Best way to fix this exhaust tip?

[myredracer]

I just received this exhaust tip off ebay. One tip is slightly deformed at the upper rear part of one pipe. I knew it was like this when I bought it. It's going on a 60's vintage car I'm restoring and I could not find another like it that is similar including Europe.

I was thinking of wrapping a piece of leather around a pipe slightly small than the ID of the pipe and then using a 2 lb rawhide mallet I have to massage it back into shape. Could there be any other or safer methods? I don't want to mar the chrome finish. I have a set of exhaust pipe expanders but doubt that's a good idea unless maybe wrapping some leather around one and expanding it as I tap it (lightly) with the mallet?

 

[MP&C]

The one side of a door skin hammer looks to be a similar radius. If I were doing it I would likely try tapping from the bottom side using that hammer, into a shot bag.. Using leather, etc, as you indicate, to protect the finish.

 

[myredracer]

That sounds like a good idea. I have a shot bag but would have to get a door skin hammer. Working it upside down does give good access because the tip is angle cut.

 

[MP&C]

Doesn't have to be a door skin hammer unless it actually fits.. a thick walled piece of pipe that closely matches the inside could be laid in place (on top of leather) and tapped with a dead blow.. Everything is a tool, pick the one you already have first..

 

[Provincial]

Doesn't have to be a door skin hammer unless it actually fits.. a thick walled piece of pipe that closely matches the inside could be laid in place (on top of leather) and tapped with a dead blow.. Everything is a tool, pick the one you already have first..

This is wisdom at a Zen level!

 

[rlitman]

I would place it on a shot bag, lay a wooden dowel on the dent, and hammer on the dowel.

 

[bulldogr6]

Looks like a Pacesetter tip, jc Whitman used to sell those , or think summer racing still does. Or is it a size that is no longer available?

I like the idea of the bag and a dowel.

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[bulldogr6]

*JC. Whitney

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[Motown]

What about making a form out of 2 pieces of wood and using a C clampo to press the 2 pieces together pressing it back into shape.

 

[danbuff]

I had a situation like that once, and machined a plastic round bar slightly larger than the inside diameter, with a slight taper. Pounded that tapered "plug" in until it moved the deformed area back to round. Not sure that would apply here as you have that inner lip to contend with.

Dan

 

[dogdog]

return it and have the seller ship another one ..... I think it is ebay policy for damaged items....

 

[The Cobbler]

return it and have the seller ship another one ..... I think it is ebay policy for damaged items....

You missed this part !

....... I knew it was like this when I bought it. ........

 

[rsanter]

Ideally....
Cut a block or wood to the outside contour and line with a leather strip or a piece of plastic strip ( like the thin cutting board sheets) or rubber.

Cut a block of wood with the inside contour and cover with leather or plastic

Then use a hammer and the blocks. The metal will move back to the desired shape

Bob

 

[dogdog]

O!!! the wonky eyes.. then MP&C have the best solutions....

 

[myredracer]

Doesn't have to be a door skin hammer unless it actually fits.. a thick walled piece of pipe that closely matches the inside could be laid in place (on top of leather) and tapped with a dead blow.. Everything is a tool, pick the one you already have first..

Huh... I think I like this the best! Surely I could have thought of this - if I had tried harder.

Now I just hafta find a place that sells small scraps of leather. Just need a say, 6x6" piece. Maybe a horse tack shop? (lots around here) Not many shoe repair places anymore. Have a pair of HF welding sleeves that were pretty cheap and I'm never going to use and could be re-purposed.

I want to try and avoid damage to the yellow paint (ceramic or powder coating?). After a little use it will turn black tho.

Looks like a Pacesetter tip, jc Whitman used to sell those , or think summer racing still does. Or is it a size that is no longer available?

Yes, it's Pacesetter. I scoured the internet for another one, any size and came up with nil. The seller claimed it was 30 something years old. Don't know but the dimensions and shape fit in with stuff from that time period or earlier. It's pretty solid. I had purchased another brand on ebay Italy which would have been perfect but seller emailed after he started to package it and said the inlet was much smaller than he thought so he refunded me. I used to buy a ton of vintage parts off ebay in Italy, Argentina, Germany, UK and the US up until around 05/06 when ebay totally changed their website and killed the parts market for old cars. Man, some vintage parts are getting so hard to find and expensive.

