Norma clamp!

[Prospect62]

Guys I can't get this damn thing to stop leaking. It started with a light "tick tick tick" on cold start that I traced to this clamp/coupler. I ordered a replacement in accordance with the directions in this bulletin:

https://gm-techlink.com/?p=7001

I broke the bolt of the first GM replacement clamp because I was trying to get it to seal (it wouldn't). I ordered another one and broke the bolt on that one too, because torqueing this to spec STILL wouldn't seal the leak, so I kept tightening until it snapped. I went to Lowe's and bought a replacement bolt which I torqued to spec just to get it all back together but...it still leaks.

Yes, I'm sure this is where the noise is coming from. Obviously it's a known issue because of that bulletin. Has anyone else encountered this issue and how did you solve it? I cannot get these silly "Norma" clamps to seal. I'm to the point where I'd like to take this to a muffler shop and have them just weld the two ends together!

Help!

 

[George B]

I wonder if a guy could use something like this.

https://fxexhaust.com/splits3tri.html

 

[Prospect62]

Appreciate that suggestion but don't think something like that would work. The pipe ends are pretty much a ball and socket and the clamp has like a scooped out design that, in theory, covers the ball and socket entirely and seals them together. In theory.

 

[PG01]

Guys I can't get this damn thing to stop leaking. It started with a light "tick tick tick" on cold start that I traced to this clamp/coupler. I ordered a replacement in accordance with the directions in this bulletin:

https://gm-techlink.com/?p=7001

I broke the bolt of the first GM replacement clamp because I was trying to get it to seal (it wouldn't). I ordered another one and broke the bolt on that one too, because torqueing this to spec STILL wouldn't seal the leak, so I kept tightening until it snapped. I went to Lowe's and bought a replacement bolt which I torqued to spec just to get it all back together but...it still leaks.

Yes, I'm sure this is where the noise is coming from. Obviously it's a known issue because of that bulletin. Has anyone else encountered this issue and how did you solve it? I cannot get these silly "Norma" clamps to seal. I'm to the point where I'd like to take this to a muffler shop and have them just weld the two ends together!

Help!

View attachment 258989

You put any permatex exhaust sealer or similar on there? I’d try that first.

 

[Prospect62]

You put any permatex exhaust sealer or similar on there? I’d try that first.

Never put much stock into that stuff, always felt it was a high school kid gimmick (not to mention a $55,000 truck shouldn't need paste to seal the exhaust).

That said - I'm going to try it. When the time comes for a cat-back I guess I'll see if they can chop and weld that stupid ball and socket right out of there.

Will try the Permatex and post up results I guess.

 

[George B]

Appreciate that suggestion but don't think something like that would work. The pipe ends are pretty much a ball and socket and the clamp has like a scooped out design that, in theory, covers the ball and socket entirely and seals them together. In theory.

I guess it was a kind of dumb idea...

 

[Prospect62]

I guess it was a kind of dumb idea...

I'm pretty desperate...I don't mind hearing suggestions. Just don't see it helping.

 

[George B]

I'm pretty desperate...I don't mind hearing suggestions. Just don't see it helping.

I was seeing two of them that fit the pipe pretty tight and using them to pull the ball and socket together with bolts. I liked the three bolt ones best.

 

[Prospect62]

Ah I see what you mean. I suppose that might work!

 

[Mechanic421]

Not hard to replace the manifold gasket. I can usuallyget three head pipe nuts by heating and cooling . But the hard part is drilling out the bolts broken off in the head! It can be done, if it is a pick up I will remove body bolts in the side I am working on and loosen the other side and jack up the cab. Just watch things like brake and shifter cables and stuff like that. Just replace with apr exhaust bolts and you will be good to go.