1998 V70 NA Silver Bullet return , exhaust manifold

[abscate]

Question for the collective

The exhaust manifold on MADD Wagon, aka Silver bullet , has the braided part degraded and mostly gone. The accordion part of the manifold looks ok. Is this for strain relief and should I replace the whole thing?

$250<400 for part or used one

[abscate]

Can I find that mesh somewhere and attach it to the existing manifold ?

[volvolugnut]

When I worked on cryogenic equipment we used a lot of stainless flex hoses for expansion and misalignment. Talking with vendors for these flex hoses, the outer mesh is used to reinforce the accordion for pressure. It can also be expected to help prevent the accordion section from stretching too much.
If the exhaust pipe is supported downstream, I would expect the mesh is not needed. If you could find a source of the proper size mesh, you would still need a skilled welder to weld to your ends.
volvolugnut

[wizechatmgr]

Are we speaking of the preheat for the air intake or the exhaust downspout flex hose? If it's part #9, that just heats the air intake on cold days to avoid icing.

[abscate]

Part 1, the actual exhaust manifold.

There is a accordion flange allowing flex between the head and pipe, and then a mesh steel part that seems to either strengthen the flex or damp the motion. That part is corroded away, and that’s the part I have to make a decision on path

See mesh on the FCP picture

Note the fitment note is wrong , these cars don’t have EGR, they have SAS or air injection

Tats not a hard weld if I can source the mesh material but that seems problematic. Cutting open a flex exhaust piece is an option

[wizechatmgr]

I believe you can buy just a replacement mesh flex section and likely get Mike to weld that without too much issue.