Dalb

I did a search, and I didn't find what I was looking for, so forgive me if this issue has been beaten like a dead horse but... About 40,000 miles ago @ around 90,000 miles on the ticker, I had an exhaust leak. Turned out it was the exhaust manifolds. Two garages didn't want to do them, and another wanted $900 to replace them. I got lucky, a friend knew a ford machanic, who would replace them for me for $150, if I bought the manifolds myself. Got the replacements at a national chain, stud kits and all for around $200. Thought the replacements would be the last I'd ever need to worry about it. Well rather than buy another set of 40,000 mile manifolds, I'd like to know what you guys have done. I'd really rather not spend $500 on headers since its getting to be an old truck, but figure there has got to be a better solution, than another pair of poor quality stock type manifolds. Long tube, short tube, don't really care as much as I'd like to keep this truck for another 70,000 miles without spending too much money on it. My wife is suggesting a new truck, from a different manufacturer, but this one is paid for, and I like that.

BXK109

Why are they "blowing" are the bolts coming loose and beating the gaskets up? That has been my experience. I tighten my manifold bolts every 10k or when i hear them "tick" and the noise goes away. Manifold gaskets fail because A) they become lose and are beaten back and forth from exhaust gasses between the cyl and manifold or B) warped cyl heads/manifolds. You either have a warped head or warped manifolds if they stay torqued and still blow.

Dalb

Well the truck didn't have a manifold leak until 90,000 miles.

Was told that sometimes the studs rust and allow the exhaust to leak.

Another offered that the manifolds are poorly made in the first place, and rust away.

Drove the truck for a a couple weeks with the leak, thinking it might be the "Y-pipe", before it was diagnosed as the manifolds.

There were broken studs, missing studs, and holes in the manifolds themselves. I could hardly believe that the leak wasn't worse than it was.

It's been about 40,000 miles since the repair, and I only noticed the leaking again within the last couple weeks. Again I'd thought "Y-pipe" but it is the manifolds again.

Been told that this is a common problem, so I thought there might have developed a common repair, that has become the standard or at least prefered solution, to the problem.

Its been overall a pretty good truck, still think there is a lot of use left in it. My wife is convinced there are only more problems likely, and that its time to concider a new truck.

Quess I was hoping for an inexpensive header recommendation, or some insight as to what the commited F150 owner was doing to stop the problem for good.

The body of my truck is starting to rust. Its not too bad yet, and I'm waffling on fixing it, getting everything made right, or just replacing it.

I'm aggravated to the point that if I buy a new truck it might not be a Ford. But if I fix it, and get another few years out of it, I might buy another F150.

Curious about the rumored F100.
(Supposed to be a little bigger than a dodge dakota)

BXK109

How do your manifolds look now? Are they rusted out like the previous ones? If they visually look okay and you already replaced the manifolds/gaskets/&bolts then I would wait till the truck cools and put a socket on all the manifold bolts. Ill bet you'll get a few turns out of them.

Dalb

Truck is probably pretty cool right now, its 11 degrees outside at the moment. BRRRRR.

I want to move to Arizona too. No rust, ride a motorcycle every day....

bababooey

I have a new set of JBA Shorty headers that I was going to replace my leaking manifolds with but put it off and wrecked my truck. I still have the headers new in box if you are interested. I know I am new on here but I have been reading threads for a long time, just never had an account to post. Call and talk to me 605.359.7556 My name is Brent. The headers I have are: http://products.jbaheaders.com/detai...V.asp?id=1679S
I will sell them for $350.

Dalb

Baba,

I'd be all over that deal, if I wasn't seriously thinking about trading pretty soon.

My truck has over 132,000 miles on it, I bought it new 10 years ago, kinda ready for a change, and the old girl has got rust on the bottom of the driverside door, the tailgate, and the back of the bed.

I'm toying with the idea of fixing it up, and keeping it, but we've got 20 inches of snow on the ground here, it's cold and my other ride is only one wheel drive. So that option is out for the time being.

That's a plenty fair price, and if my miles were lower it'd be totally worth it.

BigRedXlt

I say go for it and get the headers. I am sorry you are having such a hard time with your ford. If I were you I would fix it up. I have 167k on my truck and its running great. I really think you could get at least to 200k on your truck if you put some time into it.

I think you should get those headers put on by that ford tech your friend knows...try to find a used tail gate on craigslist to replace the rusted one, and do some rust busting then paint over it will POR 15 or if you dont want to spend that much put some spray undercoating or rustoleoum on it. For under a grand you can keep a good truck and avoid more car payments.

Sorry you wife if giving you such a hard time about it, no offense to your wife but does she know a lot about cars? I know my girl friend says she wants me to get a new truck but thats just because she doesnt like used cars...

At least post some pictures so we can see what kind of shape this truck is in...please? haha