kevinm
28-05-2014, 12:27 PM
Hi Guys
I was really hoping I wouldn't have to say this. But for the second time the rear RPW header on my 380 has developed a crack. Again it is near the weld and nuts where it joins the block.
You may remember the first one lasted around 8 months and RPW replaced it. Now the second has lasted under 12 months. Yesterday I took it to a reputable exhaust company in Newcastle and although they said that the header looks quite good, he thinks it has a design flaw. For example the acute angle of the pipe from the front header as it passes around the back into the exhaust could be creating a disproportionate amount of heat. He checked the engine mounts which were fine and the rest of the exhaust and it was tight. He noticed that the blue paint on the back header is peeling at a greater rate than the paint on the front on. There are also 2 Flexis. So he was at a loss to explain why 2 headers would crack in virtually the same place in such a short time. And to answer the obvious question. No I don't flog my pride and joy very rarely do I approach anywhere near high revs.
I contacted David Thomas at RPW and he has never heard of this happening. He disputes the idea of a design flaw saying that if that was the case he would be getting returns all the time and he doesn't. He suggested I take it to the manufacturer, Liverpool Exhausts. However, he hasn't responded to my request for a new header at no cost. As I was laid off in April I don't have the money to travel 400 km to Liverpool and back and pay for another header to be supplied and installed. Even if I do get a new one for free I will still have to pay for the installation. So its a lose-lose for me.
Is there anyone who has had the same problem or could offer a suggestion as to what has caused this? I would appreciate any thoughts.
I was really hoping I wouldn't have to say this. But for the second time the rear RPW header on my 380 has developed a crack. Again it is near the weld and nuts where it joins the block.
You may remember the first one lasted around 8 months and RPW replaced it. Now the second has lasted under 12 months. Yesterday I took it to a reputable exhaust company in Newcastle and although they said that the header looks quite good, he thinks it has a design flaw. For example the acute angle of the pipe from the front header as it passes around the back into the exhaust could be creating a disproportionate amount of heat. He checked the engine mounts which were fine and the rest of the exhaust and it was tight. He noticed that the blue paint on the back header is peeling at a greater rate than the paint on the front on. There are also 2 Flexis. So he was at a loss to explain why 2 headers would crack in virtually the same place in such a short time. And to answer the obvious question. No I don't flog my pride and joy very rarely do I approach anywhere near high revs.
I contacted David Thomas at RPW and he has never heard of this happening. He disputes the idea of a design flaw saying that if that was the case he would be getting returns all the time and he doesn't. He suggested I take it to the manufacturer, Liverpool Exhausts. However, he hasn't responded to my request for a new header at no cost. As I was laid off in April I don't have the money to travel 400 km to Liverpool and back and pay for another header to be supplied and installed. Even if I do get a new one for free I will still have to pay for the installation. So its a lose-lose for me.
Is there anyone who has had the same problem or could offer a suggestion as to what has caused this? I would appreciate any thoughts.