360 Exhaust Gasket Replacement Advice

I'm getting a slight exhaust odor from my 360 Spider with the top down, and plan on replacing the donut and Tubi muffler gaskets in an attempt to stop it. I seek advice from anyone who has gone down this road.

All of the exhaust hardware is heavily rusted and I'm concerned that I may not get it all off without cutting it with a torch. Is there anything I should do besides soaking nuts and bolts in PB Blaster a day in advance? Can anyone confirm that Tubi uses the stock gasket between the silencer and tips? Is there an aftermarket equivalent to the expensive stock Ferrari gasket between the silencer and tips?

Thanks for the help.

 

I have changed these donuts on a mondial and a 430. If they have been on for a long time you may have to remove both sides as the sealing surface is probably corroded and need a good wire brushing. Does the 360 have bolts and springs for the donut flanges like a 430. If so the springs are not cheap and you would be better to cut the bolts so you dont bugger the springs by heating. Before you remove the bolts check how far they protrude from the nuts so you put back the same

 

Check the headers, they're known to crack.

 

Both sides? The header side of the cat has a donut gasket, but the silencer side doesn't have any gasket. Do you mean to remove the cat and clean both sides?

Good advice. I'll do that. Did you use an angle grinder to cut the head off the bolts?

 

I can't detect any cracks on the headers. And, I'm in no rush to use aftermarket headers.

 

The donut on the ones i have done slide onto the pipe and are clamped from both sides by the bolts. Not done a 360. Anything it is in contact with maybe corroded, my mondial pipe had holes in it when donut was chistled off, it was so brittle

 

I was surprised how easily mine came apart. 1 bolt broke, the rest came free.

I would think if you smell exhaust, it would be some strange air pattern from the exhaust pipes and if you had a leak, it would be audible.

 

When those donuts get old they are solid and leak

 

I thought so too. No ticking sounds. But, if low pressure was drawing it into the cabin of my Spider, I would think that others would have the same issue.

 

Yes, all the exhaust unions are scary with rust, so that donut has got to rotten. The silencer support was rusty too, but I took care of that when the bumper was off. I don't know if this is typical. I'm of a mind to replace them the exhaust unions, if just to get rid of the rust.

 

Once you get it apart try a gas torch on the rusty bits, it will help break the rust off to see if the pipework is reusable, then try a rotary wire brush. If no holes but pitting in the steel you could always use some exhaust fireclay on the donut before you bolt it up, that will fill in the pitting. Bolt it up and run engine at tickover until it hardens.