Rear silencer gasket or sealing ring?

842 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Villalji, Nov 28, 2020

Villalji

Discussion Starter · Nov 28, 2020

Hi guys, I have a question, in the workshop manual it shows that the rear silencer is assembled with a gasket, however, in the alfa-service they show a sealing ring (looks like a better option?). which one do you recommend, the triangular gasket or the metallic sealing ring (13)?

See less See more

Save

1 - 11 of 11 Posts

otteud96

· #2 · Nov 28, 2020

Most / all were a doughnut like #13 this allows for adjustments on the tail pipe.

Save

Reactions: 1

VabeneGTV

· #3 · Nov 28, 2020

My vote is the sealing ring, don’t recall ever seeing the metal gasket. The ring allows you to tweak the rear section for a better fit. Just my 2cents.

Save

Reactions: 1

Villalji

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 28, 2020

otteud96 said:
Most / all were a doughnut like #13 this allows for adjustments on the tail pipe.

Thanks, so best to use the doughnut/ring, got it!

Save

Alfajay

· #5 · Nov 28, 2020

Agree with previous posters: all the exhaust systems I've installed used the sealing ring, which allows you to adjust the angle between those two parts (they're not made with 100% precision).

But the diagram on the right of post #1 has me puzzled - did any Alfas come from the factory, or were any aftermarket exhaust systems made to take just a flat gasket? If you had pipes with just flat flanges, instead of a recess to accept the sealing ring, then you'd pretty much have to use a gasket.

So Villalgi: what do the ends of your pipes look like?

Save

Reactions: 1

Villalji

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 28, 2020

Alfajay said:
Agree with previous posters: all the exhaust systems I've installed used the sealing ring, which allows you to adjust the angle between those two parts (they're not made with 100% precision).

But the diagram on the right of post #1 has me puzzled - did any Alfas come from the factory, or were any aftermarket exhaust systems made to take just a flat gasket? If you had pipes with just flat flanges, instead of a recess to accept the sealing ring, then you'd pretty much have to use a gasket.

So Villalgi: what do the ends of your pipes look like?

Hi Jay, I took out the end exhaust, and I believe it’s the original (date 1988 in the silencer), and it had a broken triangular flat gasket. I am going to assemble it back with the sealing ring I got from the alfa parts store, with some anti-seize paste around. I assume that the original design came with the flat triangular gasket, but over time it was replaced with the sealing ring to allow better fit of the two parts.

Save

Villalji

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 28, 2020

Villalji said:
Hi Jay, I took out the end exhaust, and I believe it’s the original (date 1988 in the silencer), and it had a broken triangular flat gasket. I am going to assemble it back with the sealing ring I got from the alfa parts store, with some anti-seize paste around. I assume that the original design came with the flat triangular gasket, but over time it was replaced with the sealing ring to allow better fit of the two parts.

See less See more

Save

Alfajay

· #8 · Nov 28, 2020 (Edited)

Villalji said:
it had a broken triangular flat gasket. ...... I assume that the original design came with the flat triangular gasket, but over time it was replaced with the sealing ring to allow better fit of the two parts.

No, I don't think that's correct. My '66 Sprint GT uses a sealing ring. Perhaps the early cars used the ring, as mufflers were more hand-made in the 60's. But by the 80's/90's the quality of flange alignment was greater, allowing cheaper flat gaskets to be used. Honestly, I'm just guessing here.

I see that the new pipe/muffler you have has a flat flange. What does the mating part look like? Does it have a recess for the sealing ring to nest into? I'm not sure how well the sealing ring will work if both flanges are flat.

Save

spiderserie4

· #9 · Nov 28, 2020

definitely that fat donut ring is best!

when you put the rear exhaust back, just leave those 3 bolts quite loose, then align the rear tail piece so that it exits the opening in the rear body nice and centred, then slowly tighten those 3 bolts bit by bit...you will end up with a very nice centred tailpipe

(last time I did this, I was on my back on the garage floor and held the tailpipe with one foot whilst tightening the 3 bolts!.....better would be a little helper!)

Save

Reactions: 2

Villalji

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 28, 2020

spiderserie4 said:
definitely that fat donut ring is best!

when you put the rear exhaust back, just leave those 3 bolts quite loose, then align the rear tail piece so that it exits the opening in the rear body nice and centred, then slowly tighten those 3 bolts bit by bit...you will end up with a very nice centred tailpipe

(last time I did this, I was on my back on the garage floor and held the tailpipe with one foot whilst tightening the 3 bolts!.....better would be a little helper!)

Thanks For the advice! I will follow your instructions, and I will get my 17yr old son to come help me... if he wants to drive the spider to pick up a girl someday! 😉

Save

Reactions: 1

Villalji

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 28, 2020

Alfajay said:
No, I don't think that's correct. My '66 Sprint GT uses a sealing ring. Perhaps the early cars used the ring, as mufflers were more hand-made in the 60's. But by the 80's/90's the quality of flange alignment was greater, allowing cheaper flat gaskets to be used. Honestly, I'm just guessing here.

I see that the new pipe/muffler you have has a flat flange. What does the mating part look like? Does it have a recess for the sealing ring to nest into? I'm not sure how well the sealing ring will work if both flanges are flat.

Well, the new one looks almost exactly like the old one, so not completely flat, the ring fits really nice in there in both parts, so it looks like the best solution as others said. I will try to put it together with a bit of help tomorrow, and see if all fits fine. Otherwise, I will get a flat gasket.

Save

1 - 11 of 11 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month