On my exhuast pipe were it connects to the header the pipe it dented half way closed no clue how it got dented up that far but I noticed it when redoing head gasket and wanted to know if that's something that could affect the motor and of it needs to be fixed?

 

thats a factory dent so dont worry about it

 

Thanks Mark, I just noticed that on mine today and was going to post the same question.....I wonder why the factory did that?

 

I just put a new manifold in yesterday and it is kinked close to the flange but the flange still was good. I went to the jeep boneyard and was told the same thing I am guessing it has to do with backpressure to keep the valves cooler on the high output 4.0l

 

My father-in-law recently asked me the same thing about his so I'm curious about the answer to this as well. I knew the 99+ had a more restrictive exhaust which is why they redesigned the IM, but his is a '98 with that factory dent. I also didn't know if the factory restricted the exhaust manifold or the exhaust ports in the head. Any thoughts?

 

There is a factory dent but not haf way closed.