Found a weird one - exhaust leak around manifold to engine pipe join. Thought it was a gasket, pulled the flange apart and sure enough - no gasket.
Re-fitted with a new gasket and WTF ? exhaust leak was worse. Definitely leaking around the flange.
Put a mirror and torch to check it out and spotted the flange welds cracked on the engine pipe.
Wondering how many others have struck this problem ? Could be the previous owner had the clutch replaced and the workshop did a rough job, especially considering the other parts damaged/not replaced properly and mounts not connected, but the welds on the genuine Nissan engine pipe were pretty so-so.
When I got it out and on the bench, the welds had cracked on the flange, the transition and the bottom bend. 20 minutes with a grinder and welder and all good again, but otherwise it would have been a new engine pipe. At least this one is now welded properly.
What a b!tch to remove. Sway bar, track rod, gearbox cross member all in the way. Everything rusted siezed (normal exhaust work) with tin heat/noise shields clipped on everywhere and bolts put in from the top when the chassis was bare and the body not yet fitted. ........C-MON !!
For anyone else, you can just get the engine pipe out if you remove the tin shields near the manifold flange, drop the suspension to full droop and remove the sway bar. Saves on removing the track rod and gearbox mount.
Hope this helps someone. - sorry, no pictures.
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