Hey all,

I'm dealing with replacing my exhaust manifold for the second time due to the infamous crack. Turns out Rugged Ridge isn't that rugged.

Anyways, when you change out the exhaust manifold, there's two threaded dowels that the manifold mounts up to. These are threaded on both ends. One of these dowels since its threaded came undone from the engine block when I was removing the exhaust manifold. Should I be concerned about this? Or will it simply just tighten up when I re-tighten the nut?

Is there a specific process to screwing it back in? Or do I just finger tighten it, place the manifold on, and then torque the nut down?

Just tighten it back down. If you're that concerned, Dorman sells replacement manifold hardware that includes those screws and you could replace them altogether.

As for your manifold cracking again, my guess will be that your motor mounts are worn and caused that. That'll happen to any header over time if the mounts are bad

A flex-joint should be used to help prevent cracks.

Brand has nothing to do with it. OEM, Borla, Gibson, etc, etc will all crack in the same place as yours.

I'll probably just pick the Dorman hardware kit. I went with a Dorman exhaust manifold this time around.

To give the old RR manifold credit, it lasted 3 years.

Motor mounts are pretty new still. About a year only.

Edit:
This video explains how to deal with my problem. Figure it may be useful to others as well

All your exhaust hangers holding the pipe?

I need to know this too, and then some. I just broke both of those studs off in the engine.

How do I get them out?


Watching YouTube videos it looks like I need to drill a hole and try extractors. But that rear one? I need to buy a right angle drill?

You're responding to an 11 year old thread.

whoops. This isn't my thread for this! Trying to do this on my phone. Thanks