So I've got a couple broken manifold studs. I know... I was as surprised as you all are. Went to the dealer to get some studs and nuts. The parts guy says I should replace the gasket. Probably a good idea I think, so tell him to give me a couple of those also. He then tells me I need 2 on each side. What?!? Then he tells me they are $32 each.

Alright... I'll pay a lil extra for the nuts and studs to make sure I have the right ones. I'll even pay a good bit for gaskets, to make sure I don't have to do this again in a year. But $128!?! I think I could buy a pair of manifolds for that!

Are the $9 gaskets Auto Value wants to sell me worth putting on? And what's with this 2 gaskets on each side? Is that a bunch of dung, or is the parts guy actually steering me right?

Thanks

 

Crownie,

I would check other sources, do you have a NAPA nearby? My favorite gasket is FELPRO and has not failed me yet. Oftentimes a parts store will tell you that the only brand listed for an application is an off-brand, non-descript, paper gasket. It doesn't mean that the appropriate gasket from a well known brand does not exist. It could take some digging. In fact you could do some online searching just to see if aftermarket gaskets for your application do exist. Well over 100 bucks for gaskets seems excessive.

dtek001

 

2 gaskets each side?? its a one piece. felpro or mr.gasket make good ones. definitely want a good set of studs though. went thru the same thing with my manifold. gasket was 15$ felpro. no leaks.

 

I used the factory gaskets and they have been trouble free, and can be reused.

 

The upgraded Fel-pro gasket at Auto Zone are 2 piece per side for $10.
Part # MS 92568. For that price box contained 4 gaskets enough for both sides. Someone has said this was the same gasket as the new Ford gasket. It was metal just like the 1 piece but cut in half.

Great gasket for a great price.....

 

$128 is a ripoff. I am not very much familiar with reusable gaskets though. Try digging from other dealers. I usually get a exhaust gasket for about $9.50.

 

That is why the stock gaskets are the way to go. Never leak, never blow out like all the aftermarket ones.

 

So you re-used to old gaskets? Or did you buy new OEM?

Fel-pro is the other option I have found so far. Glad to hear that is a good option. Anyone have issues with Fel-pro?

 

ive had good luck with fel- pro. more impotant is the studs are torqued correctly and evenly.

 

Fel-Pro looked like the stock gasket I toke off except it was 2 piece. Same shape etc.

 

Fel-pro it is...
thanks

 

Ok... the passenger side manifold is about gone, so those need to be replaced. I'm thinking this a good time to do something with the cats and y-pipe. Is there a bolt on replacement (other than OEM) out there? I've done some searching, but so far it looks like my best option is to put one together using the MagnaFlow Y. I'm doing this flat on my back on the driveway with no welder, so I want to keep it fairly simple.

 

Concerning exhaust manifold I got mine from Rockauto for $60, it looked good and came with 2 manifold to y-pipe studs and nuts.
I painted it with gray Hot paint.

 

These cats are welded on, so no you cant find a bolt in replacement. I did away with all 4 of mine and installed 2 magnaflow high flows. A much better sound.

 

Well crap... looks like more work for me then. Funny how that always happens when ya start a project like this. Kinda sad how I'm always surprised and frustrated that it happens too...

I've been debating what to replace the manifolds with. I saw those manifolds at Rock Auto, and the price sure looks good. But, I just gotta put something different back in there. I can't go through all this aggrivation only to have it look like I didn't do anything in the end. I want people to see that something is different, so I can go on and on about about the pure he** I went through to get these manifolds and studs out. I know my helpful friend built54 is gonna give me the business about this, but I think I'm putting some Edelbrock shorties in there. I've got a line on some of those ti-technosumpthonornothers for just about the same as the manifolds. I hear ya built, but I'm not gonna pay that much for long headers when I haven't done much of anything else to to bump the motor up some.

Don't suppose those Maggie cats come with an o2 bung already in place? Stainless steel? Any ideas where to get some tubing with a flange in place and a bunch of different bends so I can piece this thing together? I've seen those hot rod kits that Summit has, but that quite a bit more tubing than I'm gonna need.