Band clamps???
Band clamps??? Have crazy leaks coming from every clamped part of my QTP y -piipe. How do you guys make them work, i didnt even do it myself, meineke told me the clamps were sh*t and that there was no way to make them work...this was after they had to cut off the bend on the passenger side of the y pipe and reweld a peice b/c it wwas off by 30 degrees...so is the pipe just messed up bc/ it seems like all the spots where the y pipe goes into another pipe are too big hence why the clamps cant tighten down enough, and when they do, it crimps the actual pipe and creates another leak. Any ideas welcome. Thanks.
This is not the band clamps' fault per se,
it is poor fit of Y-to-I outer-to-inner diameter.
The clamp is supposed to just keep things from
slipping, not crush the pipe (at least, that way
you can take the thing apart again!). There
should be a slit section at the end of the I, just
enough compliance to let the band squeeze
down. On a well matched pipe pair it should be
just shy of impossible to get the Y into the I,
meaning there will be negligible leakage. If
she's a sloppy 'ho then, well, maybe you need
to wrap it.
it is poor fit of Y-to-I outer-to-inner diameter.
The clamp is supposed to just keep things from
slipping, not crush the pipe (at least, that way
you can take the thing apart again!). There
should be a slit section at the end of the I, just
enough compliance to let the band squeeze
down. On a well matched pipe pair it should be
just shy of impossible to get the Y into the I,
meaning there will be negligible leakage. If
she's a sloppy 'ho then, well, maybe you need
to wrap it.
Originally Posted by jimmyblue
This is not the band clamps' fault per se,
it is poor fit of Y-to-I outer-to-inner diameter.
The clamp is supposed to just keep things from
slipping, not crush the pipe (at least, that way
you can take the thing apart again!). There
should be a slit section at the end of the I, just
enough compliance to let the band squeeze
down. On a well matched pipe pair it should be
just shy of impossible to get the Y into the I,
meaning there will be negligible leakage. If
she's a sloppy 'ho then, well, maybe you need
to wrap it.
it is poor fit of Y-to-I outer-to-inner diameter.
The clamp is supposed to just keep things from
slipping, not crush the pipe (at least, that way
you can take the thing apart again!). There
should be a slit section at the end of the I, just
enough compliance to let the band squeeze
down. On a well matched pipe pair it should be
just shy of impossible to get the Y into the I,
meaning there will be negligible leakage. If
she's a sloppy 'ho then, well, maybe you need
to wrap it.
You might see if there are any decent flange
connectors available that could be welded to
the pipe stubs (better than the usual reducers
w/ 3-bolt rings?) as-fitted, this would at least
allow you to take down the exhaust for other
work, etc. Or, maybe get some proper-fitting
tubing welded up so the band style sleeve-fit
works as meant.
RTV in the exhaust might poison your O2s and
is generally not recommended.
connectors available that could be welded to
the pipe stubs (better than the usual reducers
w/ 3-bolt rings?) as-fitted, this would at least
allow you to take down the exhaust for other
work, etc. Or, maybe get some proper-fitting
tubing welded up so the band style sleeve-fit
works as meant.
RTV in the exhaust might poison your O2s and
is generally not recommended.
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OK, so all in all unless i weld i'm screwed....more money that i need to sink to correct QTP's mistake....i just dont get it. HAS ANYONE EVER RECIEVED A GOOD FITTING YPIPE FROM THIS PLACE?!
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Originally Posted by 99CamaroSS
meineke told me the clamps were sh*t .
Seriously, give a Reese monkey an arc welder and a Meineke shirt and ask him what he thinks. You'll get a more coherent answer and probably higher quality work.
The clamps are indeed crappy, heard that many times - just thought I'd poke fun at the muffler shop.
Bad30th
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by 99CamaroSS
OK, so all in all unless i weld i'm screwed....more money that i need to sink to correct QTP's mistake....i just dont get it. HAS ANYONE EVER RECIEVED A GOOD FITTING YPIPE FROM THIS PLACE?!
This is sooo F*CKED UP, i'm speachless...i have no clue how to get this b/s squared away w/out puttin out more $$$....so much for "you get what you pay for" I feel like i just spent 200 bux on a catted ypipe 
I've had this problem many times with band clamps. The last time I changed my exhaust (pacesetters,ORY,GMMG) <--rasy as hell 
I bought some Thermo sheild from jegs. It's a high temp tape (about 2" wide) that I wrapped around the pipe connection twice then I put the band clamp over that and they havn't leaked yet. I have gone about 2000 miles since.
I bought some Thermo sheild from jegs. It's a high temp tape (about 2" wide) that I wrapped around the pipe connection twice then I put the band clamp over that and they havn't leaked yet. I have gone about 2000 miles since. 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 52
From: Charleston, SC
I used the band clamp and a ton of RTV on the crossover pipe for my headers on my GTP and it held up well. Every now and again I have to tighten the clamp, but there are no carbon marks on the pipe around the ends of the band. A band is $12, tube of Copper Hi-Temp is $3....for $15 why not give it a shot?
Last edited by DUSTYWS6; Jul 6, 2004 at 07:09 PM. Reason: kant spell
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by shawn's SS
I've had this problem many times with band clamps. The last time I changed my exhaust (pacesetters,ORY,GMMG) <--rasy as hell I bought some Thermo sheild from jegs. It's a high temp tape (about 2" wide) that I wrapped around the pipe connection twice then I put the band clamp over that and they havn't leaked yet. I have gone about 2000 miles since.
I bought some Thermo sheild from jegs. It's a high temp tape (about 2" wide) that I wrapped around the pipe connection twice then I put the band clamp over that and they havn't leaked yet. I have gone about 2000 miles since.I used torctite (http://www.torcausa.com/) on some connections, torctite + aluminum foil on others, and traditional muffler clamps as well to stop the leaks. Good luck!
If you don't want to weld the pipes you can wrap some header wrap around the connections and then put the clamps on, also for anyone else thinking of getting the QTP Y don't i had it and it fit like **** as well.
Originally Posted by HOTROD98Z
If you don't want to weld the pipes you can wrap some header wrap around the connections and then put the clamps on, also for anyone else thinking of getting the QTP Y don't i had it and it fit like **** as well.
Mine has fitment problems too. The piece that goes onto the passenger side header leaks like crazy. I tightened down the band clamp till it couldn't go any farther and it's still loose. I wrapped some exhaust stuff around it and then tightened the band clamp and it still leaks. I'm just going to give up on it and get the true dual setup.
Yea i think i'm lookin into true duals next, need to find out about clearance issues and listen to some sound clips...as for the y-pipe...waste of 500 bux...plus 100 for a shop to cut and weld parts of it plus 100 to replace a bad cat that i'm not even getting my money back for. My advice to everyone...NEVER BUY Y-PIPES FROM QTP...as soon as you find out it needs to be modified and then state your opinion on the product qtp will never cut you slack again.
