Chirpy Exhaust Note

...since you can not hear it around the header/head area; but hear it out the back of the muffler, the only idea I come up with is: could it be a break in the 3-bolt gasket that goes in the connection of the muffler/head pipe to the collector? Blowing/Sucking air. A chirp is 'likened' to a whistle, which in my thinking, may be caused by an exhaust leak!? The only other thing possible, that I can come up with is that a baffle may have come loose with-in the muffler, on that side. I might tap on the underside of the muffler with a rubber mallot; maybe you would hear something loose. I Sure hope you find the problem, a noise like that can become quit irritating. You may also try the 'hose to the ear' trick, as a stethiscope, to try and locate the source of the chirp. Good-Luck!

Didn't some Ansa mufflers have a problem with big washers of some kind coming loose and rattling around the muffler? I remember seeing a post years ago about this. Could they be just starting to come loose? It's possible that as the metal expands, it stops rubbing and the noise goes away. This is all if I remember correctly, of course.

Michael

I had a whisping noise from the right side and discovered it was the exhaust header gasket after putting it up on jack stands and using a stethescope from underneath the car.

If it's the header gasket,the asy way to replace it is to remove all the header bolts except the two on each end, then make cut-outs on the header gasket to go over the holes. Pull the old gasket out with the headers still attached, but loose, and slide the new one in, over the bolts with the cut-outs. If there's any difficulty removeing the old gasket, slide a putty knife along the gasket to loosen it from the engine and it'll come right out. I used severa brands and like NAPA's best after having this problem recur a couple of times. NAPA's gaskets are thick, have metal webbing structure covered by pretty thick asbestous.

What make's me wonder, is you said it happens for 5-10 minutes. When my header gasket blew, it didn't get fixed by itself after 10 minutes. It continued to make a whisping noise. Once the new gaskets were installed, it made the exhaust note much quieter from the inside cabin.

The headers at the mufflers also get loose. Those three bolts at the flange vibrate loose. I use double nutted stainless bolts. That seems to work well and stay tight. There's tow types of gaskets: flat gaskets and donut gaskets. I use donut gaskets so they let me adjust the muffler assembly direction a little to get some room for the ANSA's by the rear tires. 335/354/17's are about 3/8" from the ANSA's with maximum adjustment at the donut gasket flange.

The header gasket blow out isn't a function of bolt tightness, it's more a function of header gasket design. NAPA part number: 95080SG.

If it's not one of those two things, then I'd be getting worried. Not getting worried now, are ya DOES200? I'd just check for tightness on the flange 1st, then get a stethescope at the drug store, or put a hose in yer ear.... Good time to do a little more detailing on that show car, dude.

Thanks guys. Next weekend I will scoot under the car with a hose to the ear. I have a flat gasket between the muffler and header gasket, and so maybe it has a small crack. The neighbors aught to really like this one seeing me with a hose to the ear. They usually scratch their head when they see me polishing under the car. How do you guys work on these cars after 50? I will be 50 soon and every time I get out from under the car my neck and back ache like hell.

I'm just a few years away from 50. I ache all over more than anywhere else. At your age you should have enough $ to get a helper and a lift.Taking neproxin helps too. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by DOES 200:
Thanks guys. Next weekend I will scoot under the car with a hose to the ear. I have a flat gasket between the muffler and header gasket, and so maybe it has a small crack. The neighbors aught to really like this one seeing me with a hose to the ear. They usually scratch their head when they see me polishing under the car. How do you guys work on these cars after 50? I will be 50 soon and every time I get out from under the car my neck and back ache like hell.

What I have had to do is listen better to my body and lower my expectations of what will be accomplished. Like last night I went to work on my car, wanted to have it up on Jack stands by the time to get ready for bed. My body dissagreed with my goals so I made a compromise. I got the car positioned. Now tonighht I may get her up on the stands or maybe not. I will listen to whatever my body tells me I can get away with.

I don't know about you old guys, I don't turn 50 until next Thursday. I use 3 jacks to lift my car, my big aluminum (lightweight to help avoid back problems) and 1 small floor jack on each side to lift the car, and then I use jackstands at each corner so that I might live to see 51. I use my air impact for lug nut removal but I tighten and torque the lugs by hand.

Gary #06984

quote:

Originally posted by fordgt:
I don't know about you old guys, I don't turn 50 until next Thursday. I use 3 jacks to lift my car, my big aluminum (lightweight to help avoid back problems) and 1 small floor jack on each side to lift the car, and then I use jackstands at each corner so that I might live to see 51. I use my air impact for lug nut removal but I tighten and torque the lugs by hand.

Gary #06984

I use four Jack stands but only have one floor jack. It is huge and weighs a ton. It is like a seven ton jack my son got me and it is cumbersome. I have not developed any strength deficiencies yet, but my skeletal system is about shot. That is why I identify with my Pantera so much. We were both in top physical shape in 1973 and have been constantly deteriorating ever since. It has about as much structural problems as I do. I just hope someone takes as good a care of me as I am it when I finaly decide to let loose.

My body is racked with arthritis, has been for most of my life. How do I deal with the aches? A buttery nipple (Baileys & butterscotch schnapps) and a soak in the hot tub.

Listen to Clint, "a man's gotta know his limitations".

George (also born in 1955)

Geez, you really hit on a touchy subject here!

