What are my options when my exhaust pipes start to go?

[gloucester Q]

So I've got a hole in the down pipe that goes from the passenger side exhaust manifold to the exhuast pipe. A new part is ~600 dollars, which on an 1800 dollar car seems out of the question. I think there's a converter on it as well, so I don't think it's something that would be easy for a muffler shop to fab up a replacement for. What do you guys do when your exhaust starts failing? Scavenge junk yards? Thanks, Randy

[maxnix]

Not quite sure to which piipe you are referring, but if it doesn't operate at exhaust manifold temperatures, welding should be possible is it is not very large.

[gloucester Q]

wow... i did a google image search for q45 exhaust and turned up this. it's a underbody shot of a j30, but it is exactly the same pipe. i think i'm heading to a muffler shop after and see what they can do.

zerothread/182422

[superuber]

That pipe is the pipe that has the rear cat.

[bullittandy]

If the hole is from rust then that means that the rest of the pipe is close to failing as well and any welding will be futile.

I'd look for a "mid-pipe" from a southern car and it should last awhile, and will probably sell for about $200 used with $100 to install it-though if you're handy you could do it yourself.