exhaust system noise

[roadwanderer2]

Hey guys, last week I started hearing what sounded like a piston slap only to find out from my local mechanic it is my right side exhaust manifold gasket. He gave me a "rough estimate" between $500-$1.000. dollars to replace it. Most of the cost is labor and im like......OMFG you got to be kidding me!. He spoke about due to the age, mileage,(284,***) and rust the manifold bolts could snap while trying to remove them and maybe having to drill them out and re tapping the head.

Does anyone know of any "short cuts" that can be taken to replace the gasket? Is this something that i could try to do myself?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

Stuart.

 

[wgreggking]

My last ford 5.4 had right side three times,I did the first, swore I would not do it again. make sure the manifold is not warped. Price for 1 side, $800.

 

[CorDog009]

You probably already have broken bolts. I have at least one that I know of. You need a broke bolt extractor (easy out) and a drill bit to drill out the center of the broken bolt. I like to drill a small hole all the way through the bolt to relieve the pressure on all the threads, then use the extractor to remove the bolt. You pretty much have to pull the inner wheelwell liner to be able to see anything. One of my buddies welded a nut onto the broken bolts and extracted his, but mine isn't bothering me enough to start tearing into it.