I'm glad I'm not the only idiot that rather then get a helper, has a physio therapist and chiropractor on call. But now that I'm 57 you gotta work smarter. Check out this brilliant system for jacking your car - many thanks to Mike Dailey and his Pantera Place.

http://www.panteraplace.com/page145.htm

I replaced th eplate on my jacks and fabricated a variation of Mike's bars with locating holes and rods for the front and rear. When jacked up the bar rests in the jack stands. I can put the car up on stands in less than 5 minutes!

Now if I could just get my old eyes to focus on what I'm doing under there...

DOES200's backache's are from DOING200.

At 200 mph, stress is ocurring, and physically manifesting itself in backpain, DOES200. Slow down to 150 for a while and let us know how you're feeling. Could also be that you haven't been polishing your chrome parts under the car as frequently, letting your exercise regimen slide over the winter months....recommend more polishing, more frequently.

Re: tube to ear. Why wait? Get that garden hose uncoiled and ready, lift the car under jack stands right now! With the diagnosis of potential engine woes determined tonight, you'll sleep better, have fewer Pantera nightmares and be quicker on the draw with that polishing rag.

What will the neighbors think?
Same thing they've been thinking.... That guy is advertising to every teenager driving by, "someday a kid's going to break in at night and take that thing and see if it really DOES200." They're thinking: better talk to their son about what it's like in the joint, since the kid's been foaming at the mouth when the neighbor open's his garage door and then the guy goes back in the house....leaving the car ready for a joy ride. That's what they're thinking. "Hope my kid doesn't get any ideas." That's what they're thinking!

I want Deeb to be my pit crew in Vegas next year! Bring yer jack, Deeb!

Glad you guys let me know it is just not me that has problems working on my car. I wake up with extra aches & pains from getting my body into places to work on my car. Then the eyes- need those dam glasses to see anything..

Born in 1955

Ron (vfi),

I'll tell you what the neighbors are thinking, they're thinking, what's the neighbor doing laying under that car; is he dead? Or has that belly of his got him lodged under there so tight he can't get out?

Ron you crack me up.

George

...well, add one more to the 'Over the hill gang'! I'am 53 (born in 51), and feel the aches and pains of Pantera 'Upkeep'. But; It's sure worth it! Being 6'6", it is a real chore just to CRAW in and out of the thing, especially since it has been lowered like most Panteras are. What does my neigbor think? He owns 2 Cougers both with 351 Clevelands, he 'Digs' the Pantera, we get along just fine. Remember; once your over the hill, you pick up speed!...

MARLIN:

6'-6"? Yowsah! Thought I was a TIGHT fit at 6'-2"! Tell me your pans are dropped...by how much? I bought a set of Kirk's (Evans) pre-fabbed 2"+ dropped pans. Haven't installed them yet. Waiting for my welder buddy to free up. As for the aches and pains...I'm still a youngin' at 43. Here's a tip (if you still mow your own lawn...oops forgot you guys in Cali have "hardscape")...anyway..if ya do... everytime you stop the mower, instead of grabbing a beer, DROP DOWN ANG GIVE ME FORTY...MARINE! HOOO-HAAAAH!

quote:

Originally posted by MARLIN JACK:
...well, add one more to the 'Over the hill gang'! I'am 53 (born in 51), and feel the aches and pains of Pantera 'Upkeep'. But; It's sure worth it! Being 6'6", it is a real chore just to CRAW in and out of the thing, especially since it has been lowered like most Panteras are. What does my neigbor think? He owns 2 Cougers both with 351 Clevelands, he 'Digs' the Pantera, we get along just fine. Remember; once your over the hill, you pick up speed!...

I am 6'4" so I know what you mean getting in and out of the car. When I went to buy the car my wife told me that if I didn't fit in the car we were not buying it. I skrunched over a bit but I fit.

quote:

Originally posted by SwenDog:
MARLIN:

6'-6"? Yowsah! Thought I was a TIGHT fit at 6'-2"! Tell me your pans are dropped...by how much? I bought a set of Kirk's (Evans) pre-fabbed 2"+ dropped pans. Haven't installed them yet. Waiting for my welder buddy to free up. As for the aches and pains...I'm still a youngin' at 43. Here's a tip (if you still mow your own lawn...oops forgot you guys in Cali have "hardscape")...anyway..if ya do... everytime you stop the mower, instead of grabbing a beer, DROP DOWN ANG GIVE ME FORTY...MARINE! HOOO-HAAAAH!

Hi Swendog! Actually I DO have Beautiful green lawns, front and back, does take a lot of water to maintain. And that reminds me, I will be mowing them today. About the seats; NO the floorpans are NOT dropped. I have Corvette seats, taken out of the 'trays' and sat right down on the floor, secured with bungy cords, the backs are bolted to the floor. And the frame of the sunroof(which came with the car) intrudes down from the roof another inch. I just scrunch down some and make myself fit. My head just clears. Last, I was not a Marine; I was in the U.S. Army; 1 Sir, 2 Sir, 3 Sir...

wow Marlin,

6'6" with standard floorpans AND 'vette seats.

I'm 6'1", with stock seats & standard floor pan. my head has maybe 1/2" of clearance, and thats with the rear seat track spacers removed.

Does the roof on your Pantera have a bulge in it where your head hits on bumps?

George

quote:

Originally posted by george pence:
wow Marlin,

6'6" with standard floorpans AND 'vette seats.

I'm 6'1", with stock seats & standard floor pan. my head has maybe 1/2" of clearance, and thats with the rear seat track spacers removed.

Does the roof on your Pantera have a bulge in it where your head hits on bumps?

George

Yes, instead of Gurney bubbles, they are called Marlin bumps.