1989 Honda Accord SEi flex exhaust leak

My son just bought the title car with 187,000 miles as a cheap temporary vehicle. It runs ok, but the flex hose portion of the header pipe is leaking. Strangely, the rest of the exhaust system looks to be in very good shape, so I'd like to do a temporary repair. Ok--you pros can go ahead and start laughing, but I bet those ~52 years old (my age) remember doing this on some of their earliest "creampuffs!"

In the old days, we used to cut the ends off a juice can (or any other that didn't have the raised ribs which made the can more sturdy), cut it from top to bottom, and squeeze it down over the broken or rotted out portion of the tailpipe, securing it with 2 or 3 radiator hose clamps. I drove many cars up to three years with such "temporary" repairs!

However, anyone who has seen the exhaust on this car knows that the headerpipe has about an 8" section of flexpipe inserted between two flared flanges. Has anyone ever chiseled the old flex section out and welded in a new section? If not, any other ideas?? The two ends are somewhat offset, so I don't think I can do my old tin can magic.....

Thanks guys!

 

Whatever you do will probably be illegal and unsafe so you should take that into consideration. I have used juice cans, that chrome duct tape, split similar shaped old exhaust and just about ever other thing you can think of to fix old cars just to keep them running, however there were no emission or safety rules back in the 50's and 60's. Have a nice day. Geo

 

Boy, this is the LAST thing I ever expected for a response! No, a thorough but temporary repair is neither "unsafe" nor "illegal." But paying $200.00 for one part of an exhaust system on a car with 187,000 miles (that you paid $675.00 for), that you only plan to drive for 2 months and then sell for parts, is not very intelligent!

This car has nearly new tires, new brakes pads, one caliper and rotors, and passed a NYS auto inspection--a REAL one, not one performed by "a friend." It runs OK--it looks OK--but it's an old ****box with someone else's 187,000 miles. If I had put that mileage on it, I might have more confidence, but I didn't. I'm old enough and experienced enough to know not to throw good money after bad. I was just looking for a little help, as Hondas aren't my bag.

 

Sorry to have upset you. Try wrapping it with the chrome duct tape. Have a nice day. Geo

 

check with the local muffler shop. my brother had a universal flex welded into is wifes car for about $75

 

Towman: Thanks. I figured when everything else (in the exhaust system) was in very good shape, probably someone could do that. I'm pretty good at most simpler repair/replace jobs, but unfortunately, I never learned welding.

George: Not upset, just surprised that it was the only response and didn't contain razzing for suggesting doing a "farmer fix."

I'm sure I'll have more questions about this car and a couple others in the near future. I promise most will be procedural, troubleshooting or something other than rigging........

 

Blazer Jim;
I am an old farm boy and I know fixin. However, I have gotten yelled at on this forum for posting fixes and have been yelled at for saying go buy a new one, it kinda I either upset the poster or upset the moderator and I have decided to "try" to not upset either. I would suggest trying the chrome tape it can handle a lot of heat. Oh and have a nice day. Geo

 

have you tried a junk yard prob get one cheap