Just bought a 17 ram 1500 sport with 15k miles, I get it delivered wednesday. Should I replace manifold with headers?

healthyrx · Dec 5, 2021

Hello everyone, I just bought my 2017 ram 1500 on carvana yesterday and it will be delivered to me wednesday. Its a 5.7 hemi with 15k miles on it. Assuming that everything on the truck checks out and I end up keeping it, would it be worth my time to replace the manifolds which I have read can warp with some short tube headers while the truck is low miles rather than waiting for the manifold to become a problem?

Ill be moving out of state in may-june and wont have access to my pops tool barn so as of now I could do the work myself but if i waited for it to become an issue I'll likely have to pay a shop to do the work for me-- which I have seen can get pricey when the studs start cracking

Hanover Fiste · Dec 5, 2021

My 2018 has 29k miles, and no broken manifold studs. Hopefully, it stays that way.

Some people have the manifolds machined flat so the warping never recurs.

MRFREEZE57 · Dec 5, 2021

55k on my 2016, so far no broken exhaust studs.

PoMansRam · Dec 5, 2021

I wonder why the mileage is so low for a 5yr/old truck?

Like said above, I wouldn't touch the exhaust manifolds unless you have to. The bolts will break as easily at 15K as they will at 150K.

They're not going to do anything performance wise for you unless you do other mods along with it and a really good set of headers will be expensive.

Depending on where the truck came from, I would advise you to mash and release the parking brake a bunch of times before you accept ownership. Not only do you want to see if the P-brake holds, you'll want to check for P-brake cable sag along the driver's side frame rail. If it's sagging, a dealer fix is well over $1000 these days. It can be remedied yourself if it's not too bad.

EdGs · Dec 5, 2021

Extremely low mileage, check for any signs of water damage, etc.

I personally wouldn't sweat the exhaust bolts until you have an issue. I did the bolts on my '15 at 108 k miles, and I had the ticking for at least 50 k miles. It did sound like crap, though.

Daw14 · Dec 5, 2021

I just installed headers on my 2014 ,26,000 miles. The rear upper manifold studs/bolts on each side were the only ones to put up a struggle unscrewing. the Longer you wait the more chance of broken studs, heli-coils ,and the such.

Octane · Dec 5, 2021

175k on 2013 hemi and no leaky manifolds

BadHemi2014 · Dec 5, 2021

Mine had 5 broken bolts, 2014 with 126K.
I coughed up the dough for Stainless Works longtubes and a tune. Good headers are not cheap, but you'd save the labor fees doing it yourself. Or just wait and see, you may never have an issue. But broken mani bolts are super common, and not just on Rams.

caulk04 · Dec 5, 2021

Let it go to the warranty is up, unless you're wanting to upgrade for power. They'll at least be covered for 6/60, if not the emissions warranty which is longer.

My truck had them done under warranty before I bought it, so before 30k.

EdGs · Dec 5, 2021

Octane said:
175k on 2013 hemi and no leaky manifolds

Just kidding....lol

I think you are the exception, rather than the rule.

turkeybird56 · Dec 5, 2021

PoMansRam said:
I wonder why the mileage is so low for a 5yr/old truck?

Like said above, I wouldn't touch the exhaust manifolds unless you have to. The bolts will break as easily at 15K as they will at 150K.

They're not going to do anything performance wise for you unless you do other mods along with it and a really good set of headers will be expensive.

Depending on where the truck came from, I would advise you to mash and release the parking brake a bunch of times before you accept ownership. Not only do you want to see if the P-brake holds, you'll want to check for P-brake cable sag along the driver's side frame rail. If it's sagging, a dealer fix is well over $1000 these days. It can be remedied yourself if it's not too bad.

DITTO. No need to touch unless U need to and/or looking to do performance mods. Not all the Hemi's break bolts. ALL IMHO...

MY 19: Has 18,600 on Odometer, no issues. I am not even worried, or thinking of it. If for some reason I happen to have an issue, will just put on shorty's and bolt back up to existing exhaust, and call it good, LOL.

Octane · Dec 5, 2021

EdGs said:
Just kidding....lol

I think you are the exception, rather than the rule.

All I have to do when I buy is tell the salesman that if I have any problems that I'm coming after his family...works every time! Lol

pacofortacos · Dec 5, 2021

IF you want to be real proactive you could OR you could pull off the manifolds and just true the surfaces and be done with it or you can wait.
My 16 has 40k miles and no manifold bolts.
I think many bolts rust out and weaken before they snap, those bolts do rust in certain areas of the country.

RLJ10X · Dec 5, 2021

Yes. Replace those rotten iron logs with a quality shorty header from Matt at Moes Performance. Do it BEFORE broken bolts become a big headache.

There's a recent thread containing an article regarding performance gains with headers. Look it up. Yes, Shortys will yield some gains.

Nova John · Dec 6, 2021

Have 118,000 on my 2011 hemi and no leaks or broken bolts. have flowmaster exhaust, maybe that helped with the heat.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Dec 6, 2021

I would put headers to eliminate the possibility of the header bolts snapping .... but only if I really had the money to do it, not that I don't but right now it's not a priority .... but if you have the extra money to spend on an upgrade regardless, do it !

boblonben · Dec 6, 2021

healthyrx said:
Hello everyone, I just bought my 2017 ram 1500 on carvana yesterday and it will be delivered to me wednesday. Its a 5.7 hemi with 15k miles on it. Assuming that everything on the truck checks out and I end up keeping it, would it be worth my time to replace the manifolds which I have read can warp with some short tube headers while the truck is low miles rather than waiting for the manifold to become a problem?

Ill be moving out of state in may-june and wont have access to my pops tool barn so as of now I could do the work myself but if i waited for it to become an issue I'll likely have to pay a shop to do the work for me-- which I have seen can get pricey when the studs start cracking

‘Have a 2017 sport myself. Have 44K on it, nary a tic of an kind. I’m would NOT replace manifolds on it if it not already making that sound. Man6n2017s simply do not have that problem and never will. Replacing now would be waste of money. Cheers

Canadian-Hemi · Dec 6, 2021

My 2016 I've owned since new only has 22K Km's or 13.75K miles on it. It's a Summer week-end only Truck that is pampered only cause "I finally have the means or $$$ I didn't years ago." I'm sitting on the fence about lowering 2/2, camming and tuning this truck or restoring a old one???

alex6666 · Dec 7, 2021

2017 15= replaced manifold bolts both sides at 50kkm. Under warranty

.

mtwofeathers · Dec 7, 2021

EdGs said:
Extremely low mileage, check for any signs of water damage, etc.

I personally wouldn't sweat the exhaust bolts until you have an issue. I did the bolts on my '15 at 108 k miles, and I had the ticking for at least 50 k miles. It did sound like crap, though.

I was going to say that. Carfax may have it as such.

Just bought a 17 ram 1500 sport with 15k miles, I get it delivered wednesday. Should I replace manifold with headers?

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Banned

Senior Member

Member

Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page