Dodge Caravan Exhaust help

[chrisgarrett]

Hi guys.  I left, but I didn't get very far.  I need help.

I replaced the exhaust on my Dodge Caravan with the exact same parts, nothing added, nothing missing. The kit I'm using looks exactly like the stuff I took off.  The bolts have a shoulder on them and only go so tight.  The lead gasket is loose in there, even though I can't make this any tighter.  Anyone familiar with this setup?

[Steve Wood]

Chris, should the flange on the end of the new pipe slip over the shoulders of the bolts so that the springs can pull it down against the donut?

Only other thing I could see is that the donut is too small, but, it looks to me like the holes in the flange should be reamed out

[chrisgarrett]

Steve, the bolts slip right through the holes in the flange.  The shoulder on the bolt is at the rusty manifold piece.  All of the pieces, including the gasket are identical to what I took off and there was no leak at this point.

[Steve Wood]

If you put a couple of washers over each bolt before installing them, will that pull the donut back into the recess more?

[Steve Wood]

still the old donut?

[chrisgarrett]

That's what I was thinking, but why did the last piece fit without washers?  Here's the old pieces which are identical to the new.  I keep thinking I'll have a head-slap moment

.

[chrisgarrett]

It's a new donut.  I tried putting it both ways, but it clearly tapers into the manifold.

[chrisgarrett]

The donut is metal.  Looks like lead.

[Steve Wood]

yeah...only thing I can think of is the donut is a bit smaller...or the springs or a hair shorter, or the new bolts a hair longer...I would think some washers would shim the assembly tighter

[Steve Wood]

maybe, you mixed up the parts with the original gn dp parts

[chrisgarrett]

Yeah, thanks Steve.  I'll try some washers tomorrow.  Hope all is well with you and yours.

[Steve Wood]

still hate cars, it still has not rained, and I am cranky as ever, so I am the same as always...I am still looking for metal under the bondo of this damn Challenger and it is beginning to irritate me.

Hope all is good with you, too

[SuperSix]

Check the bolts side by side for shoulder length, failing that,or if any other parts aren't exactly the same side by side - use 1/8 > 1/4" of shims/washers under the bolt head.

[Charlief1]

It's a new donut.