I have developed an exhaust leak on the passenger side head. It is not bad...yet. I'm wanting to catch this early before it sounds worse.

Anyhow, what all has to be removed to get to the exhaust manifolds? I'm used to working on mustangs and it wasn't that bad, just had to yank the trans out of the way and you could pretty much do your thing from there. Now with the 4 wheel drive components up front, what am I looking at removing?

Is there enough/much clearance to run long tubes with the 4wd? If I have to replace a gasket on one side, might as well replace it on both... same applies for the manifolds.

Thanks in advance.

 

theres a write up on installing headers i couldnt find it

 

To access the manifold on a F-150 4X4 remove the tire and the splash guard. The manifold is easy to get to and see. I recently put shorty's on so I'm not positive about the long tubes fitting. If you need more help write back, I've put them on so I might be able to help...its a PAIN!!!

 

that sounds much better than I was expecting I wouldn't mind going with shorties as well... I was just thinking long tubes and trying to get an idea of how back it would suck to do

with removing the wheel/splash guard... is it pretty easy access from there? or is it more along the lines of removing the shock, control arm, etc.... to have complete access to get stock manifolds out and new manifolds in?

what brand shorty did you go with? any fitment issues? what type gasket? and did you replace the studs in the process?