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exhaust manifold replace or not

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Old 10-20-2016, 06:51 PM
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Default exhaust manifold replace or not

Should this exhaust manifold be replaced? . It does not leak, just looks bad. Not sure how much life is left in it. Not sure if anyone can give advice based off a pic. Thanks.

Old 10-20-2016, 06:52 PM
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if it's not leaking...don't touch it.
Old 10-20-2016, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by s346k
if it's not leaking...don't touch it.
ok thanks.
Old 10-20-2016, 10:38 PM
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The later years don't crack and leak like the older model. They look fine. They're cast iron.
Old 10-21-2016, 07:03 AM
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Water treatment time when you get it all back together!
Old 10-22-2016, 09:48 PM
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So the 2000's have 2 manifolds? Was this a fix for the cracking on the straight 6 manifold? I kind of am used to my morning diesel sounds.
Old 10-22-2016, 10:59 PM
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Yeah, the design change is to accommodate the additional catalytic converters. 2000 California and all 4.0Ls 2001 and newer have a pair of additional catalytic converters installed right in the downpipe. The engine was split into two banks with four O2 sensors, upstream and downstream of each mini cat:

Name:  2000_2001exhaust.jpg
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The 2000 Federal versions got straight pipes in place of the miniature cats and O2 sensors in the usual places. They kept the separate manifolds for cyls 1-3 and 4-6 and the different collector pipe.

The upside of this design is that the welds don't have nearly as much leverage on them. The original manifold - very long - had a ton of leverage on that one weld where the two runners joint at the collector. The newer style has much more room to flex. Although a braided flex pipe is the real solution...

Last edited by salad; 10-22-2016 at 11:02 PM.
Old 10-23-2016, 06:42 AM
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O that's a pretty good upgrade. I bet there is a lot less failure from heat cracking too.
Old 10-23-2016, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by mikesignal
It does not leak, just looks bad.
Looks fine to me. They all look like that. If you bought a brand new one, it would look like that within a year or two of normal use and would still be perfectly fine.

On the other hand, if you're looking for an excuse to replace it with a Banks Torque Tubes header... Yeah, man, that looks terrible. You really need that header.

Originally Posted by salad
Although a braided flex pipe is the real solution...
Good motor mounts are the real solution.
Old 10-23-2016, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by extrashaky
Looks fine to me. They all look like that. If you bought a brand new one, it would look like that within a year or two of normal use and would still be perfectly fine.

On the other hand, if you're looking for an excuse to replace it with a Banks Torque Tubes header... Yeah, man, that looks terrible. You really need that header.

LOL. I wish I had the money to spend on it. I would have liked to get a performance cylinder head replacement too, but couldn't justify spending the extra money on a vehicle I drive less than 5k miles a year.
Old 10-23-2016, 11:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 97grand4.0
So the 2000's have 2 manifolds? Was this a fix for the cracking on the straight 6 manifold? I kind of am used to my morning diesel sounds.
Yeah, I had those diesel sounds too, but got tired of the clatter finally and bit the bullet and did the project.
Here is a write up earlier this year FWIW.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/ins...y-pics-223819/

I am real happy with the results.

Last edited by HappyTrails; 10-23-2016 at 11:17 PM.
Old 10-24-2016, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by extrashaky
Good motor mounts are the real solution.
Not really. The entire exhaust on XJs is rigid. That's a lot of leverage just asking for trouble. Put in a flex pipe and never have a cracked manifold again, regardless of mount condition.

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