Exhaust front pipe broken, need help!
 

The front pipe on my 1977 300d cracked right near the connection to the resonator piece. I looked online and then went to pep boys, after a while they found out that the front pipe was no longer made by anyone and they couldn't find any where to get it. They did find one place that has an alternate system that they say will fit, but it would mean replacing the entire system. I'm also planning on checking with the dealer, but I'm expecting high prices if they even have it. I used a trick I heard about using a tin can and some rescue tape to join the broken pieces, but I don't expect that to last very long. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Are we talking cast iron ...
or steel ?
how would you describe access to it...OR
the first joints either direction from the crack.... ?
Is it a longitudinal crack .... or around the circumference ?
how big is the ' hole' width and length wise... ?
what kind of welding equipment do you have access to ... or a person with oxy acet ?

You also have to determine the WHY.... or fixing it will not last long....some supporting bracket missing.... that kind of thing....

Consult a local muffler place.

If your state doesn't have rigorous inspections, the tin can thing may work.

LOL.... that is probably the best advise... I guess my mind set... having the welding stuff at hand.... and not really thinking most shops will do it as well as I will on my own stuff sorta shows in my answer..

Consult a Muffler Shop...
 

.....but you'll have to do some legwork & find an independent shop because they're most likely to still weld a repair as opposed to the chain store that will want to sell you a whole exhaust system. Your profile doesn't say where you're located which might help someone recommend a shop.

The muffler shop sounds like a good idea, I'm located on Long Island if anyone knows of a shop. And to answer some of the questions, my uncle has some welding equipment, I'm not exactly sure what, but I would have access to that, the crack is totally around the circumference straight through, it's in two pieces. I'm not really sure why it cracked, my guess is just from rust and age, it broke right on where a support bracket is.

Then it is probably unsupported elsewhere..... thus the support bracket forms the fulcrum for constant minor movement.... and winds up being where the break happens....

Long Island, that is New York, that + Snow/Ice + Salt = rust I would think. You can not weld rust. Most of these old MB`s usually all have rusty exhaust systems. The best solution is a Muffler shop and have them make a new piece. the Pipe come in around 3 sections when buying after market like Bosal and Ansa. Down Pipe, center section with the Resonator and the rear section with the Muffler.

Sound like you just want a patch job, and any muffler shop can do that.

What condition is the car in? This all depends on how much Money you want to invent in it.

There is this place that makes stainless Steel muffler systems.
Mercedes 1977-84 240D, 300D, CD and TD Exhaust Systems


There is also the dealer.

EXHAUST PIPE. EXHAUST SYSTEM; EXHAUST SYSTEM ON DIESEL VEHICLES for Mercedes 300 D (1975 - 1981). #1234903319

Click on the various images and there is the part# and prices....if they are still available.

Mercedes Benz Exhaust Pipe

Or just do a Google search


https://www.google.com/search?q=77+mercedes+300D+exhaust+system&biw=1113&bih=743&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AcOeVIG7H9bpo ASQwYL4Bg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg


Charlie

Without a pic I'm guessing a bit but independent muffler shops are generally pretty resourceful in inventing fixes for these things. If the failure includes the flanged front section (I'm thinking of my Turbo'd 617) they can easily form that, too. Franchised places like Midas generally do decent work but are much more interested in selling you a system - and the operative word there is "selling". This will cost you more.

Dan

I have several cars in my yard, I will look and see if I still have the NA exhaust. I have a euro 240 exhaust if that will fit...

See if FCP has what you need. They are in CT and their warehouse is in Long Island. Free shipping on orders $50 or more .

https://www.*******.com/Mercedes~Benz-parts/300D/Exhaust?year=1977&e=1257&m=20&page=1

Yeah it's looking like a muffler shop is probably my best bet, I'm pretty sure I found the part on FCP but it's listed as "temporarily unavailable" so I don't know if/when they'll be getting it back in, thanks for the help everyone!