Hello, I drive a 1997 Ford ranger with a 2.3L 4 Cyl engine with the stock exhaust. I have a leak and was hoping you guys know how to fix my problem.

Here is my situtiation:
There is a connection where the pipe goes from the 2.5" diameter coming out of the cc to the 2.0" pipe going into the muffler. At that connection are two bolts and on the bolts are coil springs. The flange that the spring acts on is completely rusted out. Currently I have the exhaust held together by wrapping a coat hanger around the two flanges and pulling them together. It works fairly well, however it sounds like I have only decreased the size of the leak. I suspect it could be a blown gasket in this same spot. Is there a gasket here? And where can I get a replacement?

Thanks in advance

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1997 Ranger XLT GREEN SOLD.
Sony HU: Infinity 6X8's: painted interior vinyl: reupholstered and painted door panels: new vinyl floor: fo-diamond plate behind seats: Suede headliner: Two tone black/tan interior: fiberglass OHC: Black Explorer visors w/ upgraded mirrors: painted grill w/ mesh in grill: locking tonneau: 10" kicker sub: pioneer amp: racing stripes: blacked out tailights: custom paint on rims and hubcaps: Painted bumpers: rocker stripes: More mods that won't fit

yeah gasket might be out, try a local auto parts store, as far as the pipe goes, you could try welding it together for a quick easy repair, or maybe fabricating 2 small clamps with some sheet metal and spare nuts and bolts to hold the 2 pipes together. Or buy new OEM or aftermarket exhaust

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Beaten up '05 Ford Ranger XL 3.0

MODS-Alpine CDA-105 head unit, throttle cable mod, painted rims, pooleo's camo painted bezel and mustang dome, fold-a-cover

yeah they make replacement gaskets for that and you can replace the bolts with the springs on it with just regular bolts held in with nuts

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if your interested i have the complete stock exhaust assembly from that flange back.

if you have a shortbed it would bolt right up.

and i'm only 2.5 hours away from KC

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1996 XLT 2.3L 2wd Factory "Hurst Special" < getting low
1985 XLT 2.8L 4x4 "The Black Pearl"
1987 XL 2.3L 2wd R.I.P.

I have had this same problem. I used 2 muffler clamps I welded on a small tab drilled a hole for the bolt and clamped that aropund the pipe out of the cc. Bolted it up been good so far about a year.

i just replaced my exhaust pipe( it goes from the CC to the muffler) there is an exhasut gasket, i believe it might even me lead? it is tapered and goes into the flange on the CC. if you flange is gone it might not stay there.

i had the same problem what i did was went to ace hardware bought a sheet of metal and tracd the same shape of the bracket and made my own and got rid of those shitty spring bolt things and got some real stainless bolts happend a year ago and is still holding up today ghetto as hell but who cares you cant see it. the shop i went to to buy one told me a new bracket was 160 bucks to replace because they had to drop the exaust but i made it work in under an hour all you need is a wiz wheel and mabey a blow torch to get it over the taper on the exaust.

i have the same problem and i leave it lol it leaks out the water there and i like that. wont rust out my 40 series lol jk jk haha but i had it looked at at the muffler shop he said don't even worry about it. but yours sounds like it came completely off so i would replace it. mine just leaks a lil water on a cold start so i'm not going to even bother it. The only concern i have is the co2 in my cab. But have i never smelled the exhaust smell in the cab before so i think i'm good for now.

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2001 Ford Ranger Edge single cab 3.0L 5-speed with 3.73's, 32x11.50 BFG A/T, 3.5 inch fabtech spindle lift, AAL, Painted grill black, 5% rear tint 35% side, removed front plate, painted interior to match the truck, rancho shocks, 15x8 eagle alloys Series 054, new seats, rear bumper switched out painted to chrome, flowmaster super 44 catback, bed liner, rail caps, fog light mod's,throttle cable mod,turn signal mod, headlight mod. LED bugman mods! HID 6k headlights and fogs, 06+ tails

just replace the donut gasget and put reagular stainless bolt and lock nuts. dont worry about the springs they just rust and they will last forever

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94 super 4x4 4 inch suspension lift on 31s for now