Well, I once again have an exhaust leak on the passenger side exhaust manifold, but this time in a different spot. The front top corner, where that bolt is, is where the leak is. I think I had some coolant drippage from the heater valve drip onto that area. It must have softened up the gasket and it blew out. The question is, can I replace just that front part of gasket. I mean, to cut the extra part that goes between the two exhaust ports, loosen the bolts, remove front part of gasket and use it as template to cut off new gasket, and slip the new gasket portion back in and tighten up. For those that don't know or recall, I had an exhaust leak before, but on the rear of that manifold and had it fixed. Its been less than a year, I think, so I don't think rusted frozen bolts will be a huge issue. I hope what I am asking here makes sense.
No gasket required!!!!!! Remove manifolds and take them to get surfaced and cleaned. Clean off head from old gasket junk. Very Clean! Reinstall manifolds straight up. No gaskets, no sealer, no nothing. Exaust manifolds were not designed for gaskets!!! They'll never leak again.
Well, taking off the manifold isn't really an option. I have no other car, live alone, and work almost every day. When I had the new gasket put in, less than a year ago, the guy did take out the manifold and cleaned up the suface. Do you think its still clean enough to just take the whole gasket out? I guess I can still buy some new gaskets and if it doesn't seal w/o, just put slip a whole new one in. I just thought it would be easiest to try and replace the one section if possible. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...................... .
There is a major difference form "cleaning the surface, and actual surfacing. any machine shop should be able to surface your manifolds for about 20 bucks. I do it everyday and then some. A quick surface should seal you right up :TU:
I agree with all the above. I don't use gaskets either. I didn't have to surface mine either. I just cleaned up the sealing surface real well with a scotch brite pad on my grinder and torqued them on. Make sure you use some antiseize on the bolt threads!
