so my exhaust manifold is leaking. how hard is it to fix a problem like that? i brought it to the exhaust shop to look at but they dont do manifolds so now im stuck.

 

You will have to replace the gasket to fix the leak. The problem comes when trying to remove the nuts off the rusted studs, they tend to break. If one breaks hope it breaks to the outside of the head.

 

soak them w/ a ton of penatrating oil,like wd-40 pb blaster etc. my uncle had the same prob on his 98 w/ the 4.6l

 

I had manifold replacement done and i helped my mechanic, only way he would tackle the job if i was there to suffer with him! Lots of penetrant and LOTS of heat to get the nuts and studs out without breaking. If your manifold was broken, it could be brazed which isn't bad. But if its leakin...well...only options are live with it or fix it.

 

I had 3 break on my 99 f150 5.4 on the same side.You don't have to try to take them off to break them.They just get rusty and break themselves from the motor heating up and cooling down.I never really seen the point in putting anything like wd40 or pb blaster on the studs because mine were so rusty on the outside there was no way the nuts are going to twist off the m studs.I tried spraying one side every day for a week and it did absolutely nothing to help it.When I started twisting off the nuts,the whole stud just came out of the block.No problem.As for the broken studs,once the manifolds off,they come out easily with vice grips.The job just looks harder then it is.