So, Bubba (96 E350 7.5l) seems to have developed an exhaust manifold leak. Slight tick when cold that goes away when it warms up. Not an internal noise, very obvious exhaust leak when you've heard that sound in the past.

Anyway, I'm guessing it's not a very easy, or at least convenient, fix/ Looks like a tight space with that big engine.

Anyone have any tips or tricks that can lessen the need for sentence enhancers?

Also, come May he's slated for a 2,000 mile or so trip. How about any useful maintenance tips or things to replace preventatively beforehand? He's 21 and I have done almost nothing to him in the past 3 or 4 years I've owned him so I know he'd like a bit of attention before we set out.

 

I chose (still working on it) to just pull the engine out of my 98 E350 box truck to do this job.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...manifolds.html