Changed passenger side exhaust manifold gasket

[jeepthing]

Well, I finally got the courage to change the exhaust manifold gasket on the passenger side (where I heard the exhaust leak.)

I started at the front bolts..sprayed wd40, waited a while, and started undoing them. Actually surprised at how easy it way. When I got to the rear ones, I figured out it was easier to come up from underneath the jeep to get to those. Pulled out the old gaskets..crumbled, broken, nasty looking. I then proceeded to put the new gaskets on. I got everything on except the rear ones. Then finally got the next to farthest away bolt on the rear screwed in slightly...

now up till now it was about an hour or so...BUT...to get that last stupid bolt at the farthest back took the next two hours!! It's really hard to get to, and try to line the hole up on the gasket...you can't really tell if the hole is lined up or not..finally did get it though.

Now I don't hear the irritating exhaust leak sound on that side. I still do here something, maybe the driver's side needs to be replaced..but I do think the passenger side is nice and tight now.

So for anyone doing this, work from back to front

[Wagoneer622]

Check the air injection tubes on the exhaust manifold. I thought I had a bad manifold gasket until I looked at those tubes and there are holes in them. Now it is just finding the time to get the dremel out, chop them off and plug the holes with screws.

[bvibert]

When I have to remove the passenger side exhaust manifold I remove the heater box, it makes it much much easier to get to the bolts in the back. The box isn't that hard to get out either, plus it'll give you a chance to get all the leaves and crap out of there. Its like a win-win situation ;)