Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
#1
Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
I am getting ready to build a custom exhaust system and want to use the type of pipe flange connectors that the FLP long tubes use along with the V-clamps so that I can take out the CAT's and put in an off-road "test pipe" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> .
Who has these on their car and do you have any complaints about them? Do they seal tight without leaking? Do they come apart easy? Thanks!
Who has these on their car and do you have any complaints about them? Do they seal tight without leaking? Do they come apart easy? Thanks!
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
John,
I've got the FLP system on my T/A, the flange mating system is nothing new.They have been used in both military and commercial aviation applications for years, I'm an A&P mechanic,I was a crew with Gulfstream Aerospace,the manufacturer of top of the line corporate business jets and have worked with this type clamping system for over 20 years.They seal as well as any other system, if you get a leak you can wrap a single wrap of heat tape around the flanges before you install the marmon clamp or you can use aluminum tape or you can use a bead of high temp RTV. The ability to rapidly change from cats to ORP's was the deciding factor in my purchase of the FLP's. The clamps last along time and when they finally wear out you can safety wire the bail together so they can't come off even if you lose the nut. The clamps are just as easy to install as any standard muffler clamp although alot more expensive to replace.
Mark
I've got the FLP system on my T/A, the flange mating system is nothing new.They have been used in both military and commercial aviation applications for years, I'm an A&P mechanic,I was a crew with Gulfstream Aerospace,the manufacturer of top of the line corporate business jets and have worked with this type clamping system for over 20 years.They seal as well as any other system, if you get a leak you can wrap a single wrap of heat tape around the flanges before you install the marmon clamp or you can use aluminum tape or you can use a bead of high temp RTV. The ability to rapidly change from cats to ORP's was the deciding factor in my purchase of the FLP's. The clamps last along time and when they finally wear out you can safety wire the bail together so they can't come off even if you lose the nut. The clamps are just as easy to install as any standard muffler clamp although alot more expensive to replace.
Mark
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
John,
Here is a tip that will help you when you go to remove the clamps and align the exhaust system. Use some grease or anit-seize in the "v" area of the clamps and on the flanges. It does wonders for working with the v-clamps.
Here is a tip that will help you when you go to remove the clamps and align the exhaust system. Use some grease or anit-seize in the "v" area of the clamps and on the flanges. It does wonders for working with the v-clamps.
#4
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Well, let me add my "aerospace" 2 cents worth....
We used V Band clamps on the bleed air ducts on C-130s when I was wrenching them years ago.
The only real difference between the C-130 hot air duct V Bands and FLPs is that FLP does [not] use a seal between the mateing surfaces of the pipes. The C-130 would always use a 1/16" thick, round metal/asbestos seal between the mateing surfaces. Without the seal, ****, our hot air ducts would leak like a sieve too.
And I can tell you, useing aluminum foil, RTV, etc is just a poor fix for this.
FLP, use a "real" seal between those pipes!
No wonder the FLPs leak.......
Ron,
We used V Band clamps on the bleed air ducts on C-130s when I was wrenching them years ago.
The only real difference between the C-130 hot air duct V Bands and FLPs is that FLP does [not] use a seal between the mateing surfaces of the pipes. The C-130 would always use a 1/16" thick, round metal/asbestos seal between the mateing surfaces. Without the seal, ****, our hot air ducts would leak like a sieve too.
And I can tell you, useing aluminum foil, RTV, etc is just a poor fix for this.
FLP, use a "real" seal between those pipes!
No wonder the FLPs leak.......
Ron,
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
I too am looking into what flanges to use when putting on my exhaust and the v-bolt clamps definately look very nice... I was just wondering who actually sells this style clamp?
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Kimchee,
Whats your MOS? I was a 67Y "S" Model Cobra crew chief. Your correct, most marmon clamps use the metal seal or a crush seal in between the flanges but this isn't HP bleed air either and these babies are sittin on the ground. As you know the main reason for the seals is to prevent air loss which is parasitic to engine performance where it counts, again the performance loss on a car is negligable at best. As I said the "V" band clamps work as well as muffler clamps just look better and cost alot more.
Whats your MOS? I was a 67Y "S" Model Cobra crew chief. Your correct, most marmon clamps use the metal seal or a crush seal in between the flanges but this isn't HP bleed air either and these babies are sittin on the ground. As you know the main reason for the seals is to prevent air loss which is parasitic to engine performance where it counts, again the performance loss on a car is negligable at best. As I said the "V" band clamps work as well as muffler clamps just look better and cost alot more.
#7
Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Thanks for the feedback everyone. So is it the consensus that the FLP's leak that badly???? I want a tight seal. I called every vendor in the Country to try and find a 3-1/2" ball & flange type collector but was unable to find one. Hmmmmmmmm.
