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From: bulick@bambi.UUCP (Stephen L. Bulick)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: welding (northern NJ)
Message-ID: <19@bambi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-May-85 12:16:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: bambi.19
Posted: Thu May 30 12:16:26 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 31-May-85 06:16:42 EDT
Organization: Bell Communications Research;  Morristown, NJ
Lines: 35

I am looking for a someone in northern NJ (I live in Madison) who does
welding. Here is my problem: I have a 1982 Fiat Spider (yeah, I know) with
a muffler that has separated from the pipe leading into it at a welded
joint. This happened about 5000 miles ago and the garage said the only
solution was to replace the piece, since "nobody welds these things anymore".
At the time I lacked the time and inclination to pursue the matter very far.
The cost was close to $120 with the part and labor.

Now, this thing is practically new - hardly any rust on it and its still
solid except for the break. It looks to me to be an easy welding job.
What I would like to do is remove the appropriate parts of the exhaust system,
which appears to be merely a matter of several bolts and hangers, and take
it to someone who will weld it back together. I will then reinstall it
myself. (I have replaced exhaust systems in other cars myself, including
the heater boxes on a VW bug).

The real question, of course, is why it breaks in the first place. I know
that I have backed out of driveways and parking lots that were steep enough
to cause the tail pipe to scrape the street. And, of course, it is a Fiat,
tho manufactured by Pininfarina. But the exhaust system does not seem to
hang abnormally low, and all the braces and hangers seem solid. Am I doomed
to fixing this every few thousand miles?

Incidentally, aside from being run into a few times, I have had very little
trouble with this car: its great fun to drive and the top works very
easily.

				Steve Bulick
				!bellcore!bambi!bulick

				Bell Communications Research
				435 South Street, MRE 2A-274
				Morristown, NJ   07960

				(201) 829-4587