Duct tape's definitely earned its spot in emergency kits, especially for quick hose fixes—your VW story proves it. But the soda-can exhaust patch? I'd steer clear. Seen someone try it once... lasted maybe 10 miles before rattling loose and making things worse. Still, when you're stranded, sometimes sketchy beats nothing. Glad you made it out okay though, Arizona heat's no joke.
Duct tape's a lifesaver for sure, but honestly, I'd think twice about relying on soda cans or anything similar for exhaust fixes. Had a buddy try something like that once—ended up melting part of his bumper when the patch fell off mid-drive. Not fun. Personally, I keep some exhaust repair tape in my kit now; it's cheap, compact, and way safer than improvising with random roadside trash. Better safe than sorry, especially when you're miles from nowhere...
"ended up melting part of his bumper when the patch fell off mid-drive. Not fun."
Haha, that's exactly why I steer clear of DIY exhaust fixes—seen too many roadside disasters myself. Curious though, anyone tried those temporary exhaust clamps? Heard mixed reviews on durability...
Haha, yeah, DIY exhaust fixes can definitely be sketchy. I've never personally melted a bumper (thankfully), but I did have a buddy who tried one of those temporary clamps you're talking about. He swore by it at first—said it was holding up great for a couple hundred miles—but then we hit some rough roads on a weekend trip and the thing loosened up. Ended up sounding like we were driving a lawnmower the rest of the way home.
Honestly, I think those clamps are okay if you're just trying to limp home or get to a shop, but I wouldn't trust them for anything longer than that. Especially on vintage rides where vibrations and heat cycles can really mess with temporary fixes. If you're planning on doing long trips regularly, it's probably worth biting the bullet and getting a proper weld or replacement part.
That said, I've heard some people swear they've driven thousands of miles with those clamps without issues. Maybe it's down to installation technique or just luck? Either way, I'd probably keep one in the trunk as an emergency backup rather than relying on it as a permanent solution.
Also, side note—if you're worried about melting bumpers or other plastic bits, I've seen people rig up heat shields from aluminum flashing or even soda cans in a pinch. Looks kinda janky but better than melted plastic smell for sure...
Yeah, those clamps are definitely hit or miss. I've had mixed luck myself:
- Used one on my old Mustang just to get home from a car show—worked fine for about 50 miles, then started rattling like crazy.
- A friend swears he's been running one on his truck for almost a year without issues... but honestly, I think he's just lucky (or maybe deaf to the noise?).
- Agree with you though, they're best as emergency fixes rather than long-term solutions. Vintage cars vibrate and flex way too much for something temporary to hold up reliably over time.
About the heat shields—aluminum flashing is actually pretty effective. Had a buddy rig one up on his Triumph after he melted part of his rear valance. Looked sketchy as hell, but it did the job until he could get proper exhaust work done.
Bottom line: if you're doing regular long-distance trips, invest in a solid weld or replacement part. Temporary fixes are great for roadside emergencies, but relying on them regularly is asking for trouble...
