Well I found a small crack in my exhaust manifold but I am not getting a check engine light. What brand of manifold should I get, or can I throw a weld on it.

 

Check engine light probably wont come on for that. Mine hasn't anyway. Best would be a Banks cheapest is probably Amazon or ebay stock stlye.

 

It won't throw a check engine until it a good size crack at the collector. And it's just from the heat from the exhaust that it senses if you sit there and let it idle.
ANP makes a manifold for about $130 and it's a little better than stock.

Banks and Borla are the best and run about $600
I went with a Gibson from autoanything.com and talked them down from 390 to 330. They have good sales. And discount like everything. Every stock one cracks at the collector. Just about that time buddy. If there is one crack there's probly 2 more you can't see.

 

Common problem with the XJs.

I know I have to replace mine. What is the true difference between APN and the more expensive Banks or Borla ones?

 

The APN is just a little better than stock. It's new not 10-18 yrs old. The banks and Borla have better metal twisted tubes more collectors and better welds. Design and durability. For instance the stock manifold has to that meet at the collector. My Gibson has more appendages. It's less pressure on each pipe as I understand. Many also come with life time warranties. Check what it's made of. Metal, design, gauge of said metal, thicker the better.

 

Expect to replace your drivers side motor mount when you deal with the exhaust manifold. They crack for a reason, usually a bad motor mount.

 

Yes. I sheered mine and two bolts in the block and twisted my manifold.
That it it's just old a pos

 

http://www.ineedparts.com/apn-jeep-e...-manifold.html

 

APN. Just did mine. Do your motor mounts while you're in there.

 

Sounds like a good plan. APN sounds better for less $$, unless more power gains or something from the Banks ones
Feel any good difference with putting on the new APN manifold?

It also says it only goes up to 1999 models I have a 2000

 

I had 3 cracks in my header beforehand so its much better now. Power gains aren't really that noticeable although it feels much smoother now throughout acceleration. Plus it's nice to be able to hear what your exhaust is supposed to sound like. For the money I think it's well worth it. I had to grind a little bit of my intake for it to fit, nothing crazy. You'd have to see if it would work for your year.

 

Its just a small crack but what is the average MPG increase on replacing these.

 

Well depends. What's your mileage like now? A big crack you notice a lot. When I was rolling with a crack I had ****ty ****ty gas. Now it's better and I notice.

 

my APN header is awesome, i mean we arent building race cars here

 

I only the Gibson cuz I could afford it. I saved up for it. It doesn't make to much if a difference unless I do the whole exhaust sound wise. With the crack I sounded like a race car though!

People pull up next to me
"Damn girl you got a hemi?"
"Nah man crack I'm the exhaust."