Exhaust stud removal ideas... fml

pm sent
 
I'm on the third gasket in about 3 months. I added additional clamps to perimeter of flanges just yesterday The weight of exhaust components seems to be separating gasket flanges
 
My flange is def a little warped I'm gonna try two gaskets with cooper rtv in between all of it I'll let ya know tom how it goes!
 
Was considering that but then I'd have to replace the cat which I probably need to do anyway but I'm cheap and I think two gaskets with rtv will work out hopefully!??
 
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One side would fine to just cut off but the other side cats sorta part of the flange no room for coupler! Cut and coupler was my first idea bought new sawzall blades and then stopped when I got under there!
 
I tried two gaskets with sealing compound after heating and straightening flanges a couple of months ago.
 
moldman05 said:
I tried two gaskets with sealing compound after heating and straightening flanges a couple of months ago.
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i wonder if drilling and adding two bolts would help? Both of my warped areas are on bottom of flange. The top sealed which means could have bad exhaust bushings and cat is sagging?? what are you using for clamps? I didn't tackle it today put some vice grips on it and went on!
 
@moldman05 also wondering if the exhaust system on your 5.7 2500 is the same as your 7.4? I had to use 7.4 exhaust flanges and donut gaskets on my exhaust!? Didn't know if this was common!?
 
C.Berry said:
@moldman05 also wondering if the exhaust system on your 5.7 2500 is the same as your 7.4? I had to use 7.4 exhaust flanges and donut gaskets on my exhaust!? Didn't know if this was common!?
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Not sure I’ll look tomorrow. The one we have had problems with is the 7.4.

The clamps look like fabricated c channel, with a bolt that collapses the open end of c to clamp around flange.
 
cant say I've ever seen clamps like that for exhaust. that's a great idea tho, could make some pretty easy I'd imagine!?
 
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@Mac5005 what issues have the 7.4 gave ya? 5.7 seems weak in this truck being a vortec and all! Other than shitty acceleration and cv shafts my 99 is a hoss! Was considering a 7.4 swap since mine has 4l80e already in and from what I've read ecm I believe will plug right in!? I don't mind the loss in mpg really just want it to haul lil quicker!
 
I made my clamps from steel plate and 3/8 bolts. I have a 5.7 and 2 7.4 2500 Suburbans. The 5.7 doesn't like larger trailers on the highway. I would say probably over 5000 lbs. The 7.4 tows well up to about 7500 lbs. I can pull 70 mph up Fancy Gap towing about 6500 lbs but strain to pull 65 mph with about 8000 lbs. Fuel consumption is about 20 to 25 worse. I don't mind using more gas when it costs 2.30 a gallon in a truck I paid $4500 for about 8 years ago
 
C.Berry said:
@Mac5005 what issues have the 7.4 gave ya? 5.7 seems weak in this truck being a vortec and all! Other than shitty acceleration and cv shafts my 99 is a hoss! Was considering a 7.4 swap since mine has 4l80e already in and from what I've read ecm I believe will plug right in!? I don't mind the loss in mpg really just want it to haul lil quicker!
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The 7.4 is great. Cv shafts are the same for 5.7/7.4.

It pulls great. Other that the stupid exhaust flange ordeal.

The egr system is terrible. Block it off with an aluminum plate with 1/8” hole in center.

Other issues are intake gaskets and the pita fuel pressure regulator.

It won’t pull worth a crap with lower than factory spec fuel pressure. If you change it, use an oem from the dealer, the aftermarket ones are junk.
 
hell yeah good info! Thanks fellas! I installed a Delphi fuel pump in the burb and it barely reaches 60 psi wot so I'm assuming that or fpr is what's keeping it bogged down
 
Attempted a c clamp with nut through and didn't seem to help as much as I wanted!!I may just go duals soon and say screw that flange all together!
 
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