Embraced my fear and fixed my exhaust manifold

[lanierboy]

I've had an annoying tick in my exhaust manifold since I bought my GW 3 years ago. Something about all the horror stories I've heard that sent cold shivers down my spine at the thought of pulling it.

Well, The noise kept getting louder and louder to the point where I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER. In my maddened state, I pulled off the drivers side manifold and, miraculously, it came right out. The bolts were all loose. Once out, I noticed a crack by one of the AIR ports.

Soon after I bought the GW, the Banjo bolts had broken off when I tried to unscrew them. I tapped and put bolts in the banjo holes with a little JB Weld. It helped but I think it still leaked.

Well I finally fixed an old Stick welder I've had laying around the garage for the better part of 10 years and welded the poop out of the crack and filled in the AIR holes also. Since this was the first time I've ever welded anthing, it wasn't pretty. However, it appears not to leak, at least on the test run. I bolted the manifold back in and it's good to go. Hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder what I can weld next?

[Bob Barry]

Originally posted by lanierboy:
Hmmmmmmmmm, I wonder what I can weld next?Uh-oh; famous last words before a man's descent into madness... ;)

[2nd Day]

you might want to weld all open places under the hood up....i hear cats have a nasty habit of gettin in there...

[Wagoneer622]

Oh no, not the cat thing again.

[tuckers89GW]

JUST WELD THE AIR CLEANER OPENINGS SHUT. THAT IS WHERE THE CAT TENDS TO GET IN AT.

[andy d]

lemme tell you theres no shortage of stuff that could be welded on my wag

[Manhattan]

Bill... Bushwood had that "pfft pfft pfft" coming from the passenger side. It was determined to be coming from a rusted-out air injector tube - the tube and all of the risers were shot.

I had two shops price the repair (shh, dont' tell anyone here I sometimes take Bushwood to the shop to let actuall professionals fix things). Both shops estimated between $350 and $400!

I bought the parts for $35 and did it myself in 45 minutes! Really! The bolts came out with almost no effort, the parts fit perfectly... it all came together like a Toyota.. I mean... well you know what I mean.

Bushwood is now quiet... except for the 350 watt amp, the 2 JL speakers in the door, the two Kenwoods in the back and the 2 10" Polk subs I just put in (Circuit City is having a great sale!)

Now that I think about it... with all the that (ricer style) stereo equipment, fixing the exhaust was a waste of time;)

[lanierboy]

I haven't seen any cats but I've found mouse droppings under the hood. I wish I had a cat or two living under there to keep away all that defecating vermin :D

Marc,
350 WATTS!!! I'm going to have to check out your system. I'm hoping to beef mine up somtime this year.

[Bluesky4x4]

Nothing better than the smell of burning metal in the morning.

I find that a welder is a great replacement for drill/bolts.

[The Preacher]

Sounds great. I am still trying to trace the source of my exhaust leak.

Congratulations.

[goofy289]

Nothing better than the smell of burning metal in the morning.

sure beats the smell of burning cat :eek:

[JeepBountyHunter]

MMeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! !Lol, years ago my brother and I had to jump start our lawntractor with the Jeeps battery...well a very friendly cat had decided to hang out by the cooling fan...we always started the engine to do this...well....after a couple thump thumps...go figure....(not intentional by the way)