Newbie with a few maintenance questions...

[Dirtyblackhoe]

I wasn't quite sure where to make this thread, so if it is in the wrong place please forgive me. I recently bought a 2011 2wd Ram Sport with the 5.7 and I am needing to do some maintenance.

I already ordered the spark plugs because they are desperately in need of being changed. I ordered the Mopar plain jane copper plugs from doing research on them.
Dealership wanted $400 for this.

I am looking to fix an exhaust leak (seems to be a manifold leak) and I need to service the transmission. I have been told by the dealer that most of the time the manifold isn't cranked, but it is the header bolts that are either loose or have broken off. Before I start to tackle the situation I figured I might need to at least order a set of bolts in case that is all that is the issue. Does anyone have any insight or know the part numbers for the exhaust manifold bolts? Does ARP make an upgraded kit that will last longer?
The dealership said it would be about $380 for the labor, and $100 extra for each bolt that had to be extracted from the head.

I have looked up the part numbers for the transmission flush, but it shows the same part number for the filter in the pan and the filter "out of the pan"? That's at least how it looked on the diagram I looked at. The part number that I did find is Mopar 5179267AC Transmission Filter. Any help for a newbie would be awesome and thanks.
Dealership said $180 for this and that the best choice was to drop the pan and change the filters (which is what I had planned to do)

 

[FluidConcepts]

I would have the dealer or a qualified shop do the transmission flush with the machine.
As far as the exhaust manifold bolts, I've done several and worst case scenario was I used a dremel cut off wheel to cut a slot on the bolt that was flush with the head and used a flat head screwdriver to back out. I would recommend stage 8 bolts to replace the factory ones.

spark plugs, easy breezy. I get the copper plugs for a little over a buck each. Its moderately tight under the vacuum booster but the pass side is cake, just pull the top of the airbox and intake tube.

 

[Dirtyblackhoe]

The reason I asked for the part numbers on the Trans filters is my best friend works at the local GM dealer. He said he could do the flush with their machine and swap out the filters while he had it on the lift. He just doesn't know what I need to order so he told me to pick up the parts needed.

On the manifold bolts...where do I buy new ones that are stronger? Is it normally that the bolts have broken and that is the reason for the leak?

 

[huntergreen]

The manifold bolts break because of warping. You also need to correct this. The trans filters need to be installed correctly or they work their way off and burn up the trans. It is common practice to replace the spark plugs with whatever came stock, champ or NGK. Others have tried to use other than OEM, none have been successful that I know of.