Drivers Side Exhaust Manifold

[MAGNUM SERVICES]

Has anyone replaced the driver side exhaust manifold while the engine is in the truck? Mine is rusted badly from 8 years of plowing snow/salting and it is now leaking where the crossover pipe meets the manifold. I had the crossover replaced about 6 years ago and the manifold bolts had to be drilled out/tapped and replaced and now my rust is worse. Is this gonna' be a pain or should I let a qualified shop do this? Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated, Thanks

 

[3500GMC]

Since you are replacing the driver side manifold, if the xover bolts want to twist off, let 'em. It's more difficult to intall the new manifold with the crossover in place but it can be done. Otherwise you're messing with the passenger side xover bolts.

Soak the manifold to head bolts with some PB blaster.

It's a can of worms yeah.. Usually a pain in the keester.

 

[WildWilly]

If you don't have a torch and some sockets to remove rusted bolts then I would take it to a shop. I just replaced mine and had to heat the manifold a bit because the bolts were seized in it. The bolt heads were rusted away and no socket would fit it. They were rusted from the snow & salt as well but like the above post, don't worry about the crossover bolts, let them break. The bolts in your head are the ones that you do not want to break.

 

[MAGNUM SERVICES]

Thanks for those replies, I think a Qualified Shop is the way to go