Gentlemen,
Found a top to bottom crack in my exhaust manifold today. 1989 Trooper 2.6L 4ZE1 5 speed. I would assume I cannot repair it, and must replace. Someone recommended that I put headers on, what will that do for me?

Click here > www.independent4x.com > EXHAUST > PACE SETTER 2.6L HEADER

Last weekend I put on my Calmini header (picked it from CoTrooper cheap) with 2.25" exhaust, and a Thrush turbo muffler <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />. My RS needed a tuneup and vacuum leaks fixed, had that done today, I dunno haven't driven my RS since it's tuneup, but generaly there are power gains.

You may actually be able to weld the cracked manifold back together if on a tight budget, but why not take the opportunity to upgrade to a header for a few bucks more?

My wife is the original owner of this, I "inherited" it when we upgraded. I've only started tinkering with it recently, otherwise my maintenance program largely consisted of relying on the reliability of the manufacturer's original efforts. At 214,600 miles I've come to figure out that it might be worth a little effort on my part. Problem is, I'm learning as I go along. I don't understand what advantage Headers provide.... or what I might be trading off?

The headers will give you better flow from your exhaust. This will give ya some more power(a little bit) and should increase milage as well. And if I'm wrong then these guys will straighten things out for ya. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I've been looking at catalogs online, most header listings seem to carry a caveat about possibly not being street legal, which is a problem for me. Need to be legal in Florida and Virginia. Can anyone offer advice?
Fredbert

Not sure about the Florida laws, but I recently discovered that the exhaust manifold on my 96 Nissan pickup had a crack that went almost all the way around (no, I'm not allowed to have a maintenance free car). I picked up a new aftermarket manifold off ebay for about $100. I would have gone with a header, but I'll be selling the car as soon as it's fixed.

Just for fun, I tried welding the old cracked manifold with about three different types of rod (none of them nickle). Every weld I laid down developed a lengthwise crack as soon as the metal began to cool (within about 30 seconds). I don't even think that the rod metal bonded with the manifold. Maybe if I used a good cast iron rod and preheated the manifold, things would have turned out better. Oh well, live and learn.