Exhaust Manifold Options

[theblet]

What's in the blue circle?

Another broken bolt?

 

[kapinallinen2]

What's in the blue circle?

Nothing, there is a hole in the manifold and the gasket but not in the head so just a "stain" for the lack of better word.

edit: I really like the display quality on my 3 camera depstech 520 but the still shots are pretty poor.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Another broken bolt?

No.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Actually, to call it a stud is not correct, it is a double ended stud LOL.

 

[rkjunior]

I installed the BD Diesel manifolds. Superb quality. Only time will tell though.

Exhaust Manifold Kit | RAM 5.7L HEMI 1500 | 1041467

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Any update on how these have fared?

 

[Mr.Grid]

Could be referring to this? What a pain...
View attachment 190585

Easy broken stud extraction. Rent a mig welder (120v) from Home Depot and weld a nut to the broken stud and spin right out. Did both exhaust manifolds on my 2011 Hemi Ram with broken rear studs, common problem.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Easy broken stud extraction. Rent a mig welder (120v) from Home Depot and weld a nut to the broken stud and spin right out. Did both exhaust manifolds on my 2011 Hemi Ram with broken rear studs, common problem.

I have an 250 amp ESAB, no matter what, still a pain in the butt.

 

[Jsierra88]

I was given a date for the repair that was requested prior to warranty expired. RAM dealerships sucks DICKS.
Take a look at this. Has anyone tried to seal it with JB weld. this isnt a warp or a small crack. i technically have two headers as it split in halve.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I was given a date for the repair that was requested prior to warranty expired. RAM dealerships sucks DICKS.
Take a look at this. Has anyone tried to seal it with JB weld. this isnt a warp or a small crack. i technically have two headers as it split in halve.

Can't blame the dealer if the parts aren't available.

 

[ClancyO]

Just dropped fluffy at the dealer. 34k, right side leak. (Didn’t look not sure how bad - stud or crack). This thread started mid/late 2023 and an early post says that dealers are limited to 4 a month (one every 7 days). Service writer confirmed this and then stated they have a SIX (6) page list! If each page only has 30 lines that 6 x 30 x 7 = 1260 days! 3.5 YEARS.

 

[alex20]

Has anyone installed the BD manifolds on only one side without upgrading the other? I confirmed my passenger side is cracked on my 2020 with 64K miles tonight. The driver’s side is fine. Have our first baby coming in the next three weeks and not looking to spend more than necessary if I can avoid it. At the same time if the BD replacements are better I would rather buy for the one side and hopefully not have to replace the passenger side again. Otherwise I will be scrounging for an OEM replacement online, unless the allocation/supply chain issues have been resolved.

 

[PurpleRT]

I would buy the pair and just replace the problematic side and wait and replace the other when the time comes.. I say when because the other side will eventually crack and have the same fate. I will also check the opposite side to make sure it isn’t also cracked during the installation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cbty2050]

Another option is the dorman manifolds i believe they are under $150/side on rockauto. I have installed a couple and they are definitely a better design vs oem.

 

[CHeYeNNe71]

Honestly, do both and call it a day since the other will most likely happen and you already spent the money, plus possible less chance of breaking bolts in the process.

 

[PurpleRT]

You might be surprised once you do one side check the other it might be cracked as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alex20]

You might be surprised once you do one side check the other it might be cracked as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did take the heat shield off the drivers side and verified no cracks. Bolts all appear to be fine as well. Aside from the observed crack on the passenger side, on a cold start you can clearly hear the hissing/ticking from the passenger side. Put my ear in the driver’s side wheel well and nothing. After 10 seconds or so you can also start to smell exhaust fumes on the passenger side as well.

I guess in short, aside from visually confirming the crack on the passenger side vs no crack on the driver’s side, the other signs of a leaky manifold are not present on the driver’s side (yet).

I am leaning towards just replacing the passenger side with the BD manifold for now and hold off on replacing the driver’s side until there’s a problem.

What I’m not sure about is whether there is a difference in performance between the BD and OEM manifolds? I can’t find any evidence that there is a difference, but wondering if anyone can confirm that this could be done without causing issues.

 

[PurpleRT]

No performance difference yes you can just do one side and save the other for when the time comes.

Thats how I figured out mines was cracked.. fumes in the inside. Removed passenger heat shield and bam… luckily I already had the BD headers sitting on the shelf months prior figuring I was gonna eventually get the typically manifold crack and wanna risk them being out of stock or backordered when the time came. I was fortunate when it came to the driver side for the hell of it I removed the heat shield and bam also cracked so the was the next days adventure.

I will suggest this might have been just an issue with my pair but I received two different brand of replacement bolts.. both grade 8.8 both identical other than the markings. I snapped two of the same brand. First one I initially set the torque wrench to 10 ft lbs for a first pass and snapped the bolt in the head. Thought maybe my torque wrench was screwed up swapped to another one and even cleaned the threads.. snapped that bolt as well. Dorman sells replacement bolts locally in the same size but grade 10 yellow zinc as a pair but you can order replacement through Fastenal for cheap if you can wait a few days. Had I know what I know now I would of went ahead and just ordered the grade 10 yellow zinc bolts and used those all the way around a much stronger bolt and you won’t risk breaking one torquing them down (at least you shouldn’t at 18 ft lbs) just my $.2


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VegasRob55]

I've seen BBK, JBA and even AFE have issues.

My exhaust shop says that shorty's are weaker than the OEM manifolds and won't last more than two years. He says as much as it sucks, just replace with OEM and hope for the best. He says they have been a bit better with the redesigned manifolds with the strut bars across the bolts.

 

[VegasRob55]

Well I gotta chime in now on options as I am at the end of mine.
I had one stock manifold replaced while under warranty. Out of warranty the drivers side cracked in the same place as everyone else's.
So I did all the research and went with the AFE purchased from American Truck since I'm in CA.
Only lasted about 7k and welds started cracking.
While A.T. was Useless after 30 days AFE sent out replacements right away and this is where my Nightmare has begun!
They told me that they did a redesign to "IMPROVE" them so I was excited to recieve the New and Improved ones.
Immediately I saw how warped and cupped the new base plates were but didn't have too many options so I decided to Try and see if the would torque out since a pair of camps on a bench seemed to work.
Well after all the work and Finally getting those hard to reach bolts in...
I notice they left the Air Port Flange off! See pics.

I put the old one one cause I can't go without a vehicle and contacted them.

Their Response was
"I am being told that the air port flange delete is a design change and that is now how they are made...."

INCONCEIVABLE!

Seriously ready to go back to stock and hope that Redesign is better.

BTW, Best price I can find on stock kits is about $90 per side now.
Enter, another day wasted on what shouldn't be an issue!

This is exactly what my exhaust guy said too. He did say that the redesigned version with strut bar across the bolts is stronger than the older OEM version manifold.

 

[HSKR R/T]

My exhaust shop says that shorty's are weaker than the OEM manifolds and won't last more than two years. He says as much as it sucks, just replace with OEM and hope for the best. He says they have been a bit better with the redesigned manifolds with the strut bars across the bolts.

The factory manifolds have the load bars in the bolts. Now instead of breaking bolts, the manifolds themselves crack.