Exhaust leak barn find

[Atabeach]

Any tricks to solve an exhaust leak. See photo #1. Soot would lead me to believe exhaust gasses are getting by. This is the second time taking exhaust off , I snugged her up real good last time. TIA. Backfires moderately…otherwise runs good. OK MY BAD…DISCOVERED COPPER GASKETS! on order now…sorry guys.

[Laitch]

Consider that the fuel mixture in that cylinder might be running rich or not being fully combusted. Look for oxidation and looseness on the coil and plug wire terminals. Run the engine then remove the plug for that cylinder; check the spark plug gap. If you don't find anything wrong with those, check the valve clearances for that cylinder.

[Atabeach]

On it Laitch! I’m ordering copper gaskets just in case but will check coil & plugs…she really purrs nicely. Plus there is really no buildup on the tailpipe…thanks again

[Duckbubbles]

Make sure you remove all the old gaskets.  I do all my own maintenance and I was horrified to find I had left TWO gaskets piled up in there.  Only discovered by having trouble refitting the exhaust.  To this day I can't figure out how I did that.  Used a dental pick to fish them out.

Frank