Used OEM or New
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
Used OEM or New
I’m about to deal with my leaking oil cooler and while it’s off was considering doing my exhaust manifold (s), It doesn’t appear to be leaking, but they look in pretty bad shape. Am I better off buying used OEM on eBay, sending them to be machined and running no gasket, or are people having any luck with new Dorman or others and running with a gasket?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,546
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From: North Texas
I would rather OEM machined square, I need to do that also and I plan to use gaskets. Agreed with aftermarket may not take the heat, pun intended 
Prepare to lose coolant when doing the oil cooler, most of us use that precharged brand Fleetcharge that is purple. You can also catch as much of yours as possible, reuse, then adjust the SCA levels. Judgement call on your end!
Prepare to lose coolant when doing the oil cooler, most of us use that precharged brand Fleetcharge that is purple. You can also catch as much of yours as possible, reuse, then adjust the SCA levels. Judgement call on your end!
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
I would rather OEM machined square, I need to do that also and I plan to use gaskets. Agreed with aftermarket may not take the heat, pun intended
Prepare to lose coolant when doing the oil cooler, most of us use that precharged brand Fleetcharge that is purple. You can also catch as much of yours as possible, reuse, then adjust the SCA levels. Judgement call on your end!
Prepare to lose coolant when doing the oil cooler, most of us use that precharged brand Fleetcharge that is purple. You can also catch as much of yours as possible, reuse, then adjust the SCA levels. Judgement call on your end!
As for the coolant, the system needs to be drained first but the mess of falling fluid is from what can’t be drained from the oil cooler part of the system, correct?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,546
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
Well, I planned to use gaskets as I figure the head's exhaust ports are not perfect either. Just a CYA thing to me
There is going to be a nice amount of slop with the oil cooler removal. Pick up some cardboard boxes to let that stuff fall all over and then can just toss that crap in the bin after. Even if you drain the system the best you can, the cooler is one of the lowest places on the block as I recall.
There is going to be a nice amount of slop with the oil cooler removal. Pick up some cardboard boxes to let that stuff fall all over and then can just toss that crap in the bin after. Even if you drain the system the best you can, the cooler is one of the lowest places on the block as I recall.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
Likes: 60
From: Vermont
Well, I planned to use gaskets as I figure the head's exhaust ports are not perfect either. Just a CYA thing to me
There is going to be a nice amount of slop with the oil cooler removal. Pick up some cardboard boxes to let that stuff fall all over and then can just toss that crap in the bin after. Even if you drain the system the best you can, the cooler is one of the lowest places on the block as I recall.
There is going to be a nice amount of slop with the oil cooler removal. Pick up some cardboard boxes to let that stuff fall all over and then can just toss that crap in the bin after. Even if you drain the system the best you can, the cooler is one of the lowest places on the block as I recall.
I was hoping to find some OEM units to have finished and machined in order to minimize down time.
If ‘94-‘03 gaskets will work, does that mean the manifolds are a direct swap too (up to ‘03, mines a ‘97)?
Last edited by defdes; Feb 2, 2026 at 11:53 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,546
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
Consider a coolant filter while apart, many of us have posted pics on here of the crapola that comes out.
I can look up the PNs for a basic one, I went with Dieselsite on the 7.3. Basic is just a Wix base and filter that I have on both 5.4s on the heater core supply hose. Work wonders on neglected systems.
I can look up the PNs for a basic one, I went with Dieselsite on the 7.3. Basic is just a Wix base and filter that I have on both 5.4s on the heater core supply hose. Work wonders on neglected systems.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,209
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From: Bahstun
Nice tip, I can’t tell you the number of times “the volume “ has exceeded “the receptacle” in my shop.
I was hoping to find some OEM units to have finished and machined in order to minimize down time.
If ‘94-‘03 gaskets will work, does that mean the manifolds are a direct swap too (up to ‘03, mines a ‘97)?
I was hoping to find some OEM units to have finished and machined in order to minimize down time.
If ‘94-‘03 gaskets will work, does that mean the manifolds are a direct swap too (up to ‘03, mines a ‘97)?
Gaskets swap ok, manifold is different S-Duty pass side manifold has a slightly longer outlet at the rear of the manifold
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 329
Likes: 17
Broken exhaust studs are the worst. Forty years ago or so, I knew a guy who could burn them out of a head. He said it was more about oxidation than heat. Never learned how to do that myself. He was a great old Rust Belt Yankee.
Last edited by 867.309; Feb 4, 2026 at 08:21 AM.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 393
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From: Vermont
Multiple pans can make this easy. Pan 1 is like you alway did. Hold pan two over pan one and catch the first gallon or whatever is comfortable. Set pan 2 aside and grab pan 3, repeat as needed. I've been using dollar store pans for this. The pans are cheap and great to have around for all purposes, get a few extras. They have cheap disposable buckets too.
Might go down to Harbor Freight and see what they have.
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