Thanks for the comments and advice.

 

[EdT]

It takes far less force than you might imagine to fix something like that. If it was mine, the first thing I would try is just putting my thumbs under the bent area an pushing in the correct direction. Probably wont work, but worth a try. If you decide to do anything involving a hammer, don't hit it very hard. Tap at it and work your way from the shallow end of the bent area toward the outside edge. Basically unbend it in the reverse order that the bend occurred in. Imagine how the bend happened and run that film backwards. A female die on the outside and a male form on the inside and a vise, press, or even a c-clamp would also be a good way.The baloney cut away makes access pretty good.

 

[paranoid56]

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...s.TRS5&_nkw=PaceSetter++Exhaust+Tips&_sacat=0

theres a whole bunch on ebay and i see new sellers too.
fyi, paceheaders are like the pinto of the auto world lol.

 

[lilredex]

Huh... I think I like this the best! Surely I could have thought of this - if I had tried harder.

Now I just hafta find a place that sells small scraps of leather.

Thanks for the comments and advice.

Won't be of much help to you, but anyone in So. Ontario looking for leather scraps can head over to Len's Mill Stores, they sell it by the pound. Last time there, they had pieces from a coat (thin), to a saddle (very thick).

They carry lots of upholstery items too.

http://www.lensmill.com/locations.htm

 

[bimmer1980]

Would you have to use leather??

Lowes sells some neoprene rubber material that is used to make gaskets. I think you can get it in 1/16" and 1/8" or so... These are 6x6" squares and I think they were less than $10. I believe I found these in the plumbing aisle. I'm sure the rubber would not hold up for a ton a uses, but a one time deal it should suffice. Even a scrap piece of rubber inner tube for a tire may suffice. Stop at a tire store and see if they have any garbage. A small engine repair shop may have some from lawn tractor tires...

I would think the neoprene would do a good job protecting the chrome and be sufficient for what you are doing....

 

[dadsEH]

So.... did ya fix it????

 

[rlitman]

Rubber might be sufficient, but rubber tears very easily. If you put a scrap of canvas or denim over it, that would help some. Don't hammer on the fabric directly, as it can leave an impression.
Have an old belt? Shoes at the end of their life? Leather is easy to come by.

 

[myredracer]

Not expecting this to be a big deal but it's a kinda one shot deal and want to do it right from the start. Small tap tap tap seems appropriate for this. I might take a scrap piece of 16 gauge exhaust pipe and do a test on it first.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...s.TRS5&_nkw=PaceSetter++Exhaust+Tips&_sacat=0theres a whole bunch on ebay and i see new sellers too.
fyi, paceheaders are like the pinto of the auto world lol.

Dang, I just hate it when that happens, sigh. There's 3 in the 2" size I wanted. Listed after I bought the one I have. The Monza tips seem well made. I had a Pacesetter header back in the 70s and it was def. pinto-like.

So.... did ya fix it????

Nope... Wife says she has seen lots of ladies leather jackets, purses and other stuff for cheap at thrift stores before and is going to check one or two on the weekend.

Doesn't have to be a door skin hammer unless it actually fits.. a thick walled piece of pipe that closely matches the inside could be laid in place (on top of leather) and tapped with a dead blow.. Everything is a tool, pick the one you already have first..

Will go this route. After studying some metal forming techniques around the internet I was surprised to learn how many ordinary tools and items you already have can be re-purposed to shape sheet metal.

Leather makes a good interface material between a tool and workpiece to avoid tool marks. I recently bought a 2 lb leather mallet and wasn't sure how much I would use but now it's one of my favorite tools and wouldn't be without.

 

[myredracer]

Done. Had a metal pipe slightly smaller than ID of the pipe and wrapped it a couple of times with some leather. It came out pretty good, but it's not 100% looking at the chrome but dang close. A straightedge says it pretty straight all around.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks great! no one would know if you didn't point it out. (BTW, I don't see any imperfections

 

[BMW Rider]

looks great! no one would know if you didn't point it out. (BTW, I don't see any imperfections

But in my experience, some helpful friend who does know will be sure to point it out for you.