XJGPN, here is the place that I am looking at for these. The link below takes you directly to the clamps.
http://shop.airflowonline.com/Mercha...ategory_Code=V
XJGPN, here is the place that I am looking at for these. The link below takes you directly to the clamps.
http://shop.airflowonline.com/Mercha...ategory_Code=V
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
John, you could also stop by an exhaust shop and raid the dumpster for late model truck OEM ball flanges. Some are 2 bolt, 3" ball type and work great.
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by BIGBOS:
<strong>I personally think they suck....mine got torn apart because my car is lowered almost an inch, but, going into places with steep entrances, etc, can be hell, I bent them to like a 90 degree angle one time, but the only way I got the ORP's to not leak when I put them on was to wrap foil around the edges, a lot of people are doing this now, and its working.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So they suck cause you have a lowered car with Longtube headers .. you scraped and fudged them up and it`s their fault? That makes sense <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
I had the FLP when they first came out.. as long as you know what you`re doing and align them correctly the are leak free. Of course if you face the bolt and nut parallel to the ground on a lowered car and happen to scrape the **** out of them..they may not work as well.
<strong>I personally think they suck....mine got torn apart because my car is lowered almost an inch, but, going into places with steep entrances, etc, can be hell, I bent them to like a 90 degree angle one time, but the only way I got the ORP's to not leak when I put them on was to wrap foil around the edges, a lot of people are doing this now, and its working.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">So they suck cause you have a lowered car with Longtube headers .. you scraped and fudged them up and it`s their fault? That makes sense <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />
I had the FLP when they first came out.. as long as you know what you`re doing and align them correctly the are leak free. Of course if you face the bolt and nut parallel to the ground on a lowered car and happen to scrape the **** out of them..they may not work as well.
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
I personally think they suck....mine got torn apart because my car is lowered almost an inch, but, going into places with steep entrances, etc, can be hell, I bent them to like a 90 degree angle one time, but the only way I got the ORP's to not leak when I put them on was to wrap foil around the edges, a lot of people are doing this now, and its working.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
John,
They don't leak. You have 2 "V" shaped flanges being pulled together by a "V" shaped clamp.My earlier suggestion was a repair for an air leak.I have the FLP's and have no air leaks. I agree with Dan, If you install them yourself just make sure to give yourself enough ground clearance by installing the clamp bolts horizontally and you will have no problems.
They don't leak. You have 2 "V" shaped flanges being pulled together by a "V" shaped clamp.My earlier suggestion was a repair for an air leak.I have the FLP's and have no air leaks. I agree with Dan, If you install them yourself just make sure to give yourself enough ground clearance by installing the clamp bolts horizontally and you will have no problems.
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Have been told the down pipes on 96 ford turbodiesel pickups are the same clamps, so you could get them from a ford dealer. I have had zero problems with mine, have swapped the cats in and out several times.
Steve
Steve
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Kimchee and Rice:
<strong>
The only real difference between the C-130 hot air duct V Bands and FLPs is that FLP does [not] use a seal between the mateing surfaces of the pipes. The C-130 would always use a 1/16" thick, round metal/asbestos seal between the mateing surfaces.
Ron,</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don`t think people would be too happy with abestos seals. Doesn`t that stuff cause cancer?
<strong>
The only real difference between the C-130 hot air duct V Bands and FLPs is that FLP does [not] use a seal between the mateing surfaces of the pipes. The C-130 would always use a 1/16" thick, round metal/asbestos seal between the mateing surfaces.
Ron,</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don`t think people would be too happy with abestos seals. Doesn`t that stuff cause cancer?
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Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Dan, they pipe is about a full 1" 1/2 off the ground and the bolts are facing the bottom of the car, I actually ripped the clamps off the pipe, and I tightened those down with all my might...I still think they could of came up with a better leak free design like the MAC headers w/Y have...
#15
Re: Are you satisfied with the V-clamps used on FLP's? Who has them on their car?
Pro Stock John, excellent suggestion about doing a "dumpster check", however, I will be using a 3-1/2" connection directly behind the merge collectors instead of 3".
I still may have reason for concern since my car is lowered 2". I may elected to forget the V-clamp and just fabricate a square 3/8" thick 4 bolt flange that would be cut in the center to match the pipe diameter to fit behind the flanged pipe and use 4 bolts to bolt them together. This is the same principal behind the large oval high flow OEM CAT's on the C4's and my OEM Monte SS set-up.
Thanks all again for the great input!
I still may have reason for concern since my car is lowered 2". I may elected to forget the V-clamp and just fabricate a square 3/8" thick 4 bolt flange that would be cut in the center to match the pipe diameter to fit behind the flanged pipe and use 4 bolts to bolt them together. This is the same principal behind the large oval high flow OEM CAT's on the C4's and my OEM Monte SS set-up.
Thanks all again for the great input!