Exhaust Manifold question

[chickenwing]

Need some advise on the double. Have my drive-train out of the truck and I found the passenger exhaust manifold cracked. This kinda @#$$%$$ me off 'cause I just put that manifold on when I got the truck going last year. It was cracked in the same place. I am convinced it has something to do with that hokey A/C bracketry not spreading the stress out on the manifold evenly.
Truck is a 72 c20 with air. It has a 91 serpentine set-up now so the brackets are no longer an issue.
My questions are"
-Should I try fixing the crack?
-Should I try finding a new used manifold?
-Should I try buying a new repro manifold?
-Should I go to a later style manifold and never have burnt plug wires again?
-Should I got to headers (long or short?) and possibly deal with exhaust leaks forever?
Money is an object. But I will burn up the charge card if I have to.
Thanks in advance.

[acloco]

Chicken,
Howdy ho...almost a neighbor. Citrus Heights here.

Block hugger headers would work well in your instance.....with virtually non leaks at all.

Manifolds are great.....but you have ran into the same problem as everybody else over the years.....they break....usually above the flange....or towards the rear.

You could also use the '73 and up manifolds.

Any method that you choose...looks like a trip to the pipe bender (muffler shop).

Good luck.

[chickenwing]

Block huggers of a different constuction than long tubes? I rememeber my old man changing gaskets non stop on his hooker long tubes.

[highboy_04]

i've got a set of rams horn manifolds. $50 plus shipping

[chickenwing]

Just need the passenger side. Wanna split em?

[highboy_04]

not really cuz only having one would do me no good.

[1972C10]

How big of a crack is it?

If its not huge causing the manifold to fall apart heat the engine up to normal temp then cut it off.

And spray the crack with Aerosol undercoating. That will normally seal them up

[chickenwing]

about 3" long in the main part below the center bolts.

[jewels.]

chickenwing.....

i hope this helps.... there is a lot of info (as i mentioned in chat) about my manifold change-up a few weeks ago..... including a nice discussion about the reason for cracks in the manifolds.....

take a look (click here)

i dunno if this will help you at all, but maybe it might?

good luck!
jewels.

p.s. if my motor mounts were actually in their CORRECT locations, i would probably go with headers, hands down.... they are cheaper, and better on the gas mileage than manifolds..... but, as i mentioned, my motor mounts are not correct.... ciao!

[Longhorn Man]

I'd go with headers. If you get good ones and good gaskets, they'll never leak.
Mine haven't leaked since 99 or so, and I've had them removed, replaced, sawapped trucks, taken apart...ect.
still no leaks.
Lat4er 'log' manifolds will not work, they will hit the motor mount or something...I remember about 2 years ago some one on here tried, but it didn't work out for one reason or another.

[teeitup]

I got exhaust manifolds, $25 each plus shipping, they may need new studs in them. Thanks Randy

[chickenwing]

Thanks Andy for lettin me know the new manifolds won't work. I was kinda leaning toward that route. Any suggestions on a brand/style of header?

Randy, I'll keep you in mind. Your offer is very generous. I tell you what. If I dont buy your manifold I'll GIVE you my good one for the price of the freight.

Jewels, If you are still readin... I noticed you have HEI on your truck. What year/model is your cap, rotor and coil cover from? I have an accel coil cover and I hate it. Pretty much have to take it off to remove one plug wire.

Thanks all for your input.
Rich

[jewels.]

Originally posted by chickenwing
Jewels, If you are still readin... I noticed you have HEI on your truck. What year/model is your cap, rotor and coil cover from? I have an accel coil cover and I hate it. Pretty much have to take it off to remove one plug wire.

rich,
i dont want to "steal" the thread topic, so i'll try to answer shortly and quickly..... my HEI was put in at the ohio board meet last august (2002).... i purchased an HEI assembly from Andy (Longhorn Man), and i purchased a cap from OhioDan.... i think andy pulled the distributor from an old van out of a junkyard..... but i have no idea where the cap came from.....

if you are lookin for more info on HEIs.... try the search button for the forums... you will be SHOCKED at how much info you can find on here with that search button!

feel free to PM me if you have any more questions!
good luck!
jewels.

[Longhorn Man]

For the cap and rotor and all that jive, just say 78 C/10. It's all they really need to know is early HEI. (mid to late 70's)As for headers, I have never heard of hookers being a pain untill now.
Try hookers and good dead soft alluminum collector gaskets. Had mine on forever and no matter how many times I take it apart, I slap them back in and it is all good.