I just bought a 99 250 Superduty ($5500) w/130k mi) 3 weeks ago that had been sitting for 2 years basically, and I expected it to run rough for a few tanks of gas. The shocks are shot, getting them replaced tomorrow morning, and the brake pads squeel like crazy. My question to you guys is the smell of exhaust coming up into the cab at an idle is pretty noticable, could it be time to change the exhaust manifolds? It seems pretty underpowered right now, and louder than should be. I cannot see a hole in the pipes or muffler, but I am only looking at it from the bottom.

Is it something a novice mech like me could handler on the weekend doing, or is it better left to a pro? Thanks

 

odds are your manifolds are fine. there is probably a leak in one of the pipes, they will rot out a lot faster than the manifolds.

Just get under the truck and check the whole exhaust run

 

If you hear any ticking sounds then the manifolds are prob the answer..Most northern trucks with that many miles could use new manifolds and gaskets and stainless studs..The manifolds rust ,warp and crack. I did mine at 80k or so.



Dick

 

The stainless exhaust manifold studs snap off. The M8 studs are too small to handle all that expansion and contraction. If the manifolds are not warped they can usually be salvaged.

 

The stainless studs and nuts from ford are working fine on my 99.. I put two new manifolds on also. Maybe with old manifolds they break quicker. I don't know. There are stainless stud kits on ebay. I haven't tried them.
http://stores.ebay.com/METRIC-SCREW-...=p4634.c0.m322 I just bought the one's for the y pipe..

Dick

 

Both my dad and my truck came with stainless studs and those crappy powdered metal nuts. He had a couple that sheared off and needed replaced. I got rid of my stock logs at around 20k miles or so for headers and had one broke stud. These are on an 03' and a 04' 6.8l. The V10 manifolds are longer, heavier and all stainless. The longer manifold probably expands and contracts more than a 5.4l manifold.