mention that....
Still get it welded but make sure its tig welded with the right wire..
And try and work out why its cracked in the first place...
has the exhaust been made a little wrong and is placing alot of weight on the headers..
Are they old..??. stainless is pretty shit material for headers.. It can't handle the constant heat cycles and becomes brittle.. Hence why they always crack..

[Sam-Q]

get someone to tig weld it up, I don't suggets you take it to an exhaust shop, I heard many of them don't even run stainless wire when they weld their stainless systems in their workshops with their mig welders

[--Redwork--]

Of corse they don't.. why would they.. ???
How often does a weld rust out before the exhaust pipe does.?? never..
Even a stainless exhaust would need replacing from damage or stuffed mufflers befor the welds were rusted to the point of leaking..

[Sam-Q]

because it's structurally inferior and its more prone to crack. If you want to do it right you need to use pure argon and stainless wire

[--Redwork--]

Yeah thats to do it RIGHT.. how many stainless exhausts do most shops do you think.??
Hardly any... Its not worth there time to waiste changing wire and gas bottles. plus the extra expense of having an argon bottle sitting around that only gets used once in a blue moon..
Plus how many ppl would know anyway..?? Bet 95% of ppl that get a stainless system don't even look under their car..
And if it did fail (after ages) they'd just go back an exhaust shop and get them to fix it.. Not even realising it failed because of lazy work practise in the first place..

[Sam-Q]

ok I think I know what angle your looking at it from now, your talking from the point of view of the exhaust shop, not for this guy. Well anyway you have shown my point and for this guys extractors I think a fabricator with a tig welder is the way to go.

[--Redwork--]

Definatly.

[Dylan]

Have you been using that heat wrap on these. Heard it can cause cracks due to the heat buildup

[cri_ag]

make sure the exhaust has a mount up close to the engine, i normally put one in where the exhaust passes the bellhousing and make a bracket off one of the bellhousing bolts. helps the motor move in unison with the exhaust and takes some forces away from the brittle extractors.

[Sam-Q]

an auxilery support brace.. that's a very smart suggestion