Exhaust manifold problem
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 86
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From: Lucas TX
Exhaust manifold problem
When I was putting my exhaust pipe back on my 76 after replacing the oil pan gasket, I heard a "ping" while I was tightening the pipes to the exhaust manifold. I was hoping (and expecting) it was the bolt. Nope. A small piece of the flange on the exhaust manifold broke off. Dang! Does anyone know of a fix other than replacing the manifold?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Hello
i dont think there is any fix other than to replace the manifold. This happened to my 75 and I had to do a Bubba fix until I put headers on my car.
What I did was make a J hook to fasten to the bottom flange and then tightened it to part of the engine on the top side. It keeps the flange tight against the donut on the exhaust side.
Its a temporary fix until I can order my Hedman headers and new exhaust system.
kdf
i dont think there is any fix other than to replace the manifold. This happened to my 75 and I had to do a Bubba fix until I put headers on my car.
What I did was make a J hook to fasten to the bottom flange and then tightened it to part of the engine on the top side. It keeps the flange tight against the donut on the exhaust side.
Its a temporary fix until I can order my Hedman headers and new exhaust system.
kdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Take it to a decent welding shop and have them braze the pieces back together. Cast iron is fairly brittle and I doubt that either piece of the manifold is bent. That means the pieces should still fit together well and can be readily brazed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
Personally, if I was going to that much trouble I think I'd go ahead and do a full body off. You know how the while-I'm-at-it's work....
Seriously, I think I would replace it and not have to think about it again. A good used one is not that much money and not hard to find.
Seriously, I think I would replace it and not have to think about it again. A good used one is not that much money and not hard to find.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton Alberta
I had exact same thing happen to mine. Took the exhaust manifold to a local cast-iron repair shop and for $75 they repaired it perfectly. No issues with it to date since. The repair was clean looking and the only way you can tell it was worked on is that the texture of the metal in that area does not have the same "dimpling" or surface porosity that the rest of the cast iron has.
