i just finished doing a head job on my 2000 xj. and a few months ago i swaped motors with a 96 because i craked my block. well i got everything done and fired it up and it sounds like the manifold isnt connected to the pipe. but i know it is because. and as i looked for a leak i noticed the sound is coming from around the rear 3 ports (back piece of the 2 piece exhaust)
and i also noticed part of the exhaust port hole in the gasket is sticking out from under the manifold on the #1. is it possible to put the gasket on backwardsa and will it cause this leak?

 

Gotta pull it back appart no away around it

 

The gasket is the same in either direction (I think).
It is probably more likely that the manifold isn't seated properly on the alignment dowel pins in the head. Seems like something is holding your manifold away from the head. Once you pull it apart, I would not reuse that gasket.

 

i put my hand under it and its leaking at #1 and #6. i know ima have to pull it apart. does the 2000 exhaust line up the 96 head or not? im so pissed at myself

 

All gaskets i see say 91 to 99 ?

 

well do the 2 piece headers from the 2000 line up correctly with the 96 motor? because it looked like the gasket is too long.

 

i think i know the problem. i have a 2000 exhaust on a 96 motor. i ordered a gasket for a 96 exhaust. i have the wrong gasket. im goin tomorrow and getting a 2000 exhaust gasket. hope that solves my problems.

 

I thought everyone used the same header with the '00 and '01 as the older ones and just had to clearance the intake some? If the manifold fits, surely the gasket lines up the same?
I hope the different gasket solves it, though!

 

The problem isn't that. A common thing with our 4.0's is once you Change the manifold or take it off they never want to seat properly bc they are warped from heat. If you could get the mani that was on the motor that would probably be best you

 

The 2000 has a combined intake/exhaust manifold gasket and it can only be mounted one way. The gasket has holes that seat on the dowels in the head. I think your issue is matching the 96 head ports (and the dowels if it has them) with the two piece 2000 manifold.

 

My 98 has a single gasket for the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. I thought for the most part they would be the same......