TJ Exhaust Maniflold

Snowboardingmofo

New Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Location
Concord, NC
I have a 97 TJ with an inline 6 and have already replaced the manifold once a few years back but it has started to crack again. Any suggestions on a replacement that will last? I am leaning towards Banks but its a lil hgh on the price.
 
Snowboardingmofo said:
I have a 97 TJ with an inline 6 and have already replaced the manifold once a few years back but it has started to crack again. Any suggestions on a replacement that will last? I am leaning towards Banks but its a lil hgh on the price.
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The early TJ's are infamous for cracked exhaust manifolds. Do a search for recalls or TSB's on your model and see if you can get it fixed by the dealer.
 
He's already replaced it once.
He can't bitch at the dealer for an aftermarket part. :)

Anywho, I think it's just a problem with the design, and all of them seem to crack eventually.
Some of the cheap ones have a "Lifetime" warranty, but you have to buy two, then swap them?
 
Yeah, I heard it's a common problem, the Jeep has 130,000 miles on it so I doubt it would be fixed by the dealer. Just wanting to get a good dependable manifold and was wanting some opinions on what would be the best and most reliable aftermarket replacement. Thanks.
 
I had an 8 year old Honda Accord with 170K miles that burned up a distributor. When I went to the parts dept to get a new one the guy checked and it was covered by a TSB. The Job was done for free by the dealer. I didn't know if it might be the same kind of deal with the exhaust manifold. Good luck with finding a good one. My friends 97 just cracked the 2nd OEM manifold.
 
FWIW, the manifold on my 2000 model was cracked at 51k miles.
 
Banks header

I run a Banks header on my 98 TJ. While it split also, the life time warranty kicked in & I got a free repacement last month. Very satisfied with the performance & the warranty. Moral of this story, buy a header with a lifetime warranty. That & about 2 hours will get you running again....:wheel:
 
No matter what header you get it will crack after a while. There just isn't enough flex in the TJ exhaust system so something gotta give and its always the headers. Buy one with a lifetime warranty or just keep welding the OEM one like me.
 
I just replaced my stock unit with a Banks torque tube. I have not yet started it up as I have other work that needs to be completed still. I hope to hear it no later than next weekend, although I might be ready today.

Surprisingly, my stock unit has no cracks (broke one of the head pipe studs when removing it though).
 
ebay has a header to fix that it has 2 flex tube at each end thats the 1 iam running paid 50 for and 30 to ship very nice header
 
Dylan W. said:
other than the obvious noise problems,and maybe a fume problem,what are the other neg. effects of cracked manifolds?
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From what I've read, the biggest potential problem is the fact that a big enough crack can let cold air in where it wouldn't normally be. Normally the entire engine and exhaust system cools at a similar rate, but with a crack and cold weather there can be problems. Cracked header + cold temps can = warped valves or worse, again from what I've read.

In regards to the replacement options, I replaced my stock header on my '99 with one of the newer stock accordian type. It cracked about a year later, but I suspect it had to do with some playing around I was doing with a flat skid and moving around the exhaust. At the time I didn't have the cash for an upgrade, so I had it welded and knock on wood, so far it's held.

My 2 cents on replacements is that I'd gladly go with one of the high dollar replacements if there was little or no chance for a crack on them, but it seems they potentially can have the same issues. With that in mind, I'll take the $80-$100 replacement over the $300+ replacement.

Jeff
 
if you cracked a replacement header then i would make sure that the hangers are not broke thats what was wrong with mine
 
I know of the hangers towards the back of the exhaust, should there be one around the header? Cause my manifold is what holds the down pipe up with the 2 bolts on the bottom of the header, there is no hangers in the front area.

Yeah, the $425 Banks exhaust manifold is way pricey and I know they have a lifetime warranty but sounds like they still can crack. So I think I am going to take my chances on the low budget replacement for now like a rugged ridge or pacesetter for less than 200 bucks.
 
Snowboardingmofo said:
I know of the hangers towards the back of the exhaust, should there be one around the header? Cause my manifold is what holds the down pipe up with the 2 bolts on the bottom of the header, there is no hangers in the front area.
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On my '99, there's a hanger on the passenger side towards the front of the transfer case skid. Then I also have the ones towards the back.
 
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